Archive of Our Own ^beta

Noah was not happy as he knocked on the loft door. He was angry, confused, embarrassed. This might actually be the worst moment of his life, and considering his life, that was saying something. The door swung open, and there he was. Derek Hale.

"Sheriff?" Derek looked confused, which was reasonable. Noah didn't exactly seek the guy out. Bit hard to deal with all the werewolf bullshit and Noah did his best to pretend he knew nothing for the sake of his sanity, and to have plausible deniability for his job. He knew Stiles wished that Noah would be a bit more accepting of the whole supernatural stuff, and he was trying.

But bit harder to accept that things going bump in the night are real, versus his kid being bi. Pride march easy, awoo hard.

He was here though because of all this mystical bullshit. "Derek. You need to fuck my son." Okay, he probably should have opened with a how is it hanging, but then he would have ended up thinking about hanging dicks, due to the circumstances, and he didn't want that. Derek was sniffing the air, which Noah was pretty sure meant sniffing him, and he didn't know why. "Let me rephrase. He and Scott decided to have fun." Derek winced, and at least the man had some sense. "Exactly. We all know that means something stupid is going to happen. They decided to make protein shakes, fine, I think those powders are gross no matter what you do to them, but teenagers who want to do well at sports will believe any bullshit. But Stiles read a book —" That got a full flinch, not just a wince, "Even more exactly. They got into Deaton's supplies and basically tried to make a super druid protein shake. Scott took one sip and gagged, refused to drink it. Stiles drank it all. And guess what —" Derek's eyebrows were low, Noah didn't know eyebrows could go that low. "He made a fuck or die potion."

"How? Those aren't even real!"

"Yeah, Deaton was real impressed with my boy there, created something that was generally considered unmakeable. I'm going to get him a congratulations card after this is all done. In the mean time, my son is at home in absolute agony. And it will get worse. And then he'll get dead. You are going to fix him. With your dick."

"Why me?" Derek was looking panicked, and the sheriff did not have time for this. Not with the state he had left Stiles in. Noah grabbed the guy's shirt, and hauled him in close.

"Nope, no time for any freak out. You can freak out later. My kid who has saved your life, my son who gives everything to your pack —"

"It's Scott's pack, I'm not an alpha anymore."

Noah shook the guy a bit. "Son, ask me if I give a fuck about any of that. I had to go into the porn store and ignore certain things and smells in order to buy my kid dildos and lube to keep him alive until you can get there. So tell me more about who is in charge." Derek was silent showing at least one of these knuckleheads had a brain cell. "He likes you, you like him. You'll be able to get hard to fuck him, and werewolf-ness will give you the stamina because guess what? He drank so much this is going to last for a week."

"I —"

"Derek," the sheriff looked at his face and damn, okay. He had to. He hugged the guy, that for a long time he believed was a murderer. "If it helps, Stiles when not high on sex potion had asked me how I'd feel if the two of you dated." Stiles had actually asked what Noah thought about Stiles claiming the guy and adopting werewolf babies, but he'd leave that as a fun surprise for future Derek. "I understand being concerned about bedding the town sheriff's underage son, but come on, eventually Stiles was going to climb you like a tree anyways. This is not ideal for anyone involved."

"Why does he have to be so Stiles?"

"Near as I can tell, because we needed some joy and chaos in our lives," Noah answered. "Do you like him?"

"When I don't want to strangle him."

That sounded about right, and when he looked at the guy's face those were some serious goddamn puppy eyes. He was so sunk on Stiles, and didn't even fully realize it. "Okay, then. You are going to my house where Stiles is waiting for you, because he was calling out your name a lot. Loudly. I now know how many syllables long he can make you name. I do not want this information. I am staying at your loft, because my back cannot handle a hotel bed for a week after doing inventory a couple days ago. Food drop offs and check ins will occur. Now will you go already and fuck my kid?"

"I won't hurt him."

"Yeah yeah, circle of trust here and all of that. Longer you talk to me, more pain he is in. Get moving!" He barked the order and Derek took off running. Good. Noah walked into the loft that he'd be staying in for the next week and looked about. "Stiles said he had millions. This is a shit hole." He stared at the one wall which had three different outlet plates on it. "That cannot be grounded right," he muttered.

Noah ran through a lot of ideas in his head. Eventually he called work and they were shocked that he was actually taking a week off. He would come in to help schedule and tell what needed doing, but then he was actually taking some of his vacation days. It was a pain in the ass for payroll how much flex time and vacation days he had stacked up. He looked around the loft, with being off so he could be available for Stiles, he needed something to do, so he wouldn't think too much about why Stiles needed him.

Yeah, he had an idea. He didn't worry about locking the giant rolling door, because honestly who would even try to steal anything here. He went to the station to take care of everything, then hit the garage at home. He peaked his head into the house and heard pairs of moans, cries that were no longer of pain, and hated that he now knew what his kid's happy sounds were.

But he was safe.

To the garage where he grabbed all the basics he thought he would need, and back to the loft. Took three trips to get everything inside and he left the tool bags in the living room, the gym bag with his clothes for the week was tossed on Derek's bed.

Noah went around the loft, making a list. It was broken down into fifteen minute jobs, three hour jobs, three day jobs, and yeah that will need a contractor. He was honestly excited. He loved doing home repairs and renovations. Not enough to make a career of it, but they had been broke as a kid and his fondest memories were of he and his dad fixing stuff together around the house. He had worked summers for his uncle's construction company before he had joined the military.

Derek was fucking Noah's son to save Stiles' life.

Least he could do was fix the damned cupboards.

Cora walked into the loft and scented the air. New scent here, but one she knew. Dad rock was playing from somewhere, and she could hear banging. Cora followed the noise and there was the sheriff —which explained the dad rock —and there were Derek's kitchen cupboards off the hinges and something being done to them.

"What are you doing?" She ventured closer and sneezed a bit at the wood floating through the air. "You are making a mess."

A hand holding some sort of block, raised and pointed at the floor where drop clothes were down. A few more passes and what was clearly a grunt of satisfaction. The sheriff pulled down the mask he was wearing, goggles raised. "Hey, there, Menace."

"Menace?" She stepped forward ready to murder, but he wasn't smelling mean, or anything but strangely content.

"Yeah, Stiles always said you are a menace and all the boys at school are scared of you. Just stuck in my head. Can call you Cora, sorry about that." The door was put to the side and another lifted. "I gotta say deeply unimpressed with whoever put together this loft. You notice how these cupboards always stuck, or wouldn't close? Weren't even, sanded right, and the hinges were shit. Going to have to run to the store and buy new ones once, I finished sanding these down. Was thinking a nice oak stain, would look good against all the brick. What do you think?"

