Soulmates | Derek Hale - Chapter 59: Chapter 59

Florence gripped her grandmothers hand as she scanned the preserve, Talia had been hesitant when Florence asked to drive towards the woods but the young Hale was determined. She'd seen these woods in her dream, Florence knew Luna was close.
Talia took a deep breath as they approached the nematon, Maeve and Derek would not want Florence anywhere near the cursed tree but this was one of the places that resembled what Florence saw. Florence peered down at the steps leading into the cellar, uncomfortably sinking into her woolly coat.
"Someone died here," Florence announced, her grandmother looking to her sharply, "Many people."
"How do you know that?" Talia questioned, reaching to pull Florence away from the steps but she stubbornly hurried down, "Florence!"
Her blue eyes scanned the tree roots dominating the room, following the tug towards the centre of the room - Florence gasped as millions of images flashed through her mind, the visions coming to an abrupt stop at the sight of her father, younger than what he was now cradling a girl not much older than Luna.
Florence watched him sob over the body of the girl he loved, her young mind consuming the startling sight.
She turned to her grandmother with a worried frown, "Dad was hurt here."
Talia crouched down in front of Florence, turning her away from the place Derek lost Paige, "Is that what brought you here?"
"Maybe," Florence whispered, nervously gripping her coat buttons, "I don't like seeing the bad things, granny."
"Your gifts mean you see a lot of things, sadly some of that may be bad," Talia started, "but is it really so bad if you can help by what you've saw? I know it can be scary, but you've been given a gift that can allow you so see so much of this world that nobody else can."
"I guess," Florence shrugged, "But what if I don't want to see this stuff?"
"One day, once you've found control of your gift, it all won't seem so bad," Talia assured her, "When you're all grown up, the things you see won't be as scary anymore."
Florence stared at her grandmother suspiciously, but eventually nodded, "I believe you."
"We should get out of here. There's one last place we can go," Talia suggested worriedly, tightening her grip on Florence's had as they made their way towards the steps.
Florence nodded, "Okay."
The two Hales paused as the sound of a loaded gun echoed down the stairs, staring up at the barrel of an unknown hunters gun.
Derek truly was his mother's son. After shocking the pack with punching a hole through the wall once finding out Luna had been taken and then all but flipping the table finding out it was most likely Kate, Derek had ran out of the door in pure fury finding out Florence had now left to help.
Peter rolled his eyes, "Just like his mother."
Maeve ran out of the house after him, catching his arm before he could leave, "Derek! Wait!"
"I can't just sit here, Maeve!" Derek shouted, "Kate could be torturing Luna and Florence is probably terrified out in the dark!"
"I know, okay?" Maeve agreed anxiously, "But if we go out there without a plan we can do more harm than good."
Derek looked ready to argue, but nodded defeatedly at the pleading look on his wife's face. If they didn't find a plan fast, he would be out of there despite what Maeve says.
Maeve watched Derek storm away with a sigh, turning as her dads car pulled up smiling tiredly at her parents.
"Bad time?" Noah questioned as they climbed out of the car, reaching out to hug his daughter.
"Hi dad," Maeve muttered, relaxing in the comfort of his hug.
Elizabeth walked in the house behind Noah, waving up at her grandson running down the stairs.
Kit beamed at the sight of his grandparents, "Grandad! Granny!"
"Kit, please go to bed!" Maeve groaned, pulling away from the hug to stare disapprovingly at her son, "I'm not dealing with you tomorrow running on a few hours sleep."
"The moon doesn't need sleep so I don't need sleep!" Kit hummed, sticking out his tongue at Maeve.
Maeve rolled her eyes, spotting Freddie slowly make his way down with Mischief in his arms, "Oh, come on! You too?"
"I can't sleep," Freddie pouted, wrapping his arms around Maeve as mischief scurried to the floor.
Kit hurried eagerly over to Noah, "Do you have your gun?"
"Yes?" Noah replied, raising his brows.
Kit glanced suspiciously over his shoulder at the pack getting ready to leave, "Good."
Kit didn't really have any idea what was going on, but if his family were ready for danger he would be too.
He turned in his dinosaur slippers and made his way into the dining room, "Where's my breakfast?"
