Soulmates | Derek Hale - Chapter 34: Chapter 34

After coming to the conclusion that Maeve was in fact not fine, the pair slept for as long as they could until Luna have flouncing in declaring everyone had to wake up.
Which she did.
Climbing onto her parents bed, Luna woke up Derek with a suffocating hug, "Dad! You're here!"
"Hi Lu," Derek replied sleepily.
Maeve rolled onto her side, hiding her head under her pillow with a groan. Luna frowned at her mother, deciding it wouldn't be a good idea to jump on her too.
"Moms sick," Derek told Luna, picking her up as he climbed out of bed.
"Oh," Luna mumbled, leaning on Derek's shoulder as he carried her out of the room.
"Can you look after her while i'm away today?" Derek questioned, setting her down on the dining table chairs, "Because I trust you to do that."
Giving Luna a task to do was a way of making sure she behaved throughout the day which was a method Derek and Maeve took advantage of frequently.
Dean sleepily walked into the kitchen, raising his brows at Derek, "Are you sure that's a good idea?"
"Yep! I'll look after her, promise!" Luna grinned confidently, nodding her head, "What about the baby?"
Derek and Dean paused what they were doing, whirling around to look at Luna, "What?"
Luna frowned, "What?"
Sharing a confused look with his brother, Derek glanced back at Luna, "What baby?"
"Mommy's baby," Luna answered slowly, "Who's going to look after the baby?"
Derek blinked in surprise, "There is no baby, Lu."
"But last time mommy was sick she was having a baby," Luna argued, "And she's sick now."
"Yes, well," Derek stuttered, "There isn't a baby."
"Oh," Luna hummed, "Well, I think there should be."
"You hear that Derek?" Dean snorted, sitting down at the table, "Better get baby making."
"Shut up," Derek glared, "Ignore your uncle, Luna."
"How do we get babies?" Luna questioned, a puzzled frown on her face, "Do they just appear in mommy's stomach - Do you buy them?! Wait, do you eat it!"
Derek groaned, covering his face in his hands, ignoring Dean's laughter echoing around the kitchen. Of course Luna would ask him the question he never wanted to answer.
"Nana Lorraine said I was an accident. How do you get an accident baby? Do you fall on it? But that would hurt it..." Luna continued, unfazed by Derek's shock or Deans laughter, "Well? Nana also said you didn't have protection, did you need a helmet? Did you have to fight!"
Dean barked out more laughter, slamming his hand on the table, "Did you need a sword, Derek?"
"Dean, I will punch you." Derek glared with a sigh, turning to Luna, "I think we should wait for your mom to answer that question, Lu. She'll tell you much better than I can."
"But you must know!" Luna protested.
"You might be a little too young to know, Luna," Derek argued gently.
Luna looked horrified at her father, "Too young?! I'm the smartest in my class - I have to know where babies come from, what if someone knows before me? That would be horrible!"
"Yeah, Derek. That would be horrible!" Dean teased.
"No one is learning anything today," Derek scowled, "Do we have anymore questions this morning or can I have some peace and quiet?"
Luna was silent for a few moments before piping up again, "Where's Uncle Peter?"
"He's still with the doctor," Derek answered, pouring a bowl of cereal for her.
Luna took the bowl from him, dumping in some sweets she bought a few days before in before he saw, "Is he better?"
"That's what I'm going to go find out," Derek sighed, "I'm gonna go get dressed and head off, Uncle Deans here if you need anything. No more questions about babies, and do not let your mother hear you talking about it."
Luna nodded, munching on her cereal as she wondered off to the living room, "I thought I was in charge."
Derek rolled his eyes, "Whatever you say, Lu."
—
Peter was confused.
Very confused.
"You killed me!" Peter shouted, whirling around to face Margo, "You were supposed to help me not kill me!"
Margo rolled her eyes, "You're not dead, Peter."