The sheriff seemed like he was really waiting for her opinion. "Sure?" she said after a moment. "Uhh, why are you doing this?"

"Because your brother is at my house for the next week, saving Stiles with his mighty alpha cock. Sorry beta, since he isn't an alpha anymore. You all answer to True Alpha Scott, which wee go team. But Derek's dick is saving my kid's life. What the hell has my world come to? I am off for a week to check on that life saving occasionally and so I don't lose my mind, going to putter around this shit hole a bit. Lord, there are so many problems in this place. Figure start in the kitchen, and then just sort of rotate around the place."

Cora couldn't help it, "there is an outlet in my room that doesn't work."

He was pointing to the wall where a large whiteboard had been hung. She stared at the lists of repairs and renovations on it. She found the electrical list, added her room. She could hear when he went back to work, and she just sort of sat on a chair and watched. It was actually really soothing, to watch that thing he was holding slide forward.

"Cora?"

"Yeah?" She waited to be kicked out, that she was bothering him. Her mom and dad had always hated the way she would just watch, her stare a bit too intense at times. She got ready to be dismissed, politely, but still.

"This is called a sanding block, you have a few choices, you can get an actual block like a piece of wood and just wrap sandpaper around it. You can get fancy metal ones that hold the paper in place, or for jobs where you have to take more than an eighteenth of an inch off, you want to use a mouse, which is powered sanding. We are just really needing to smooth out a bit, so this is working fine. You want to try?"

"Huh?" Cora froze. That wasn't the usual response.

"Come on over, Spitfire, I'll show you how to do this, easy. Shit, sorry, habit to nickname people."

"I don't mind," she said after a moment. "Not like you are calling me kitten or some crap like that."

That got a snort, "don't swear, but yeah, no one should ever call you kitten. Now come here, and learn something that is more valuable than chemistry."

Cora went over and found herself standing in front of the sheriff. He wrapped around her and handed over the sanding block, his hand placed over hers. "No need for werewolf strength, faster doesn't mean better in sanding something like this. Just slow, steady, smooth." Her hand was guided a couple times. "How's that?"

"Good," she said after a moment. She went still as a mask was put on her, goggles as well. "I heal."

"Sure, but even if you do, breathing in wood particles sucks balls. Which god, your brother is likely doing to my child right now." There was a sigh. "I cannot think about that. You work on that cupboard while I take some measurements."

Cora did as he taught her, and she could hear him mutter to himself, sometimes sing a bit of the song that was playing, and she felt something in her ease. A tension that was always under the surface just sort of collapsed on itself and she smiled.

"How's this?" she asked after a few more passes.

He came over, wiped the wood down, measured. There was a hand on her shoulder, and his mask was pulled down to grin. "That's perfect, Menace. Darn good work. Now I have my latest list, you want to stay here and work solo on the last couple, or you want to come with me to the hardware store?"

"I'd have to change?"

"Why, hardware store, they expect us to look like this. I'll buy you a coke."

"Okay." Cora smiled a bit. "And a chocolate bar?"

"Sure, hard work deserves a treat."

She had sanded one cupboard, hardly hard work, but she flushed at the praise that was on his face. She had been loved by her mom, she knew that, but she had also never been as clever as Laura, as loyal as Derek, so she never got that particular look. But the sheriff was giving it to her. "Can I help more when we are back?"

"You bet, show you how to stain these, all nice and proper, though for that we'll want to go outside, bit of a strong smell. But rain in the forecast. Hmmm."

"Derek owns the whole building we can work in a different space."

"Now that is handy. Okay, hardware store then you'll show me to a work space. Let's hid the road, Menace. Shit, sorry again."

"No, you can call me that. It's fine." Cora shrugged, indifferent, desperate. "Will I get to use power tools?"

"Probably. If you are interested in helping with the list."

"I'm interested."

"Let's do this."

Cora smiled. Power tools.

Noah stared at the room making a game plan. He pointed to Boyd "Okay Bucko, you need to cover up all the furniture, and Wildcat," he winced a bit because this was about to be an awkward conversation when he glanced at Erica, "we need to talk about your wardrobe."

"Why?" Erica glared at him. "I look great."

"You do," he reassured, "but how is that tee appropriate for knocking down a wall?"

"It's old? And worn a bit thin, so I don't care what happens to it?"

"I have coveralls for everyone," Noah gestured to a pile, "you need to put those on for demolition." The half down brick wall was killing him. They were taking it all down, and then rebuilding it, putting a proper door in. Brick work not his strong suit, but he had done it in the past and at night had been watching a bunch of youtube videos. It would be better than what was there now.

"What's the big deal?"

Noah gave her a look, "come on Kitty Pryde, you really want brick chips hitting the sensitive skin there?" He sort of gestured at her breasts. "That won't be comfortable. And those jeans are really tight for doing work. Go put some sweats on."

"No," she growled at him. Boyd paused from drop clothing everything, to stare, not sure if he needed to protect Erica, or the sheriff.

Noah just smiled at him, "Doing great big guy, maybe move the couch more to the opposite wall, gives us room to work." There was a head duck like the guy was embarrassed about something but he couldn't figure it out. He turned back to Erica, "okay, so why are sweats evil?"

"Because they are all I used to wear, to try to hide. Before, no zippers made it easier if I seized and needed to be changed by other people."

Noah nodded, "alright. So white lady yoga pants then. With a more practical t-shirt. Which are all going under the coveralls. Which are non-negotiable if you want to destroy. No safety clothes, no sledgehammer."

"We can take it down with our fists."

Noah didn't move, didn't react to the glowing eyes. "Sledgehammer more fun. Erica, I am not saying you can't dress how you want for school, or for date night with Boyd. I am saying the clothes have to match the activity. And your clothes do not match home renovations. You have been through a lot, and I get wanting to bring a certain vibe. But also, aren't you tired of performing hot wildcat all the damn time? Be a kid who gets to play a bit."

Erica was looking at him, and what was with all the lost puppy eyes they all kept giving him? "Oh will you bring it in?" he said and then he had an armful of Erica and was rubbing her back, ignoring the tears politely. "There you go, don't have to be tough all the time, Wildcat."

"I want a sledgehammer," she agreed.

"Who wouldn't?"

"Yoga pants are okay under the coveralls?"

"Absolutely. You go get changed, and I'll teach you how to swing one properly." Erica gave him a too tight squeeze and went upstairs.

Noah didn't know what to do when he was hugged by Boyd, "Okay there, Bucky?" He gave a pat to Boyd's back. "What's up?"

"Erica needed that."