"Christopher!" Maeve exclaimed, she took a deep breath not bothering to scold him over his manners.
Kit climbed up onto one of the dining chairs beside Lorraine, "Morning nana."
"Morning little Christopher," Lorraine replied, "You do know it is still the middle of the night?"
Kit nodded, reaching out for his stray bottle of juice from earlier, "I think I want to be a owl, nana."
"That wouldn't be a bad idea, would it?" Lorraine hummed, the two of them sipping at their drinks as they stared out of the window.
Maeve watched Freddie join them at the table with a frown, turning to her dad, "Take care of them."
"Only if you promise to be careful," Noah said pointedly, "I've seen you hurt too many times because of that woman."
"Don't you go running off getting killed, I'm not raising anymore children," Elizabeth said dramatically.
Their gazes landed on Stiles, snoring away half on the couch and half dangling on the floor with his injured foot propped up on a ridiculous amount of pillows.
"We're still raising this one," Noah added, sharing a look of dismay with Maeve.
Stiles woke slightly at the arrival of his parents, blinking in his drugged state up at Elizabeth, "Lizzie, they took my toe!"
"Don't be silly," Elizabeth said soothingly as she sat down beside him, blinking in surprise as she inspected his foot, "Oh, they have!"
"I can explain that," Maeve stated, noticing her fathers look of alarm.
"Go," Noah chuckled, nodding over to the waiting pack, "We'll take care of it here."
Maeve smiled gratefully and hurried out the door, "Love you!"
Maeve made her way down the steps, frowning at the worried expressions on the packs faces.
"What is it?" Maeve asked hesitantly, "What's happening?"
Sam turned around his laptop, a red flashing dot hovering over the preserve on the map, "They're at the Hale house."
—
It was chaos as the pack arrived to the preserve, they were completely surrounded by hunters - the moment they stepped out of the car the fight begun.
Maeve hardly blinked before a hunter was in front of her, gun pointed at her head until he crumbled to the door unconscious. Maeve looked up in shock as her husband pulled her away, barley paying a second glance to the hunter he'd knocked out.
Maeve felt her heart shatter as a scream echoed through the woods, she shared a terrified look with Derek. They both knew that the scream belonged to Florence.
Peter knocked down another Hunter, motioning out to the woods, "Go! We'll find Luna."
Maeve and Derek didn't have to be told twice, sprinting off in the direction of Florence's scream.
They trusted the pack to find Luna and keep her safe, they left knowing there would be a whole pack to help Luna - but there was only Talia there to help Florence.
Maeve and Derek ran through woods in opposite directions, hoping either of them found Florence and fast. Maeve was instantly cornered by a hunter, but in her hurry to find Florence Maeve took down the hunter and barley broke a nail
Like many years ago, Derek ran straight into Maeve, sending the both of them tumbling to the muddy floor.
"Maeve-" Derek stared, brows furrowed worriedly as she covered his mouth with her hand.
"Shush," Maeve demanded, looking around at the sound of heartbeats, "I hear something."
Florence's frightened voice rang out close enough for her parents to hear clearly, "Stop!"
Maeve and Derek were on their feet in seconds and sprinting in the direction of their daughter, running faster as a gunshot echoed from the same location they heard Florence shout. Maeve flashed Derek a concerned look as they approached the cellar - Maeve knew Derek would be too concerned with Florence to worry about where they were, but she couldn't help but worry.
They thundered down the steps into the cellar, a shocked hunter whirled around to face them, a frightened Florence stood behind him.Derek yanked the hunter away from his daughter like the man weighed nothing, slamming him unconscious against one of the beams.
"Granny," Florence whimpered, Maeve turned sharply to look at Talia.
All of Derek's anger seemed to vanish in seconds, his whole body faltered as he approached his mother. Talia had grown sickly pale, her skin growing more clammy with each breath. Derek frantically scanned her for injuries as he fell to his knees beside her, Florence quickly ran to her mother. Maeve hugged her tightly, seeking distraction from the sight in front of her in her daughter.
Derek felt like he had been kicked in the gut as his gaze fell on Talia's gunshot wound. Talia smiled weakly at her son, the pain written across her face.