"Then you've brought the dead to me, is this some twisted trick of yours to make me feel more guilty?" Peter exclaimed, motioning to the figure in the doorway, "Please tell me this isn't a ghost - I've had enough of magical creatures."
"Peter," The figure sighed, "I'm not dead."
Peter stared at his sister in complete and utter disbelief. His sister. His dead sister. Now, if it were any other dead person he might've been able to handle it rationally, but given it was his sister that was no way happening.
Talia Hale stood in the doorway of the cottage looking not a day over forty, and most importantly, looking very much alive.
Peter looked between his sister and the witch, "You brought her... back?"
"The power Maeve carried held the chance of doing extraordinary things," Margo explained vaguely, tilting her head,"You've done a similar thing for yourself, haven't you?"
"Yes..but...I wasn't dead for seven years!" Peter stammered, "Shouldn't she be ashes right now? How'd you even get her body?"
Margo waved him off, "Semantics."
"Peter-" Talia stepped towards her brother calmly, "It's alright."
She was still shocked about her death, and being revived, but Talia had a few more hours than Peter to process it.
Peter frowned nervously, "You- you're really alive? For good?"
Talia looked to Margo for reassurance, the witch nodded and Talia smiled, "For good."
Peter drew Talia into a hug, squeezing tightly. He and Talia had always been close, but loosing her showed him how much he actually cared for her.
A crash echoed in the other room, followed by footsteps before another brunette stumbled into the room.
Peter froze at the sight of his niece, glancing at Margo who simply smiled knowingly. Now this made sense, bring back the person he felt most guilty about.
"What the hell is going on?" Laura grumbled, spotting Peter, "Uncle Peter! Murdered any of my siblings recently?"
Peter gulped, pushing back his urge to cry. At least Laura saw the funny side to it, if you could even class it as that.
Talia frowned at the comment, "I don't understand-"
"Story for another time," Laura replied cheerily, moving to hug her mother next, "If it weren't for the both of us just being dead I'd be far more excited to see you, mom."
"You were dead? How-" Talia began with a shout, but froze in place as she looked out the window, spotting her son approaching, "Derek-"
Both Hale women charged towards the door, but Peter pulled them back.
"Wow, wow, slow down, do you want him to have a heart attack?" Peter reminded, "He thinks you're dead, remember? Let's approach this gently."
Talia's breath hitched as her son walked through the door, no longer seeing an eighteen year old boy, but her adult son.
"Derbear!"
Peter groaned, sadly that was gently in Lauras eyes.
Derek froze, blinking slowly as he spotted his mother and sister. He hadn't been this shocked since he found out Maeve was pregnant with Luna. But naturally being Derek, he was too paranoid to give into his emotions.
"Derek?" Talia whispered in surprise.
Derek glared at the witch, "What the hell is this? What did you do?"
"Calm down, boy, they are your family," Margo explained, "A few spells later and here they are."
Derek stared at her unconvinced, Peter decided to speak up, "It's true. it's them, alright. Trust me."
Much as he hated to admit it, Derek did trust his uncle, far more than the sketchy witch that just resurrected his mother and sister.
Talia stepped towards her son slowly, cradling his cheeks, "You've grown so much."
Derek willed himself not to cry, hugging his mother instead, unsure if he would be able to let go. He was so happy he was certain his heart would burst out of his chest, whilst the shock still had him almost speechless.
"A beard by the looks of it," Laura teased, joining in the hug, "I told you to never grow one of those, can't say I'm surprised you'd wait until I died."
"Maeve likes it," Derek argued, slightly offended.
"Ah well we've got the holy ones approval then," Laura grinned, laughing as Derek squeezed her into the hug tighter.
"Where's the rest of the herd?" Laura questioned, "Deans here, Kieran's on a plane over."
Laura smiled excitedly, "Is Maeve here?"
In her typical Laura way, that was asking if Derek and Maeve were back together.
"Yes, Maeve's here," Derek rolled his eyes knowingly, ignoring Laura's silent cheer.
Talia frowned, pulling away from the hug, "Wheres Cora?"