"Sure," he wasn't sure exactly what he had done, but if it worked, great. "What do you need?"

"Nothing."

"So that's a something huh?"

"Before I was bit, I was thinking army. Not real smart in the end for college. But also, I'm not sure with the wolf powers, the military is the right option. Would umm…could I be a decent deputy do you think?"

"I think you would make an amazing deputy," Noah said firmly, "but also I want you to have two years at community college first. A diploma in law enforcement, or psych or something. It will help and you deserve those experiences. I can help tutor you in a few classes, not chemistry, dear god not chemistry. But you get that diploma, and you will have my recommendation for the academy."

"Thanks."

"You got it, big guy. Now you going to fight me on the coveralls?"

"Nope."

"Good, finish moving the couch. Time for me to make my phone call to Stiles." Noah gave Boyd one last pat. He went to the kitchen, which was looking a damned sight better. The oak finish on the cabinets brought warmth against all the brick, the new larger kitchen table added familial comfort, and the hooks on the wall for aprons and tea towels just added some old fashioned charm.

The metal rooster on the counter was just the right amount of ugly to bring to a kitchen space. Cora had found it in the decor section of the hardware store on triple clearance, an unwanted thing she rescued. He'd have to talk to her about that impulse. See if maybe she'd be interested in social work. He thought she'd be good there.

He took a few breaths and called Stiles. "Hey, kid."

"Dad, oh my god, do you know how amazing deep throating is?"

Noah needed a drink, desperately, but since he was using tools there was no drinking. Tonight there would be a beer with what he and the kids cooked. The new stove was in, and so much better. Cora had found Derek's platinum card, it was being put to good use.

"Yeah, yeah I do, son," he agreed.

"Derek's mouth is so amazing, which is good because even werewolf healing can't fix a worn out dick at a certain point. But those dildos you bought me are also really helping when he needs a break. You are the best dad! Like ever, seriously. You got me dildos and a Derek. We are running out of lube though?"

"Okay, when I drop off food for you later today, I will throw in a couple more bottles of lube. Anything else?"

"Chocolate syrup."

"No," he said firmly, "no food play, it is a nightmare to get out of body hair."

"How do we know that, Dad?"

"Any chance it is starting to wear off, been three days?"

"I can now go about two or three hours without needing something in my butt or mouth."

"Good. Great son. Proud of that forward progress. Hydrate. Please hydrate."

"Yup, okay starting to hurt again. Bye, dad, remember lube!"

Noah hung up and just closed his eyes for a moment. He was definitely having a conversation with Deaton about the man locking up his druid supplies. He kind of hoped Stiles would not remember these conversations when this had passed. He heard noise and looked over to see several teenagers in coveralls, trying not to bounce up and down at the chance for destruction.

"Right, we learn and destroy. Then we need to run errands to the hardware store, and get takeout and lube for my kid." There were a lot of winces on faces. Guess everyone was having problems with how much they had to think about Stiles and Derek having sex. "Thinking spaghetti and meatballs for our dinner tonight? Big loaf of cheesy garlic bread?" That got some eager smiles. He wasn't the best cook, but you didn't need to be with this group. Plenty was key. "You two staying tonight or going home?"

"Home," was said reluctantly. He knew Erica and Boyd preferred pack home, but they still had family they had to play normal with.

"Don't worry, you two, I'll call your folks and get you a weekend sleepover for when we are rebuilding the wall. Now then, first rule of a sledgehammer is Newton's law." He picked it up and saw the eager gleam in eyes.

Yeah, destruction was always a bit hit.

Stiles had never gotten into this when he had offered to teach it, and it was exciting to pass these skills along to someone.

Issac stared at the wall in horror. He hadn't meant to, he was just hanging a picture hook. But he had swung the hammer with a bit too much force, and now there was a hole in the drywall. A fairly big one. Maybe he could put the hook a bit above and cover it and the sheriff would never have to know it had happened.

But of course because he was the most unlucky person on the planet the sheriff walked in and he was grumbling. "I just had to tell my neighbours no don't worry about the shouting coming from my house the last few days, Stiles is making an indie horror movie for a school contest. Because apparently my kid's sex screams sound like murder and the neighbours are concerned. We're going to have to move. How do I deal with this? What the heck happened here, Sport?"

Isaac frozen, hammer in hand, hole in the wall obvious. "I didn't mean to," he whispered. He looked at the sheriff. Waited. He knew he wasn't the guy's favourite —it was clear that was Cora. They were having deep bonding sessions at the hardware store, and he had seen Cora looking up adoption papers. He was pretty sure it was for a joke she wanted to play on Stiles once Stiles was done being fucked on every available surface. But also he watched how she melted into every hug the sheriff gave her, and how she beamed every time she was called 'menace'.

Erica had been the one to realize that each of them had their own set of nicknames, that the sheriff kept them very separate. Special to each of them. They had a chart and they all listened carefully. He never interchanged them, and they weren't sure if the guy even realized he was doing it. Isaac was always sport or champ, sometimes buddy. It should feel a bit…young, but it didn't. He liked it. A lot. And he was pretty sure he'd never hear it again.

He didn't deserve a nickname when the sheriff had been spending his whole week off working on making the loft a better pack home for them. He had moved back in after the defeat of the alpha pack,because Scott was frankly a bit too clingy. Here he had space to breathe, deal with the dark thoughts that sometimes rolled through his head. He had added painting the brick in his room to the whiteboard, had a colour picked out for the sheriff to help him do. The guy was supposed to be on vacation, but instead he was working his ass off. Teaching them all this stuff. It had been cool, even if they hadn't taken it to the same degree Cora had been, they were all having fun.

They had gotten looks when they all skipped school but promised to catch up on work. They all just wanted more sheriff time, and it was clear that Stiles was starting to get better. Which meant the sheriff would leave again, back to mostly ignoring them, and they didn't want that. But honestly with such a huge mistake, he'd be happy if the sheriff just ignored him from here on out.

He didn't want to be hit by the man.

But he deserved it.

"I wanted to hang the picture for Derek." They had partially enclosed a section put up a wall to give the bed a bit more privacy. And when they had been shopping, Isaac had been the one to spot the art print of an old W.P.A. poster and it fit the vibe of the loft, and just felt like Derek. The sheriff had agreed it was great and with the wall done, and painted to blend in, he had thought okay, I can do this.

Only hadn't and now so much hard work, that had the sheriff popping pain medicine was ruined. They had all been taking away his pain at the end of the day, trying to do it without him noticing, letting him think the drugs were working better than usual.

Isaac looked at the hammer in his hand and quickly put it behind his back. No that wasn't right. He put it down on a table. "I'm sorry."

