A/N: I know, it's late... I'm really sorry. I just haven't been feeling too great lately and I've just wanted to be alone and not have to do anything but sit there. Stressing for finals also had something to do with it, but now that's over. I'll try to push through so I can finish this book. I think I'll be okay until then. Thanks for reading though, you guys are the only reason I even update this. 

And sorry this chapter is a little short, but I just wanted to get an update for you all. 

Derek

My ribs ached the worst, but nearly every part of my body was in pain. Holding Ben was making it worse, but I wasn't putting him down yet. I couldn't even if I tried because he was holding on so tight, hiding his face in my neck as he clung to me. Stiles was being careful though, not squeezing too hard, but still holding me close to him. His lips were warm compared to the cool wind. 

"We should go inside where it's warm," I whispered, pulling away from the kiss, but still keeping Stiles close. I wasn't ready to let him go yet. I took his hand instead and held it tight, maybe a little too tight, but he didn't say anything. I carried Ben all the way inside and when I tried to put him down once we were in the apartment, he wouldn't let me, so I kept holding him. 

"Are you. . . okay?" Stiles asked, wrapping his arm around my waist. His ran his other hand through Ben's hair and Ben smiled back at him. 

"I'm sore," I admitted as Stiles pulled a reluctant Ben from my arms and instead sat him on the couch. "Are you guys okay? I was gone for almost two weeks. Did you think I was. . ." I trailed off, because I already knew the answer, just from the look I was getting from Stiles. I knew they both thought I was gone. That's how it looked when Aaron stabbed me. I would've been dead if Aaron would've left me there. "I'm sorry, Stiles," I whispered, lightly kissing his forehead. 

He shook his head and sat down on the couch next to Ben, tugging on my arm so I would sit next to him. Ben crawled across Stiles to sit in my lap. "Dad, I missed you," Ben mumbled as he looked up at me, eyes wide and watery. I tried to keep myself from crying, but looking at Ben made that hard, and Stiles wasn't making it easier either. "You're not leaving again, right?"

"No, I'm staying this time," I replied quietly as Stiles laid his head on my shoulder and Ben hugged my neck. "I love you both so much." 

Ben smiled fondly and sighed a little. "Daddy promised we would watch Home Alone, and now you're back, so you can watch it with us." He leaned forward just enough to reach the remote and then handed it to Stiles. "Here, daddy." 

Stiles took the remote and got the movie started. It only took about forty-five minutes for Ben to fall asleep. "I'll take him upstairs," Stiles offered, but I was already holding him, so I shook my head. "Are you sure? You're still sore and-"

"Stiles," I cut him off, trying to give him the most assuring smile. "It's fine. I can handle it." Stiles sighed in defeat and kept staring at me worriedly as I got up off the couch. I thought I might fall, but I didn't, even though Stiles nearly fell trying to make sure I didn't. I took a deep breath to steady myself and slowly made my way upstairs, making sure to tuck Ben in and put the covers over him, since it was kind of cold in the house. 

When I came back downstairs, Stiles wasn't in the living room. I plopped down on the couch with a small sigh and closed my eyes. I heard him moving around in the kitchen, being his clumsy self. I smiled a little at his string of curse words when he knocked a plastic cup off the counter. I could sit there all day listening to the small things, enjoying them. I allowed myself for a small moment to think about how amazing it would be if this was my life all the time. 

After about ten minutes, Stiles stumbled back into the living room, his arms full of food and two drinks. He sat them all down on the table with a lot of difficulty and then threw himself down on the cushion next to me. "I thought you might be hungry," he said, staring up at the ceiling. 

"Uh," I mumbled, eyes scanning over all of the various foods sitting on the table. I suddenly felt a little nauseous and instead focused on Stiles. "Not really, but thank you anways," I replied finally. Stiles scrunched his nose up and flipped over on his stomach, burying his face in the arm of the couch. "Stiles, what's wrong?" I whispered, running a hand along his side.

He sniffed, but didn't look up. "I. . . I'm really sorry," he responded, his voice cracking slightly. Another sniff. 

I reached further to rake my fingers through his soft hair, hoping it would calm him a little. "What for? You haven't done anything," I assure him, but that only caused him to break down more. He still wouldn't look at me, or ever turn away from the arm of the couch. He just stayed there, crying into the fabric of the old, worn out furniture.

Stiles shook his head. "I-I just left, Derek," he sobbed, rubbing at his eyes. "I should've looked for you. I shouldn't have given up hope so easily. I just. . . I should've known you, of all people, would still be alive after something like that. These past two weeks have been hell when they could've been spent with you." 

I carefully pulled on his arm, finally getting him to turn around and face me. I hovered over him, careful not to crush his body, since he was considerably smaller than me. He stared up, but avoided my eyes. "Stiles, you did the right thing," I said, running a thumb across his cheek to wipe away the wetness. "You couldn't risk Ben getting hurt. If you would've tried anything, Aaron would've killed you. Stop thinking about what happened, because that part's over. I'm here, and that's what matters."