"Cora died in the fire, mom," Derek replied with a heavy breath.
"No she didn't," Talia argued nervously.
The siblings and Peter shared a glance. Derek growing anxious at the thought of Cora being alive and alone out there.
"Yes she did, Talia," Peter replied hesitantly.
"She got out, Peter," Talia stated sternly, "Does- does Maeve not remember seeing her? Maeve saw her escape. I heard their conversation. I'm sure of it."
Derek jumped to Maeve's defence, "Maeve was practically canonic after the fire, and then after that aside from almost dying Maeve was pretty preoccupied."
Finding out you were having a baby when you just watched people die was quite the distraction.
Talia nodded defeatedly, "Alright, but I still want to talk to Maeve about it."
Derek went to argue but Peter shook his head at him.
Derek found Maeve in the exact same place as he left her, gently shaking her shoulder even in his panicked mood, "Wake up, Maeve."
"Maeve," Derek repeated, frowning as Maeve barley moved from the pillow, "Maeve?"
Maeve blinked slowly, squinting at the brightness of the room as she noticed Derek sat beside her, "Der?"
Momentarily distracted by the state of his girlfriend, Derek helped her sit up, "Are you alright?"
"I feel awful, I want a refund from that witch," Maeve replied groggily, letting out a yawn "I think she's killed me. Or at least trying to."
"Maeve-" Derek began, unsure where even to start.
Maeve noticed his frown, holding onto his hand in concern, "What's wrong? Derek?"
"My mom and Laura are back," Derek muttered in disbelief, lying back against the headboard, "They're actually back...that witch did this. I don't know how, i'm not sure I want to know how. But they're back."
If Maeve didn't feel so ill she'd be sprinting out of the room, but she settled for a quiet gasp on her scratchy throat, "What? As in alive? They're alive? Not dead?"
Derek nodded slowly, "Alive."
"Holy shit," Derek smiled in amusement at her, Maeve slowly turned to the door, "Are they here?"
"They're with Peter and the witch," Derek replied, holding onto Maeve's arms as she tried to rush out of bed, "Steady-"
"Lets go!" Maeve announced, wobbly moving towards the door.
"Maeve," Derek called after her.
Maeve stopped in the doorway, looking to him in confusion.
Derek motioned to her mismatched pyjamas, "you should probably get dressed."
"Oh," Maeve muttered, taking in her appearance, "Right."
—
Maeve, even in her dizzy state, ran straight into the cottage, tearing up at the sight of the two Hales, "oh my god. You're here."
"Maeve!" Laura cheered, jumping up to hug Maeve, Derek stumbling as they fell back against him.
Derek rolled her eyes, "Careful with her, Laura."
"Oh, Derek, honestly, i'm fine!" Maeve scolded, shaking her head at Laura in disbelief, "You're really here!"
Unlike Derek with his paranoia, Maeve was filled with excitement.
Laura finally let Maeve go, leaving Maeve to turn back to the room in shock, "I don't understand."
"I told you that witch was sketchy," Peter commented, smiling at Margo, "No offence."
Margo nodded slightly.
"Talia," Maeve approached her with a smile, hugging her much more gently than Laura.
"Hello Maeve," Talia smiled fondly as Maeve stepped back to stand beside Derek, "Look at you both!"
"What about your darling brother?" Peter pouted, feeling left out.
"Shush," Talia rolled her eyes, blinking sadly, "I don't even know how old you both are now."
"25," Maeve replied, "26 this year."
Laura groaned, "Oh god, i'm almost 27!"
Sensing a happier atmosphere, Margo looked to Maeve curiously, "Diana, how are you feeling this morning?"
"Like crap," Maeve answered bluntly, "What did you do to me?"
Margo hummed vaguely, "Nothing that wasn't supposed to happen."
"Er- okay?" Maeve scowled, leaning back against Derek tiredly, "Will the spell wear off soon because i'm sick of being sick?"
"Soon enough," Margo replied, disappearing into the next room, "Come back tomorrow, we should talk."