The sheriff was nodding, "Okay then, whelp, guess I need to go get that bag I left in the car. Wait here, Champ."

Isaac stood exactly where he was, didn't even move his feet a bit. He remembered being told wait here, and had moved three inches. That had been three hours in the freezer. So he stayed very still. Waited. He hated that he was alone.

If Cora or Erica were there, they'd stop the sheriff. Argue that it was an accident. But they were out shopping for throw pillows and pack blankets. Boyd was on the level below sanding the weird piece of wood they had bought that he wanted to turn into a side table. If he called, Boyd might hear him. But Isaac could hear the music, so maybe not.

He stayed very still. Tried to figure out what the sheriff needed to get out of the car, and all he could come up with was jumper cables. And fine, the others had all been tortured with that at some point and been fine, he'd be fine too. And he wouldn't tell Stiles or Derek about it. He deserved it.

"Alright, Sport, hope you are ready for your next lesson."

"I am," he said, because he knew better than to beg. "I'm sorry."

"Of course, don't worry about it, accidents happen, Buddy."

He was trying not to hyperventilate but it was hard hearing that phrase, because it was what his dad would say when he would let Isaac out of the freezer and see that Isaac had wet himself. Right before he had to clean everything, including himself, with bleach.

"Glad I picked up these supplies. Got real lucky too, they were on sale." The sheriff was holding up a cloth tote bag. "Ready?"

"How do you want me?" Isaac asked.

"What do you mean? I want you doing the work. We make a mistake we fix it, right Champ?"

"Right?" His dad had only done that a couple times, made Isaac choose his own punishment, but then say he picked wrong and do double. "I should -I don't know what to say," he admitted.

"Hey, Buddy, you okay?" The sheriff was coming close and Isaac couldn't stop the whine that came out, the shivering and folding in to protect himself. He was a wolf now, he could destroy the sheriff with one swipe. But he deserved this. "Hey, easy now," was said softly and then, "it's just a mistake. Little too much werewolf force. It's all good, Isaac."

He got called by name, and Isaac couldn't stop the tears that spilled. "Dad, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, please, Dad. I'll fix it, I'll go in a box because I don't think we have a freezer. Or you can spank me, or, or, or —"

Arms closed around him and he froze, words cut off, breath almost cut off. Because he wasn't being hurt. He was being hugged. Really tightly. Like it was painfully tight, and the best thing he had ever felt.

"Shh, shh, I have you, Buddy, I have you," was said and he was held. No rubs or pats, just held. Steady, sure. Absolute. "You are such a good kid, why would I ever hurt you?"

"Because I deserve it."

"No, you don't," was said firmly. "You made a mistake and that means I get to teach you how to patch drywall! Do you know how exciting that is? It is such a practical skill to have. Especially when you made such a great hole for the lesson, because big enough you can't just slap some spackle in there and call it a day. Now, would young me have just hung a picture to cover the whole, sure, but always better to do a job correctly, right?"

"Right?" Isaac said hesitantly.

"Exactly. Do you want to know how I learned how to do this?" Isaac could feel the laughter in the sheriff, smell the reassurance. "Apparently you aren't supposed to practice hockey in the hallway. Puck shot clean into the wall, and my damned brother the snitch, ratted me out to Pa. I had to learn how to fix it, and no t.v. for a week."

"I don't really watch t.v."

"Sport, you weren't being a dumbass like I was, yours was a legit mistake, mine was not wanting to go out the cold and knowing better." The sheriff stepped away, but Isaac found his face being cupped. "I will only ever be mad at my pups if they run into danger without thinking, hurt an innocent, or cheer for the Yankees. Okay?"

"But I'm clumsy and stupid."

"Champ, you are absolutely amazing," the sheriff said. There was a kiss to his forehead. "Now, take a nice couple deep breaths with me." They breathed in and out together. "Good. You are all good. Do you need to sit for a few minutes, or we good to learn?"

"Sheriff —"

"You called me something else, and if you want to, that's fine."

"Dad?" Isaac said and there was a grin, blinding and happy.

"Yeah, Sport?"

"I want to learn how to fix it."

"There we go, that's the spirit!"

Isaac listened carefully and they repaired the hole in the drywall. The others poured in and when they heard Isaac call the sheriff dad, he was worried they would make fun, but immediately everyone seemed to breathe a bit easier and shouts of Pops and Sheriff Dad, and Pa were all called out like they had just been waiting for the chance.

They had had the sheriff for six days and Isaac knew they were never letting him go. Stiles would just have to get used to sharing.

Noah was damned pleased with the work done on the main floor of the loft. Kitchen was a dream, that bit of a close in of the bed area for Derek, better furniture, and that brick wall rebuilt with an actual door put in. For a week, it was incredible progress, and it was all thanks to the work that the pack pups had put in.

"I think I like girls," Cora said to him. "I think I might ask Lydia Martin out."

They were in her room, dealing with her lighting, putting in a better light fixture. He was showing her how to do the wiring, them on stepladders. After they'd check on that outlet she was complaining about. "Lord, what hold does that girl have on my kids? First Stiles and now you."

"She's pretty and smart, and smells good."

Noah rolled his eyes a bit. "Okay, shoot your shot, but she has a habit of not finding Stilinskis the most endearing."

There was a silence that followed that and he thought about it. "Shit, sorry, Menace. Hales will have better luck." He had no idea why he implied that Cora was a Stilinksi, but god this week had they bonded. She was absolutely the hellion daughter that Claudia had wanted as a sister for Stiles. But as much as they tried they could not get pregnant again, and then the worst had happened. Claudia would have adored Cora. But also, she was a Hale, this was Hale territory, and with how much the family had lost implying a different name for her had to be an incredible werewolf insult.

He looked at her, and fuck the puppy eyes were going to destroy him. "Little one," he said, "I'm sorry."

She let out a breath, and then the grin she gave him was huge. "Well, no offense to Stiles, this Stilinski has way more game. He had to sex pollen himself to get his guy. I'm going to get my girl by actually using my words and shit. You just watch."

"I will," he promised. "Now which wire do you connect?"

"This one," she pointed and he nodded as she made the connections and the light turned on. She cheered and they slid it into place on the ceiling. It looked so much better than what had been there before. They high fived, and got back on the ground when his phone buzzed.

/fucking is done. need sleep. and to clean. give us a couple days. I'll buy you a new couch./

Noah looked at the message from Derek, read it a few times and just closed his eyes. Cora took the phone out of his hand, clearly read the message based on her snickers. "I said it better be so spotless that even a werewolf can't smell the spunk anymore and new lazy-boy too. You feel like a recliner guy, Pops."