"I suppose they forgot I was no longer a werewolf, huh?" Talia joked, but Derek couldn't bring himself to laugh.
His mother was human, not invincible. The panic consumed Derek, they were miles away from a hospital and surrounded by hunters - he couldn't see a way out of this, but he couldn't let his mother die. He couldn't loose Talia again.
Talia stared at her son knowingly, "Its okay."
"No, don't say that," Derek breathed heavily, reaching out to take her pain. "I wont let you die."
"Derek," Talia whispered softly, reaching out to trace Derek's cheek, "I was lucky enough to have my lost time with you given back, I've loved every second of it - but my time is over now."
"No-" Derek protested, tears rolling down his cheeks, "I can't loose you again."
"You have so much life ahead of you, Derek," Talia assured him, "I was on borrowed time. You survived this before, you can do this again. You have to move on, even beyond the grave i'll know if you don't and I'll be very disappointed In you Derek Hale. You're going to move on and be the man I raised you to be okay? Your kids need you."
"I need you," Derek whispered, his gaze falling to his darkened veins taking away her pain.
"You don't need me. I'll always be here," Talia smiled painfully, "In your hearts, in your memories, in your thoughts. Derek, I need you to leave me take your daughters home - I wont let you watch me die."
Derek froze, "Mom-"
"Derek, I love you," Talia kissed his cheek, her frail hands falling back to her lap, "and your brothers and sisters, I want you all to move on and live your lives. I wont have otherwise."
"Mom, please," Derek didn't feel Florence take his hand, curling into his side.
"You take care of your dad, okay?" Talia said to Florence, "Remember what I told you."
Florence sniffled, wiping away her tears as she nodded, tugging on Derek's hand to lead him away. Derek couldn't turn back and look at his mother in such state, with a heavy breath he made his way up the steps knowing he would loose a person he loved for a second time in this place.
Maeve felt frozen too, the flashbacks of the fire she had long buried hit her at full force. She had risked her life to try to save Talia the first time, but now Maeve felt helpless - but there was nothing she could do, again.
Talia's gaze flickered to Maeve, "Remember our promise?"
Maeve cried through a laugh, only Talia would make her make the same promise on her deathbed again. But Maeve didn't have to promise, this was her family - she would always, and has always, take care of them.
"I remember," Maeve nodded, unable to hold back her sob, "I promise."
"Good," Talia muttered with a smile, "Take care of my family."
Maeve couldn't speak, slowly moving towards the steps - like she couldn't look back and see Talia in that state. Talia watched Maeve's shadow disappear as she took her last breath, her eyes fluttering shut with the thought of her family continuing to grow and be loved. Talia let go, and finally found peace.
Sensing one heartbeat inside, Sam couldn't wait any longer - he had to get inside and find Luna. Looking around the pack was holding off the hunters and Kate was no where to be found, Sam knew this was his chance.
He hurried inside the house ruins, searching for the cellar that he had only seen once before when Derek had shown him and Luna just how dangerous hunters could be.
"Luna!"
Sam jogged down the broken stairs, knocking the broken door off its hinges as he ran down into the cellar. He had no idea where he was going but Luna's heartbeat led the way.
Luna couldn't break out. She'd spent hours going over the possibilities of an escape which all came to a halt at the realisation she couldn't get out of her shackles. She didn't realise just how close to her escape she would be.
Luna's head shot up despite the pain at every movement, Sam was there... Sam was truly there. As his shadow formed in the doorway, Luna felt the tears grow - but it was only when she saw his face that he cried.
Sam was at her side in seconds, Luna flinched at his touch - he wasn't an hallucination from the pain or one of Kate's tricks, Sam was here... for her.
"You're here," Luna said in a pained whisper, her arms curling around him as he broke the shackles, gently lifting her away from her temporary prison.
"You're safe now," Sam assured her, holding onto her tightly, "You're alright."
"You came," Luna muttered in disbelief, closing her eyes in content as Sam took the chance to kiss her.
Reluctantly pulling away, Sam brushed Luna's damp hair away from her eyes, "Of course I did."
—
"But I don't understand, where's his toe gone?"