Maeve looked up at Derek who just smiled down at her in amusement, "Wonderful."
Dean was left in the kitchen trying to clean up the mess that was him and Luna trying to make lunch when the rest of the Hales arrived home. Picking up the remaining pieces of bread that Luna had cut into shapes, Dean dropped them to the floor as he noticed the arrivals.
"What's going-" Dean gasped, coughing as Laura tackled him into a hug, "On."
"Dean!" Laura greeted, pinching at his cheeks, "You've grown! I told you you weren't allowed to be taller than me. What is it with you Hales and doing things I don't like once i'm dead. If Kierans grown his hair out i'm going back to my grave - wait, did I have a grave?"
Dean stared down at his sister with eyes bulging, "What the hell? You're not dead?"
"Surprise!" Laura cheered, Dean nodded slowly, unsure how to process the revelation.
Derek sighed, "Laura, not the time. Am I the only one in this family that didn't get the dramatic gene?"
Maeve snorted loudly before laughing into Derek's shoulder, "Sorry, sorry- Mr we're brothers now."
Derek scowled at his girlfriend, playfully tightening his grip on her shoulder.
Speaking of dramatic Hales, Luna opened the door with a slam, standing with her hands on her hips in the doorway.
"What's going on?" Luna announced herself, blinking in surprise as she spotted her aunt, "Auntie Laura!"
Bounding forward, Luna was scooped up into Lauras arms, battling her aunt for the strongest hug, "Lulu! Look how big you've gotten."
Talia watched Luna in disbelief, not expecting to see someone so much like Maeve, yet not quite putting the pieces together yet.
"I'm seven now," Luna pointed out as Laura set her back down, "Did you pull a Peter?"
"What?" Laura questioned.
"He was dead like burnt toast but then he got some purple glitter and daddy pulled him out of the ground," Luna explained, "Then mommy got really mad and punched him!"
Laura grinned over at Maeve who rolled her eyes, "Did she?"
"You need to stop telling people that," Derek muttered, motioning for Luna to come over, "Mom, this is Luna, my daughter."
"Our," Maeve corrected, staring at him pointedly.
"Our daughter," Derek repeated, "Lu this is your grandma Talia."
Talia's heart grew heavy at what she'd missed, knowing she had a grandchild and had missed her entire life.
"Hello," Luna smiled, hugging the shocked woman.
Talia hugged her back, smiling sadly, "Hello, Luna."
Talia ran a hand over Luna's blonde hair, "How old are you?"
"Seven," Luna answered.
"Seven?" Talia mumbled, glaring at her son, "Seven! Derek Seth Hale you better not of done what I think you've done."
Peter let out at a whistle, laughing at his nephews discomfort.
Derek shrunk down behind Maeve but Maeve chuckled, stepping aside, "Don't use me as a shield, tough guy."
Derek opted to picking up Luna, hiding behind her, "Isn't she cute?"
"Eighteen! First you throw marriage around and then a baby! You're lucky I was dead or else you would be," Talia exclaimed, lIf she werent your wife's you would be in so much trouble."
Laura grinned watching her mother scold her brother, "don't worry, mom, she's Maeve 2.0."
Maeve crossed her arms defensively, "Why do you make it sound like a bad thing?"
Laura smirked playfully, "No offence but you two are high maintenance."
Derek avoided Maeve's pointed glare, "I'm not saying anything!"
"Good," Maeve scowled, remembering their conversation from on the way home, "We're all in agreement no one can know until everything is planned?"
They all figured it would be best if no one knew what had happened until they were safely back in Beacon Hills with a plan, a legal one at that. Even telling someone over the phone would be too suspicious.
Dean shifted uncomfortably, "Should we tell dad what's happened?"
"No," Derek replied bluntly.
"Derek-"Maeve began gently.
"He didn't bother showing his face when Laura died for the first time," Derek grumbled, "Why should he care now?"
"He was in jail," Laura pointed out.