"I am indeed a recliner guy, and please don't say spunk to me ever again, Spitfire."

That got him a wink, and finger guns.

They fixed the outlet and that was then everything done on the board that they were capable of doing without contractors.

"The bathroom has got to need work," he declared. He went there and started to make a list because he needed to really not think about why they needed two damn days to clean the place.

Peter got tired of the messages from Cora, and headed over the loft. She said that for the last week while Derek was away sucking Stiles' brain out via his dick that they had done some work on the loft. Which, oh joy, they bought a lamp and some pillows or something. Apparently the sheriff had been staying there and was a handy sort.

Perhaps the loose toilet handle had been fixed.

But he went over, because Cora sounded happy and not murdery in the texts which was a bit unusual. So he may as well.

He arrived at the loft, and pulled the door open.

"What the fuck?" He said, stunned.

He was right there were throw pillows. With completely rearranged furniture, and new furniture. The corner where Derek's bed was had had the beams used to attached wall to, to give it privacy. They had built a wall. No, correction, walls, since the half torn down brick wall was completely repaired with an actual door framed into it.

He walked to the kitchen which had new appliances, a better table, a breakfast bar along one wall, with cupboards that did not look the same as they had before. There was art hung on walls, knick knacks strewn about.

No one was around so he went upstairs, and peaked into the couple rooms up there. Cora had new lighting and attractive shelves. Isaac had the brick painted, with a new loft bed with computer desk underneath.

He followed the noise and found four wolves in the bathroom all holding various tools. The sheriff was standing in the tub. "Now, pups, we want to change the shower head. What is the first step in doing anything with water?"

Isaac raised a hand, "we make sure the water is shut off, right?"

"Absolutely right, Sport. Bucky, where do we do that?"

Boyd was nodding seriously, "this shower doesn't have an easy shut off, so we turn off the main. I'll go do that." He hurried out of the bathroom, almost running Peter over in his desire to please the human.

"Now then when he is done that, I'll need my Wildcat, to get the old shower head taken off. You up for some destruction?"

"You know it Sheriff Dad," Erica was grinning and in grubby loose clothes. Peter didn't know she owned anything that didn't feel like it was painted on. They had bonded over the best v-neck tops. She had some sort of tool in hand. There was a call from Boyd and Peter watched as the sheriff guided her in getting the old shower head taken apart.

They were all listening carefully, intent in a way that usually only fights had happening.

"Hey, Princess, you want to get any piece of this?" was called and Peter smirked, waited for Cora to rip the man a new one, but she was grinning at him.

"He means you," Cora snickered and Peter saw Erica and Isaac trying to not laugh as well.

"I'm sorry?"

"Well, I know Menace there texted you all week, but you didn't exactly swing around to help with any of the work, only showing up when we are mostly done. Thought maybe you'd want a part of the pack bonding experience, Gorgeous."

Peter felt himself freeze a bit. This stupid little human was calling him, the left hand, the murderer Peter fucking Hale, princess and gorgeous.

He had destroyed people for smiling wrong in the past. And he was being teased by a sheriff who had delusions of handyness. He was going to ignore how the loft had been transformed significantly for the better in a week. "I think I am fine as it is. How is Stiles doing, I would imagine he's pulled at least three muscles."

He was stunned when all the other wolves snarled or hit him; in Cora's case both.

"We're distracting him from that, turned out Stiles wasn't actually done and they are going for a few more rounds." Cora glared at him, "someone told him maybe enough magic had been involved that one of the two might end up pregnant."

"Okay that isn't possible, why are you looking at me, like I am the one who said that?" Peter liked to stir shit, but that wasn't even in the realm of a thing he would say.

"Deaton did," the sheriff groaned a bit and Peter watched as Isaac stepped into the tub, and hugged the man, pack scented him. "It is a slim chance, but it really depends what exactly Stiles mixed together in the super porn shake he apparently made. And we won't know until he is fully coherent, and maybe not until a month from now when they both get to pee on a stick. Because there is so much magic bullshit, and like so much switching that could be either one ending up with the completely impossible pregnancy and I swear to god if they did that, I'm getting to name my damn perfect grandkid." There was a sigh, and Peter truly was shoved out of the way so all the pups could now hug the sheriff.

They were promising to babysit, and make baby blankets which interesting to learn they were taking up knitting. Peter was fairly certain that this was all impossible, but then again Stiles did manage to make a fuck or die potion.

Peter went back downstairs all the bonding and support a bit too disgusting and called Derek. "What?" was snarled and he could hear Stiles' moans in the background, "fix it yourself, Peter."

"I can't, I just thought you might like to know all this might have created a baby. Have fun," he said and hung up, turned his phone off. Served him right for being rude. Peter settled onto the couch which was a damned good couch now, and put his feet up on an ottoman. There was a new recliner that felt a bit out of place, but he ignored it. He vaguely listened to the noise upstairs and when Erica came down and went to another room, he could hear the shower start. They must have been successful.

Everyone gathered in the living room and the sheriff was pushed into the recliner. "You've done more than you said you would, sit."

There was a huff, "middle aged, not ancient, no matter how it looks to my pups."

There were protests about their dad not being old, they wanted their pops to rest and more of the like. Peter was fascinated by how eight days had fully changed the energy of these pups.

"Homework time," was said. "I'll order us Chinese later."

There were grumbles but then all the teens sprawled around and reading, making notes. It was terrifyingly domestic. The sheriff was clearly having a bit of a nap, but awake in an instant when someone asked for help.

"Hey," Cora looked at him and Peter raised a brow, "do you like it?"

"Like what?"

"What we did the place? Do you think Derek will like it?"

Derek didn't know about any of this, Peter realized. Oh that was delicious. "It isn't to my taste," Peter said and that got a snort from the sheriff.

"Dollbaby, I can guess at your taste," was said and fingers were laced over stomach. "Wake me when time to feed the kids." The guy seemed to really settle into a doze.

Peter was honestly grateful for that because then the sheriff did not see all the teens stare at him in various degrees of horror. The bitten pups were not the best with scent yet but apparently even they could smell the confusion and arousal that was sliding off of Peter at the absurd names the sheriff was giving him. "Not a word," he told all of them.

"No," Cora snarled, "you don't go near him. Because he promised to buy me a compound mitre saw for my birthday, and if you bang and bail, he might decide not to be our dad anymore."

"He wasn't your dad in the first place." And fuck that was a lot of eyes flashing at him. "Erica you have a father!"

"Yeah, but he said I look trashy in my new clothes. The sheriff just points out they aren't practical for home repairs."