Noah stared at his grandson with a patient smile, it appears Kit had inherited Stiles' trait of asking a billion questions.
"At the hospital, I suppose," Noah answered, thankful Stiles was asleep as Kit prodded his foot with his toy sword.
"Why can't we have it?" Kit frowned, eyes lighting up in excitement, "We could stick it to his face and he would look like that guy from my comic book!"
Noah grimaced, "I don't think Stiles would like that."
"Oh," Kit hummed thoughtfully, "Maybe not."
Elizabeth muffled her laughter at the look on her husbands face, "Maybe it's time to go back to bed, Kit?"
"No thank you," Kit replied, sliding off the sofa and pottering off to the play room, "I have things to do."
Seconds later one of the many cats came racing out of the playroom with a hiss, Elizabeth and Noah looked to Freddie in surprise.
Freddie didn't bother look up from his book, "Kits hiding a micro pig in there, it's been three weeks and dad hasn't figured it out."
"Maeve let you buy a pig?" Elizabeth exclaimed.
"Uncle Jamie brought it," Freddie replied quietly, "Mum's still distracted over the goat incident."
Noah laughed before eying his grandson warily, "Fred, you alright?"
"Do you think they'll be home soon?" Freddie asked, glancing worriedly at the window, "Mom promised they wouldn't be long."
His grandparents shared a look before Elizabeth replied, "I'm sure they're doing everything to find your sisters, Fred, it might take them a bit of time though. The whole pack is there with them, this pack always protects their own - your parents and your sisters will be fine."
Thankfully the mood shifted as Stiles woke up.
"Thats a pig."
They turned to find Kit grinning from his spot on the back of the sofa, peering down at Stiles with the pig ( painfully named bacon ) on his chest.
In his drugged vision Stiles squinted at the tiny pig, "Why is Peppa so small?"
Elizabeth rolled her eyes, "Get the pig off of your uncle, Christopher."
"But they're becoming friends!" Kit whined.
Stiles dramatically glared at his stepmother, hissing in an unusually deep voice, "Don't take away Peppa!"
Noah groaned, slouching back into the couch. Baby-sitting his grandchildren and Stiles was never boring.
"Its wrong to mess with your injured and drugged uncle, Christopher," Elizabeth scolded, picking the pig up off Stiles' chest.
"Peppa!" Stiles screeched, howling like a wounded animal, "Give me back my Peppa!"
Elizabeth cradled the pig like a child, taking a deep breath, "This is not Peppa pig, Stiles, thats a cartoon. Stop pouting like your nephew, who is a child, and go back to sleep!"
Stiles reached out and tugged Kit down off the top of the sofa, hugging a giggling Kit like the pig, "Yes, mother."
Elizabeth rolled her eyes but smiled fondly, watching as her son easily fell asleep, her grandson stubbornly following in suit.
"And here I thought our children had grown out of the tantrum stage," Noah teased.
—
Derek cradled Florence in his arms, and by the looks of it he wasn't willing to let her go anytime soon. Derek's grief would of consumed him if it weren't for Luna still being out there in danger, but having Florence safe in his arms brought comfort he didn't know was possible.
Maeve hurried ahead as they approached the Hale house, turning sharply as Florence called after her.
"Don't go mum!" Florence panicked at the sight of Maeve nearing the house.
Maeve started knowingly at her, "Have you seen something?"
"She's going to die," Florence stated causing Derek to tense, "The bad lady."
Maeve felt the breath get knocked out of her chest, Florence couldn't be right... surely.
Maeve glanced around nervously before smiling at Florence, "I'll be okay, I promise."
Maeve and Derek shared an unspoken agreement, if Kate was going to die, one of them needed to be there to see the job actually got done. Maeve ran ahead, coming to an abrupt stop as the familiar blonde of Kate's view.
Chris was the first to spot Kate emerge from the trees, with the remaining hunters unconscious or scattering at the sight of their leader Chris lowered his gun. The pack suspiciously took a step back, Allison shot her father a look of alarm - they all knew what the silence meant, this was between the Argents.
"Come on, Chris, shoot me," Kate taunted, "I know you want to."
"Just give up, Kate," Chris called out, slowly approaching his sister, "You wont win this."