Derek waved her off, "Not the point."
Talia watched the interaction carefully, adding, "He still deserves to know, Derek. He's her father."
Derek scoffed, shaking his head in disbelief, "Christ, you're still defending him."
"Derek," Talia sighed.
"Seth doesn't deserve anything," Derek growled, storming out of the patio doors.
Sensing her fathers upset, Luna ran out after him, holding onto his hand as they walked down to the beach.
Maeve awkwardly looked around the room, before covering her mouth and rushing out, "excuse me."
Maeve glared at the blue tiles of the bathroom wall, sitting against the bath, running her hand across her face with a sigh.
Maeve didn't know whether to laugh, cry or scream.
She had bought the test when they first arrived in Italy, the thought niggling at her in the back of her mind. She'd let it stare at her for the past three weeks, but now it was all a bit too coincidental and gave in.
"Hello, dearest," Peter greeted, opening the door Maeve was sure she locked.
Maeve jumped, stumbling back against the sink, "Peter! I could've been naked, or worse, on the toilet!"
Peter ignored her, staring at her suspiciously, "I can smell your anxiety from outside. What's wrong with you?"
Maeve crossed her arms over her chest defensively, "None of your business."
"Maeve," Peter warned, glancing down at the counter that Maeve had dived in front of, "If you don't move I will move you."
"Don't threaten me," Maeve glared, "I have rights to privacy - Peter!"
Peter picked her up and moved her aside, spotting the test on the counter. His mouth fell open in shock, turning to Maeve with wide eyes.
"Oh no. Have you been up to no good, Maeve?" Peter teased.
"Just be serious for a second," Maeve groaned, sitting on the edge of the bath.
Blinking past his surprise, Peter replied, "I am being serious."
"I don't even know if I am pregnant yet," Maeve sighed, scrunching her face up in disgust as Peter picked up the test.
Peter pointed the stick at her, "And if you are? What's the plan then, Genius?"
"I peed on that," Maeve pointed out and Peter quickly dropped the test.
The timer on Maeve's phone bleeped, and before Maeve could even snatch the test back, Peter had already turned it over.
"It's positive."
Maeve felt the air get knocked out of her chest, holding her head in her hands, "Oh god. Oh god! That healer! She did this!"
"Impregnate you?" Peter frowned at her.
Maeve groaned, throwing her arms out, "No, you idiot!"
"Hey preggers, let's breathe, shall we?" Peter imitated the breaths, "In and out."
Peter was in a coma last time Maeve was pregnant, and he was beginning to think it was a good thing not having to deal with her.
Maeve started to tear up, "Oh, no, no, no-"
"Let's not act crazy now. Deep breaths," Peter spoke gently, noticing her breathing pick up, "Calm down."
"Don't tell me to calm down that's not going to keep me calm!" Maeve exclaimed, pacing around the bathroom.
"Maeve," Peter started, watching her walk in circles around the room, "Maeve!"
"I can't be pregnant," Maeve cried, "I can't."
The last thing Maeve wanted was to be pregnant, but apparently the universe had other plans.
"You are," Peter reminded, wincing at the glare she sent in his direction.
"No," Maeve denied.
"Yes," Peter argued, growing dizzy by her pacing, "Maeve. Stop it. Maeve!"
"I'm going to be sick," Maeve changed directions and hurried over to the toilet, slouching down beside it.
"Please don't," Peter groaned, sighing in relief as she relaxed against the wall instead, "So... will I be a great uncle again?"
"I'm not sleeping around if that's what you're insinuating," Maeve replied bitterly.
Peter leant against the sink, smiling slightly, "You must admit, this is quite funny."
"How is this funny?" Maeve questioned slowly from her place by the toilet.
"Oh stop it Maeve, you love babies," Peter comforted, albeit harshly, "Why are you so upset? You and Derek are back together, you already have one kid, a second wont make a difference."
Maeve leant her head against the cold tiles, "We've technically only been back together for twelve hours."