Peter stared at them. "It's been a week, and he is now in charge?"

"Yes," they all agreed.

"He's human!" Peter had to point out. "One claw and he's dead in a matter of seconds." He was stunned as all the baby wolves, and his own niece formed a wall between him and the sheriff. They were all clearly ready to murder him. "I'm not going to, I am just saying all of this is absurd. Once Derek and Stiles are done, you think he's really going to hang out here? This was just killing time."

"Or I can kill you, for thinking I'd abandon my pups. Claudia and I always wanted a few more, just didn't work out. But you pups need to relax. Princess here is just sad because he hasn't picked out anything pretty for his nephew's space. He and I will hit the store so he can buy Derek a your dick did a good job reward. We'll also get the food. I want the homework finished, and I want you to start cleaning up the work room we've been using downstairs, okay?"

There were agreements and there was an absurd amount of pack hugs and scenting before the sheriff was allowed to leave, and each of the pups gave him a death glared, and Cora mimed murdering him with her future saw.

"You can drive," was said when they reached the cars. "Kids haven't taken my pain away yet for the day. And feeling my back after putting in that new bathroom sink."

"They've been draining your pain." Peter pulled out of the lot, and headed vaguely towards the Chinese place they all preferred.

"Yeah, they tried to be subtle about it. Teens, subtle as Molotov cocktails." There was a laugh, "Now what are you going to buy Derek?"

"You were not serious about that," Peter looked at him. "Isn't finally plowing the ass he's wanted for forever enough reward?"

"No, he's going to feel guilty for a good couple weeks after, and you'll be a dick about it, so you are buying something nice for the place, Doll-baby."

He growled and pulled the car over to the side of the road. "What are you doing?" He glared at the sheriff. "What is that?"

"What?" the guy looked honestly confused.

"The nicknames? Why am I being called princess, and doll-baby?"

"I'm trying to tease," the sheriff said, "and I am sorry that it didn't work."

"Tease? Tease what?"

"You just seem like a guy that people have problems joking with. Worried that you'll cut them deeper than the situation warrants." Peter showed claws. "Yes, yes, you are very pointy and you know that's not what I meant - Gorg —Peter. I just was trying to have some fun."

"The other names weren't teasing, the ones for the pups."

"Yeah, well you aren't a pup, are you. But I'll stop."

Peter looked at him, "You don't call me any of those things again until you've end up in my bed and I'm riding your dick." Because he was seeing the sheriff in a very intriguing light now.

"Not happening?"

"Because I'm a man?"

"Because you just want a conquest. You want something more, suppose we can talk at some point. Now let's go shopping."

Peter watched the sheriff for a moment before he nodded and they parked along a few doors down from the food they were getting. They walked towards it and Peter had to stop. In the window there was a gorgeous bench meant for the foot of a bed. "Shit," he groaned because it would look perfect in the loft. He went in and it would be delivered tomorrow.

The sheriff was standing outside, smirking a bit. "Little fox, be careful not to be too clever," Peter warned crowding the man, "my teeth are much larger than yours."

"I'll look forward to seeing them, Peter."

"One more," Peter whispered as he leaned in, scented the sheriff's neck. "I'll let you get away with one more without devouring you whole."

He was surprised when the sheriff leaned in and a nose was dragged along his jawline. "Maybe, Doll-baby, I'll devour you right back."

Peter cleared his throat, grateful no other wolves were around to scent just how aroused he was. "Egg rolls. I want egg rolls and lemon chicken."

"Let's buy a feast, and my name is Noah, just in case you didn't actually know it."

"I know everything about the people who are in my nephew's life." He looked at the man. "Or I thought I did. Who knew, turns out I can be wrong."

"Imagine that." the phone buzzed and he looked at it, a smile on his face. "Seems in the morning I can go home. Definitely a feast tonight."

They took an absurd amount back to the loft and Peter watched when they were all told the sheriff would be leaving. The reactions were loud and scared until the sheriff reassured them, he had a comfy chair there now, he'd be back and they were all welcome at the house.

"Though again, who knows how long I'll live there, with what the neighbours are saying."

"Derek does own this building, so we can just get you your own loft," Peter suggested, "if the busybodies don't leave you alone."

"Don't think I'm cool enough for the industrial loft vibe, but I'll keep the offer in my back pocket."

Peter slid out when the kids begged to watch a movie, he had no energy for that, and he now had to deal with very unexpected feelings.

But perhaps not unwelcome.

Noah had packed up all the tools into the car, and was pretty damn pleased with how it all came out. Cora handed him a cup of coffee. "Thanks, Menace." The others weren't up yet. "How pissed will Derek be?"

"Hopefully he is too fucked out to notice at first?" She suggested. "We did good. I liked this. Learning from you. The hugs and praise stuff. It's nice. New."

"You're parents hugged you."

"They loved me, but they were so busy and just sort of forgot me a bunch." Cora seemed small, she was always small but her energy was so huge you forgot it. "Mostly it was about being a wolf. How to fight and all that."

"Huh, if that is all they cared about, why they do such a shit job?"

"What?" She stared at him in shock.

Noah had been itching to say this ever since he had found out about wolves and seen a few of their fights. And Cora after all this bonding might actually listen to him. "I don't care that you have healing. What is with all the arm flailing? Arms in protect your core. Jab out. Kick in the balls will hurt any guy even wolfed out, especially if you wear the steel toed boots I bought you all the time." He stood and went into a good stance. "Like this see? Protect your core, jab. Protect your core, spin then swipe." He demonstrated. "Protect your core, uppercut but instead of fist claws out."

He watched her copy and he corrected her a couple times, but yeah she was getting the hang of it. "Good," he praised and kissed her head. "Now then, you want out for your little brothers at school, okay? Isaac and Stiles, you keep an eye out, won't you Little One?"

She nodded and burrowed in his arms. "I could be a Stilinski."

"You are, you don't need to change your name to do that," he told her, absolutely loving her with the corner of his heart that had always been waiting for the big family he and Claudia had talked about. "How about we make everyone pancakes?"

"Sure," she said and scented him a bit; he let her knowing she was readying herself for him leaving in a couple hours. "Only had you a few days," she said, "it's so stupid."

"Being seen and being loved is never stupid," he told her. "And besides, so much I haven't taught you. Been meaning to work on the porch on my house, up to helping with with that?"

"You know it, Pops," Cora declared. "You'll get sick of me."

"Impossible," Noah said firmly. "Now get the griddle out."

He cooked a mountain of pancakes and some bacon and they were all sitting around the the table, when he got a text. "They are in bound." Furious cleaning happened until the new kitchen was spotless, and phones were grabbed. "Hey now don't record his reaction."