A twig snapped Maeve caught up with the pack, Kate's wicked gleam turned to her, "The traitor returns."
"Traitor?" Maeve scoffed, anger flaring as she headed towards Kate, "You're so deluded."
"Maeve," Chris warned, nervous of Kate's reaction.
But Kate didn't have time to react, Maeve punched her across the face with a sickening crack that caused Peter to cheer out in the distance. Chris blinked and suddenly the two were in a full out brawl, his heart ironically warmed at the sight. Gone were the days Maeve was afraid of Kate and needed him to protect her.
Maeve only grew angry with each hit, she didn't care about the damage she was causing herself. She wanted to slam Kate's face into the ground. So she did.
"Take that, you psychotic bitch!" Maeve shouted, pressing Kate's face harder into the mud.
Peters amused laughter rang out in the distance. He'd said it once and he'd say it again, he loved angry Maeve.
Sam helped Luna walk through the ruins, muttering under his breath about her stubbornness to walk and not let him carry her. They stopped in the entry way in shock, Luna had seen her mother in many fights - but she had never seen Maeve fight with so much hurt and anger.
As Sam ignored her protests and carried her away from the crossfire, they spotted Lorraine slowly step out of the car. The pack shared sighs of relief as they spotted Luna.
Seeing his daughter, Derek's emotions finally crashed - he let go of Florence's hand and let her sprint over to Luna, himself not too far behind. Sam hesitantly let Luna down just in time for Derek to tug her into his arms, both of his daughters squished into a hug.
"Are you alright?" Derek asked painfully, Luna's eyes widened at his broken expression.
"Dad?" Luna whispered worriedly.
"Just tell me you're okay, thats all I need to know" Derek pleaded.
"I'm okay," Luna assured him, hugging him as tight as her weak arms could allow.
Maeve coughed as Kate punched at her chest, gasping for a breath as Chris suddenly pulled her away.
"Chris-" Maeve's protest faltered as she spotted her grandmother, barely noticing as Chris pulled her away.
Everything was silent as Kate suddenly fell to the ground. Lorraine stood above her, the poisoned knife in her hand dripping with her daughters blood.
Kate gasped painfully, looking up at her attacker in disbelief, "M-mom?"
"I brought you into this world, Katherine," Lorraine said with a glare full of disappointment, "I can easily take you out of it."
Kate took one last pained breath, her gaze forever frozen in fear. Maeve fell to her knees, suddenly unable to breath - Kate was gone and never coming back. Tears fell down her cheeks as the weight Kate held over her had lifted, never to return. Allison ran over and hugged her cousin, staring up at her father - they all knew then, that the Argent name was forever changed for good.
—
Freddie and Kit were waiting at the window with Elizabeth and Noah when they spotted a car in the driveway. Before their grandparents could stop them they were running to greet what was hopefully their parents.
Maeve and Derek were first out of the car, both of their tensions eased as at the sight of home - even in his grief Derek managed a smile at his sons barrelling over to them. He didn't take offence when Freddie completely bypassed him to find Florence, instead he tugged kit into a hug.
Maeve managed to snatch a kiss onto Freds cheek before he found his twin, his tiny face lighting up in relief as he hugged his sister, "Rory!"
Sam rushed out of the car and to Luna's side, gently lifting her out of the car before anyone could reach her. Dereks brows scrunched in protest but as his youngest daughter reached up for him to carry her out, his anger faded.
Derek had yet to be filled in about the relationship there, but he knew he wasn't going to like whatever he heard. Unlike his wife, who squealed like a little girl when she spotted Sam kiss Luna before they came home.
Of course, Derek didn't know he'd won the bet about them getting together, in fact he didn't even remember placing the bet at all.
Maeve laughed softly at her husband, holding her hand out for Florence as Freddie and Kit rushed over to greet Luna, "Lu, you're home!"
Even exhausted and in pain Luna managed a weak smile at her brothers, wincing as they hugged her tightly.
Derek wrapped his arms around his wife, despite all of this evening's events - he couldn't be happier to be home safe with the love of his life and his kids. That is until he looked up at the house.
"Why is Stiles stood at the window with a pig?"