"Well you must have been somewhat together," Peter mumbled.
"Be mature for once in your life, would you?" Maeve glared, "Don't you have something better to do? Can't you leave me to cry out my sorrows in peace? Oh - I think I'm gonna faint."
Maeve resorted to lying down on the floor, tears still rolling down her cheeks.
"Oh, Maeve. Stop being an idiot, you're pregnant, so what? You've had a baby before, you're an amazing mother, Luna's always rattling on about getting a sibling, and -" Peter admitted, "Dereks a good dad when he chooses to be."
"Derek's always a good dad-" Maeve went silent as the door opened, groaning, "I wasn't aware this was a family bathroom gathering!"
Dean looked down to Maeve laying on the floor, glancing to Peter in concern, "What's wrong with Maeve?"
"She's pregnant."
"Peter!"
Dean blinked in shock for a few moments before letting out a laugh, "Maeve, I swear to god your daughter is psychic."
Maeve very much wanted to scream as the door opened again, Laura's head popping in the gap.
"Moms been staring at Derek for the past half hour its getting creepy -" Laura began, looking around suspiciously, "Whats going on?"
"Maeve's just in a crisis, nothing new," Dean laughed.
Maeve rushed to her feet, regretting it sensing another dizzy spell, and practically sprinted out of the bathroom, "I'll go talk to your mother."
The three Hales left the bathroom, Dean backing away noticing the awkward silence between Laura and Peter, "I'm just gonna go..."
Peter and Laura stared at each other silently for a few moments before Peter mustered up the courage to talk.
"I wouldn't be surprised if you hate me," Peter admitted.
Laura rocked on the heels of her feet, "Well I can't say you're my favourite person right now. But Maeve explained as much as she could about what happened that night."
"It still doesn't make it right, I killed you Laura," Peter stressed, tearing up.
"Can you tell look me in the eyes and tell me that if you hadn't woken completely taken over by your power hungry wolf, and that you were the same annoying Peter from before the fire, would you of hurt me?" Laura questioned.
"Of course not!" Peter answered quickly, "I'd never hurt you, any of you. Laura, I honestly had no idea it was you, I hate to admit it but it could've been anyone."
Laura smiled sadly, "You're not evil, Peter, cynical yes, but evil? No way. You weren't you that night, I knew that when you found me. I was terrified, not because it was you, because I knew it was you but you had been taken over by a monster."
"I'm sorry," Peter replied in a muffled voice, not bothering to hide his tears, "I'm so sorry, Laura."
"I know you are," Laura sighed, smiling sympathetically, "I'll consider forgiving you if you tell me what's wrong with Maeve."
—
Maeve sat down beside Talia on one of the sun loungers looking out onto the sunset lit beach, following her gaze to Derek and Luna down by the shore.
"He's changed," Talia stated, staring at her son holding his daughter on his shoulders.
Maeve smiled sympathetically, curling up in her chair, "It's been a long time."
"No. No it's more than that," Talia frowned thoughtfully, "I have never seen him this happy. The way he looks at Luna, its just pure joy."
"He hasn't had it easy," Maeve informed her, "But he loves Lu more than anything."
Talia moved to hold Maeve's hand, looking to her tearfully, "Thank you, Maeve."
"You don't have to thank me," Maeve blushed, shaking her head.
"I do," Talia argued, "I was really worried for him, especially as he got older and when he married you. Seth and him, their relationship was strained since they were young, but the divorce hit him really hard, more than any of his siblings."
"I know," Maeve smiled sadly.
"He was so angry for such a long time, and I was scared for the day that he becomes a father that he wouldn't be a good one," Talia continued, "He hadn't had the best example."
"I can't say the thought didn't come to mind when I was pregnant, Derek was anxious for seven months straight. I was already an emotional wreck and Dereks anxiety was doubling mine," Maeve shook her head fondly, "But when she was born, Derek cried and when it came to his turn to hold her I don't think he put her down for hours. Thats when I knew I didn't have to worry."