"No, we're gonna," Erica declared. Noah noticed that her jeans were as tight as ever, but the top wasn't tight and low. Still form fitting but didn't look quite so shrunk. Less eye make up too.

"Looking good, Wildcat," he said. "But you did before too." He didn't want to be the old man shaming his daughter for her sexuality.

"Thanks," she smiled, "think I'm figuring it all out. Asked Lydia to go shopping, she said yes. And maybe while there I'll talk my pack mate up a bit."

Cora flushed just a bit at that but hugged Erica.

They heard the elevator and Noah was eager to see his son, make sure he was okay. The door swung open, "I have been freed from death by Derek's dick, witness my miraculous —holy shit, this place got Dad-ed," Stiles shouted.

Noah ignored that and ran over, hugged the hell out of Stiles, who felt a few pounds lighter, they'd have to fix that. "You okay, do you feel pregnant, if you feel pregnant, Menace and I will get to work on a nursery at the house."

"Menace?" Stiles began to laugh. "Oh my god, you didn't just Dad the loft, you Dad-ed the whole pack didn't you."

"Shut up, I needed to keep busy," Noah smacked his kid and hugged him some more. "You good?"

"Tired, sore even with him taking away the pain, staying away from all Druid bullshit for at least six months. But good. I got my guy," Stiles whispered.

"I figured you would, and now I don't have to be worried this place is a death trap when you stay over."

Noah turned to look at Derek, "Hey, Pup, how you doing?"

"What happened to my loft?" Derek was looking around in confusion.

"We made it awesome," Cora declared and the other teens cheered. "Wait…Pup, that was distinctly Pup. Erica!"

"Adding it to the list," Erica said as she pulled out her phone. "Cross referencing, nope, all clear."

"What?" Derek asked.

Noah snorted, "don't worry about it. I'm going home and I want one night just me and Stiles before we are invaded, is that clear?" No one made eye contact. "I'm sorry, I didn't hear a response?" There were reluctant agreements.

"Where'd that wall come from?" Derek pointed. "And that one? Is that a different couch?"

"Don't worry, Derek," Cora soothed, "the sheriff didn't spend any taxpayer money on this. You left in such a hurry, that you forgot your wallet. With your platinum card."

Stiles clearly choked on his breath at that declaration, and Wolf eyes went blue. "What?" Derek yelled. "how much?"

"Well, can you really put a price on safety and a shower head with six settings?" Isaac offered. "See you day after tomorrow, Dad."

Noah smiled, "See you then, Champ. Bucko, I want you to talk to your guidance counselor about the police academy. Wildcat, give them hell. Menace, bring it in," he said and got another hug from Cora. The kids all crowded him.

Derek was seeming panicked about all the change. "Oh come here, Little Awwo," he called, "join the pack hug."

"What the fuck did you just call me?"

"Little Awoo, I heard it," Stiles smiled gleefully, "I think we all did. There was a Pup, and then a Little Awoo. I know I'll never forget it. And I don't think anyone here will either." Stiles joined the hug. "Come on, is it worse than Sourwolf?"

"Yes!" Derek shouted. But he joined the hug. "How much did this cost?"

"You got to fuck my underage son for a week, I don't think you are too worried about the cost are you?" Noah pointed out and Derek was smart enough not to answer that. He let them all scent him a bit more and tugged Stiles away.

They headed home, which thank god had been cleaned thoroughly. A neighbour came over, "done filming your movie, Stiles?"

Stiles had a look of horror on his face and his mouth opened.

"Yeah, Stiles," Noah cut him off, "I explained to the neighbours you were making an indie horror movie, for a contest. Why all the screaming."

"Yup, done all the filming at the house," Stiles agreed, "Need to do all the outdoor stuff."

"Well I love a good scare, sweetie, so I can't wait to watch it."

"Awesome, thanks!" Stiles said and they went into the house. "You are going to make me make a shitty horror movie, aren't you?"

"Yes, I am," Noah agreed. "We need to cover our bases."

He went up to his room and changed into sweats and a tee and went to collapse on his couch, and stared, "he really did buy me a new couch."

"Yeah the springs were —"

Noah held up his hand, "Nope, we're good."

"We talked to Deaton. I pointed out the stuff I mixed, not pregnant."

"Oh thank fuck," Noah moaned in relief. "I would have helped and loved that kid, but like you have plans, and just not ready to be a PopPop yet, not when I just seem to have adopted like four other kids. Shit it will probably be Boyd and Erica that grandparent me up first. No not thinking about this."

"Good call, so how'd you end up pack dad?"

"Gave them power tools."

"That would do it. Should I be jealous?"

Noah sat up, "do you want to learn repairs?"

"Fuck no," Stiles snorted, "love you so much, but that is not happening. Derek might be willing to learn though. He has those vibes." There was a yawn, and Stiles looked at him. "Can I?"

"Yeah, of course," Noah said and that night Stiles was crashed in his bed. "Didn't call them son or kid."

"I know you wouldn't have. Mine first, most, and always," Stiles said. "Thanks for looking out for me so well. That had to be weird and scary for you."

"You have no idea," Noah agreed. "But you are safe, and good?"

"I'm good. I love him, Dad."

"I know you do, son, and it will be amazing." If it wasn't well, he could get real creative with his power tools.

Peter was quite annoyed that he couldn't stop thinking about the sheriff.

The man was so human, and not exactly young. Medium attractive, a small bit of status, he supposed, but he had seen their home, money was not an issue because the man had none.

It was also so beneath him.

And then he thought of the way the man called him doll-baby and princess and his wolf went insane inside of him, wanting to claim. To keep.

Cora was not helping, sitting on his couch, rambling about how Pops had suggested she take drafting at school and the tool kit he had bought her. How good the Stilinski house smelled because it was filled with love.

"I love you," he muttered. "Derek loves you. The loft smells like love."

"Yeah, it smells like wolf ass, and sweat, and any love is because the sheriff keeps dropping off food for us. And also when Stiles stays over. Loft definitely smells like love then." She snickered and was also clearly a bit repulsed. "Actually, he's staying over tomorrow night. Can I stay here?"

"No," Peter replied. "Is the sheriff on nights right now? Go bother him."

"Nah, he's on days, but he also said that he is going to watch baseball. That's a bridge too far." Cora sighed.

"It's a Saturday night, why haven't you asked Lydia out yet?"

"And I'm leaving." Cora scowled at him. "I'm working my way to it."

"Umm-hmm," Peter smiled.

"Well, are you doing any better, Princess?" she snapped and he stood, growled. They looked at each other and eventually backed down. She left and he realized a few hours later, she had somehow left a hammer in his apartment.