Stiles met my eyes and his lip began to quiver again. "You could've been here sooner if I-"

"Stop it," I cut him off, shaking my head. "It doesn't matter. We're together, aren't we?" I kissed his wet cheek and he nodded, wrapping his arms around my neck. 

"I missed you more than you can even imagine," Stiles muttered, pulling my face closer to his until our lips brushed past each other. "I missed seeing your smile, listening to you talk. . ." he paused to softly kiss me, then pulled back with a slight grin. "kissing you," he finished, fingers tangling in my hair. 

"We should do more of that," I replied, mirroring his smile. Stiles nodded, pulling my lips back to his. I ran my hands up his sides, over his shoulders and up his arms until our fingers locked together above our heads. I had imagined this for the past two weeks. I imagined being with Stiles, tasting his lips, his kiss that I loved so much. The feeling of touching him, even just holding his hands like this. Our lips moved easily together. This was a familiar thing, something we knew how to do and loved doing. Kissing Stiles wasn't just a kiss. It was my happy place and it made everything else disappear. 

My attention was focused mainly on Stiles, but when he pulled away for a few seconds, reality flooded back and I noticed Ben was awake again. I sat up and pulled at my hair, listening closer, hoping to get a reason as to why he was awake. Bad dream, or maybe he wasn't feeling well. "Der, what's wrong?" Stiles asked, sitting up on his elbows. 

I listened a few seconds longer until I heard Ben stumbling towards the stairs. "Ben's awake. I'll get him," I said, getting up off the couch. Stiles followed after me, but I didn't make it all the way up the stairs before I saw Ben. He looked green in the face as he rubbed his eyes and stumbled forward. "Are you okay?" I asked softly, reaching towards him. 

Ben shook his head, looking right at me, but swayed slightly. "I don't feel good, dad. I just want to-" Ben paused, catching me off guard when he just fell forward, but I caught him anyways. It's just that I almost fell, but I caught myself in time. 

"Ben!" Stiles exclaimed, running up the stairs so he could be closer. Ben was unconscious though, for some reason, and his heart was slowing considerably. "Derek, what's wrong with him?"

I bit down on my lip and started descending the stairs. "I don't know," I admitted. "Grab the keys. We're taking him to the hospital."

+++

I wasn't expecting it to be as busy as it was, especially at nine pm. There were people occupying every seat in the waiting room and all of the staff seemed to be gone, or busy. Either way, I didn't see a how we were going to get Ben in anytime soon. I figured we could just stand there and wait our turn, even though with each second, I got more and more worried. Stiles wasn't doing much better. He'd probably been in the hospital too much lately, with Lydia and his dad, and now Ben. If I knew how to help him, I would have. 

Twenty minutes of waiting later and Ben woke up, his eyes scanning the room with a confused look. I tried to talk to him, but he acted like he couldn't hear me. People were staring now, at the two dads nearly freaking out because their kid had something seriously wrong with him. We couldn't help it. 

"Ben, do you want something to drink?" Stiles tried to ask, but Ben just made a face and without warning, threw up everywhere. I didn't care that it got all over my clothes, because that wasn't concerning. What was concerning, however, was the blood covering the white tiles and still coming out of him. That caught the attention of the hospital staff and thirty seconds later, there was a bed for Ben. Everyone kept staring at us, probably thanking God that it wasn't their kid. 

We followed him as far as the nurses would let us go, which wasn't far. Stiles refused to let him go, so I was forced to hold him back. My heart was breaking in so many ways, seeing Stiles like this, and watching Ben get worse and worse. The only reason I wasn't running away to get away from all of my problems, this and the war, was for Stiles and Ben. I couldn't leave them, especially not in this state. 

"Derek, I don't know if I can do this anymore," Stiles mumbled as he pulled stepped away from the door, shaking his head slowly. "I don't know what to do. What will we do if Ben's not okay? What if he. . . w-what if he doesn't-"

"Don't," I cut him off, grabbing his wrists. I tried to look away, to act like he wasn't crying, but I'd be worried more if he wasn't. This wasn't a no tears kind of situation. "Stiles, Ben will be fine. Even if what those doctors say isn't good, our son isn't going to die. I won't let him."

Stiles sniffed and continued staring at the ground, his entire body trembling. "But how can we help him if they say he can't be helped?" Stiles asked, finally giving in and letting me hold him against my chest, his head laying on my shoulder. 

I rubbed small circles on his back and kissed his head. "You have to call Kara, tell her Ben might die without her help. She hasn't ever let us down before." I sighed heavily and realized how exhausted I was. Stiles noticed and pulled away, his hand taking mine as he led me to the nearest chair and made me sit. I pulled him down to sit on my lap and wrapped my arms around his waist, nuzzling my nose against his shoulder. 

"You can go to sleep," he whispered, kissing my cheek lightly. "If the doctor comes out, I'll wake you. I promise."

I nodded slowly, squeezing his sides affectionately. "And you'll call Kara." Stiles nodded in agreement and hugged my neck. It was the most comfortable position, but I was too tired to care. I mumbled a soft "I love you," and Stiles may have said it back, but I wasn't really listening. I was already drifting off.