Talia looked to Maeve worriedly, "He's been good to you?"
"He's not the same person he was when we were eighteen, he's so much better," Maeve replied, "We went through a really hard time for almost two years, I thought i'd lost him completely. But now I think I've got him back."
"Was it after the fire?" Talia questioned.
"No- some other things had happened since then," Maeve sighed, "I can't speak for him, but I don't think he really came to terms what had happened to the fire for many years. We had a second daughter, she was a stillbirth-"
"Maeve," Talia gasped apologetically, "I'm so sorry."
Talia felt another wave of guilt, the thought of Derek going through without her there to help was painful.
Maeve took a breath, "Its alright, I've learnt how to deal with it now. I think having another loss just hit him, he suddenly had to come to terms with his grief that he'd been putting off for so long and he just couldn't handle it and left. We got a divorce, neither of us wanted to, but I think thats what he needed to snap back to reality. We've only just got back together."
Talia looked back to her son tearfully, a feeling a mixture of proud and guilt.
"You're a lot stronger than I thought," Talia whispered.
Maeve shrugged, "I promised you i'd look after them."
"No, but no one had to go to the lengths you did for this family. You don't have to do this all on your own now," Talia argued, staring at her in curiosity, "How are you, Maeve? Truly."
"It's been hard," Maeve admitted, "Laura died causing a whole drama with Peter. Peter turned a teenager, Scott, he's not too willing to accept help. Kate had another try at killing us, Gerard too. Then a kanima tried to kill us. We came to this witch to try and help Peter, and well, here we are..."
Laura plonked down beside Maeve, interrupting their conversation, "I think Peter's broken."
"And why's that?" Maeve laughed.
"He cried," Laura whispered dramatically, "Cried."
"Peter did?" Talia questioned in disbelief.
Laura hummed, nodding, "Yep."
"Oh, he does that now. He's grown sappy - Oh, excuse me" Maeve waved them off, climbing off the chair, "Luna! Don't you dare!"
Luna was currently climbing on some of the rocks after a stray cat, Derek watching her cautiously.
"But its all alone!" Luna whined, pointing to the cat who most definitely lived in the wild.
"We're not taking home a foreign wild cat, Luna," Maeve scolded, turning to Derek, "Don't encourage her bad behaviour, you hate cats."
"It was daddy's idea," Luna piped up, crawling over the rocks.
Derek glared at her playfully, lifting Luna off the rocks, "I didn't think you'd want to bring it home!"
"Well I wouldn't just leave it here!" Luna protested, shaking her head, "Honestly..."
Laura and Talia watched Luna stomp off away from her parents to play by the shore, matching smiles on their faces.
Laura let out a laugh, "That kid is so like them that its hilarious watching them tell her off."
Talia watched Maeve cuddle up to Derek with a disbelieving sigh, "They really broke up?"
"Oh yeah, that was a drama alright," Laura winced at the memories, "Glad I missed the finale of that drama."
Maeve took a deep breath, lifting her head from Derek's chest, "I'm pregnant."
"Thats funny Maeve," Derek chuckled, running a hand through her hair.
Maeve stepped out of his hold, raising her brows, "Do I look like i'm joking?"
"You-you are?" Derek asked slowly, "Pregnant."
Derek didn't quite know how to process the reveal, he'd only just gotten Maeve back, now they were having a baby. His first instinct told him to be happy, which he was, and the other told him to not believe it.
"Yes, Derek," Maeve rolled her eyes.
"With a baby?" Derek replied, his voice more squeaky than he'd like to admit.
"No, Derek, an elephant," Maeve scowled tiredly, "Yes, a baby!"
"But we only - it was once," Derek stumbled over his words.
"Well It only takes once, Derek, there's living evidence of it," Maeve reminded, pointing over at Luna.
Derek paled, realisation finally setting in, "Oh no."
"Oh no?" Maeve exclaimed, hitting his shoulder, "All you have to say is oh no?! This is your fault!"