The next night he showered and shaved carefully and calmly used the hammer to knock the shower head out of the wall. "Oops," he sighed.

The landlord would raise his rent, but luckily he knew a guy who might help him out. He called Noah, and waited. "Hello," he purred when the phone was answered, "Little Fox, I need your help. My shower head broke, and I really don't want the landlord to raise my rent."

"Sure, I can come over. Text me your address."

Peter did and decided to pour himself a whisky while he waited. The sheriff arrived about twenty minutes later, in slim jeans and a sweatshirt that was ancient and somehow annoyingly charming. He offered his class to the man, but it was ignored.

Fine.

He showed Noah the problem and Noah looked surprised. "Werewolf strength?"

"Had a bad knot in my shoulder, when I tried to adjust the head, well, what can you do?"

"Not hit it with a hammer?" Noah said and Peter realized that he had left the hammer on the toilet tank. He was usually better than this. "Let's get this fixed. Turn off the water."

"Yes, I remember the charming lesson," Peter said and went to the shut off. "Done," he called and enjoyed the cursing when the sheriff did something that clearly got him very wet. "Oh that's righty tighty, my mistake."

He looked over to see Noah stripping off the sweatshirt and yes, alright, he absolutely understood why this man was drawing him in.

Peter left him to work and finished that whisky. He heard footsteps and was honestly surprised at how close the man had gotten.

"Really, Doll-baby, really?"

Peter smiled, and there was perhaps a bit of fang, and his eyes flashed. "What did I say about calling me that."

"I remember."

They stared at each other and Peter nodded, walked to his bedroom, and was followed. Peter got undressed and crawled onto the bed. Noah was standing there shirtless and watching him. "What?" Peter asked.

"Well, I do want to call you certain things, so it is what it is." Pants were removed and Peter could smell a hint of sadness on the man. But then it was gone and it wasn't the best sex ever, Noah either just out of practice or hadn't been with a man before, but it wasn't bad.

Next time would be better.

If not the time after that.

Noah sat up and laughed, "well sorry about that, Peter, bet you are used to better."

"I am," Peter replied. He didn't understand though, the man was reaching for clothes. And why he had been called Peter. It left him surprisingly cold. "I'm sorry, do you think you get to leave before I get the better I am used to?"

"My age is once a night, and honestly unlikely to want much in the morning either. And I assumed we were done after that."

"Yes, because I want my niece to murder me with the combine mill saw thing."

"Compound mitre saw, and you are buying her the stand for it, Peter."

Why was the bastard saying his name like that. "Yes, that, fine. Whatever, where the fuck are you going, I'm not done with you."

"Well, when do you think you'll be done with me?"

Peter growled, reached out and dragged Noah onto the bed, pinned him down, "when I get tired of hearing you call me the things."

"You are already tired of it."

Peter ran his fangs over Noah's neck. "When did I say that?" Noah was staying very still. Prey frozen in fear and Peter worried this had been too far.

He found himself twisted and he was the one on his back. "Princess, are you going to be trouble?" Noah was looking down at him and he was smiling, a darker look than he expected from the man.

Peter smiled. "Yes. I am."

"Well then, maybe I can manage a round two after all." He didn't but he did get Peter off and it was indeed better and a part of Peter than had always been cold warmed when he was held tightly and a kiss pressed to his neck and he was told sweet dreams and called that stupid doll-baby thing.

Humans were so very fragile and boring.

But he'd keep this one around, for a little while.

Just a little.

Noah stood there on the bright summer day and stared at the crew. "Alright," he called and everyone snapped too. "We have a pecking order. I'm in charge. Second in command is Cora. I trust her above all of you, and you will obey her word and orders like they are from god itself."

Cora moved to stand next to him, an unholy gleam in her eyes. "I am your god," she intoned to all of them.

"Menace," he warned.

"I feel I should be offended," Peter called out.

He was not in the line of people, but rather sunbathing on a chaise lounge, with a goddamn margarita at nine in the morning.

Noah snorted, "I might be marrying you in three months, but like hell I'll ever trust you, Doll-baby." That got a drink raised in salute.

"You are right not to trust me, Dad," Stiles called from the lounger right next to Peter. He wasn't sunbathing but the stack of comics beside him was large. "I am deeply untrustworthy, and am just here to provide moral support to my guy there. Go guy!" Stiles cheered Derek on, who looked pained but also in love.

Noah was impressed that Derek could manage a look like that.

Lydia was on the lounger on the other side of Stiles, because she just didn't want to help which was honest and valid. She did blow a kiss to Cora who pretended to ignore it, but Noah caught her smile.

"So Cora and I are on point. Wildcat, you are in charge of wanton destruction, you up to the task?"

"You know it," Erica grinned in her coveralls and hard hat. "My baby Newton and I are good to go."

"I am proud that you named your sledgehammer," Noah said.

"Pup," he gestured to Derek, "you are on break down with her, that fine?"

"Yeah," Derek nodded. He rolled his eyes at being called pup, but he had never once asked Noah to stop. Stiles had said that Derek liked it. That it made him feel less alone.

Fool kid, had to accept the love he was surrounded by at some point. They were working on it.

"Big guy, you are on salvage, if there is anything worth saving in terms of copper wire, a sink that isn't too bad, anything at all, find it, take it to the designated spots." Noah pointed to some tarps. That got a salute from Boyd. "Good, now Sport, I'm going to want your help, we're going into the tunnels to asses for structural weaknesses, take some measurements, make some plans. Up for that?"

"I am, Dad," Isaac was bouncing at some alone time with him.

"Menace, you are in charge of above, I'm below if you need me." He handed her a walkie talkie. "Everyone hydrates, we take a break every ninety minutes, and the lazy bones, will take care of us when we are on those breaks," he called over to the three who had zero interest in home repair.

They all just waved and he was damn well going to pretend that the margaritas that Lydia and his kid had were nonalcoholic.

He went over to Derek and squeezed his shoulder. Derek was looking forward, but clearly in the past. "You ready, Pup?"

Derek looked at him. There was a small smile, and a sledgehammer lifted. "I refuse to name mine."

"Fair," Noah agreed. "Alright crew, let's get to work."

Noah let Derek take the first step to the Hale house, the first step to building a new future from the quite literal ashes of the old one. He stayed back until Derek said shyly, "come on, Dad, family does this together."

Noah smiled, "yeah, son, we do this together."

The crew went inside and began the tear down of the past, to create the future of what they all eventually decided was called the Halinksi pack. They didn't need an alpha.

They had a dad, and they all agreed that was more than enough.