"Ow!" Derek held his hands up, smiling in amusement, "Its not just my fault! it takes two!"
Maeve crossed her arms grumpily, "Stop smiling."
"I'm not smiling," Derek denied, smiling more.
"Yes you are," Maeve glared, turning away to face Luna, who had heard the whole conversation.
Luna crossed her arms in a similar manor to her mother, staring up at Derek, "I told you there was a baby."
"Yes, this one time you were right Luna," Derek rolled his eyes, "Don't let it get to your head, you're already too confident."
"Nan's going to mental finding out we have another accident baby. We'll never hear the end of it. The universe hates me," Maeve complained, returning to their original hug.
Derek chuckled, "Its not that bad Maeve."
"Would you like to give birth to our child then?" Maeve questioned harshly, "Go through all the hours of labour with pain that medicine can't take away?"
"Speaking of-" Derek trailed off, "Earlier Luna had some... questions about how babies were made."
Maeve laughed loudly, "Oh, don't look at me like that this is your fault, so you're explaining it to her."
"Its both of our faults!" Derek protested.
"You're telling her!" Maeve smirked, pulling away from the hug to walk back up the beach.
"I'm telling her we found her in the forrest!" Derek called over.
"Don't you dare," Maeve shouted back warningly, "She'll have an existential crisis."
Luna looked up from the water, glancing over to her father, "Dad?"
"Go!" Maeve pointed to their daughter, walking backwards.
"No-" Derek whined, shaking his head.
"I'll tell your mother I was pregnant before we married," Maeve threatened.
Derek looked at her in betrayal, "You're evil."
Family dinner the evening was definitely different to the past seven years, despite the bombshell of Laura and Talia's return, the attention seemed to land on Maeve, who was glaring at Peter across the table.
Talia looked around the table, "I'm missing something, aren't I?"
"Mommy's pregnant."
"Luna!" Maeve and Derek exclaimed.
Luna paused as she took a bite of her pasta, "What? Was that a secret?"
Derek and Maeve couldn't reply, since Laura decided to shout the house down, "What?! This is great! A baby!"
Talia smiled happily, "Oh! How wonderful! Two grand babies!"
"Don't get too excited, thats all you're getting in the baby department right now," Laura snorted.
Talia rolled her eyes, "Laura don't be dramatic, you'll settle down with a nice man eventually."
"Hey, if Jamie can get married, you can Laur," Derek comforted.
Laura whirled around in shock, "Jamies married? James ' I will be a bachelor forever ' Walsh?"
"Turns out Archie's the single one," Maeve hummed, "Our friends are full of surprises."
"You and Derek are the presidents of that party," Dean muttered, laughing as Maeve tossed a bread roll in his direction, "Its the truth! Maeve's completely unpredictable and Derek's no angel, turning into a fugitive every two days."
"Hey!" Derek glared, looking to Luna sat beside him, "I'm a good person, right Lu?"
Luna sat thoughtfully before announcing, "Well you did kiss Erica when you liked mommy."
Peter choked on his food, Dean dropped his fork and Maeve's drink missed her mouth.
Derek's eyes widened, "That is not true!"
"Yes it is!" Luna argued.
Derek shrunk under the furious gaze of Maeve and the confused stare of Dean, "Well... technically Erica kissed me."
"Her boyfriends brother?" Peter piped up.
"I think the bite might of made her a tad too confident," Derek answered slowly, avoiding Maeve's eyes.
"you think? Why am I finding out about this now?" Maeve exclaimed, glaring at him, "Well?"
Dean nodded in agreement, "I'd like to know that too."
"I didn't want you to overreact?" Derek replied cautiously, knowing he'd said the wrong thing by just the look on her face.
"Overreact?!" Maeve shouted.
"Evening siblings-" Kieran greeted, lugging his suitcase into the dining room, pausing in the doorway as he spotted the new additions to tithe table "What the hell?"
Now Kieran was certain he was hallucinating, there was no way that his mother and sister were sat at that table.