"Did you get the cake?"

"Boyd has it."

"And do we have enough napki—"

"Mrs. McCall brought extra."

"And the welcome to the family bann—"

"Isaac and your dad put it up."

"And is our camera—"

"Stiles," Derek says, fingers hooking on Stiles's belt loops and pulling him close. "The camera's charged, there's enough food and drinks, what has to be put up is up, everyone's here, and your shirt doesn't smell like baby vomit anymore. Now stop worrying."

"I can't help it," Stiles huffs, arms wrapping around Derek's neck, their chests pressed together. "Today is important. For us. For our family. For— I just want everything to be perfect."

"You know that's impossible," Derek tells him, lips curling up when Stiles glares at him. "Especially since Erica let Kyle bring his rollerblades."

"He's going to end up knocking into one of the tables, isn't he?" Stiles sighs, letting his forehead drop on Derek's shoulder and thinking of a way to get rid of the rollerblades that won't make a seven-year old cry.

"There's a real possibility."

"Great," Stiles mumbles.

"Hey," Derek says, turning his head to the side, lips brushing the shell of Stiles's ear. "At least Tori doesn't bring her bow with her everywhere she goes anymore."

Stiles pulls back, blinking.

Because Derek does have a point.

Tori's nine now, and Allison has been teaching her how to work a bow since she was around seven. The last time she brought the thing with her it was to one of the firehouses annual barbecues, and she accidentally managed to hit Finstock's cupcake right out of his hand with an arrow.

Stiles still thinks that was one of the funniest things he's ever seen, but no one's wanted a repeat performance since then.

So Stiles smiles a little at Derek, relaxing, his fingers coming to play with Derek's hair. "You always know how to make me feel better."

"It's a gift," Derek says dryly, laughing into Stiles's mouth when Stiles leans in and kisses him, slow and sweet.

"We should probably head down, then," Stiles says a few seconds later. "And save the baby from being hugged to death by Zach."

Ever since they brought the baby home from the hospital after Stiles found him and introduced him to all the kids, Zach's pretty much declared himself the baby's favorite.

Nevermind that the kid is still too little to really care about any of that stuff.

They don't know if it has something to do with him not being biologically Stiles and Derek's, the same way he isn't biologically Laura and Alex's, but whenever they all get together Zach is the first one to demand to hold the child.

And, at eleven years old, Zach's good at it, he's careful, knowing not to anything crazy while holding the baby unless he wants his privileges revoked.

"At least he doesn't try to take your jackets home every time he comes here," Derek points out, making Stiles laugh.

For some reason, and Scott's chagrin, Jamie has a fascination with Derek's leather jackets. They're the first thing he grabs whenever he stops by the house, putting them on and refusing to take them off when it's time to go home.

Nevermind that they're too big for a six-year old.

And sometimes he even tries to leave without being noticed, running ahead of Allison and Scott and getting in the car before anyone can see him.

"Well," Stiles drawls, hands coming down to cup Derek's cheeks. "At least neither of them asked you guys to teach them how to ride motorcycles yet."

"Don't jinx us," Derek says, pecking him on the lips. "I already have too much grey in my hair, I don't need more."

"I don't know," Stiles says, licking his lips, thumbs tracing his stubble. "I kind of like it."

"Kind of?" Derek raises an eyebrow.

"Just a little bit," Stiles teases. "You know, since it reminds me how young I am."

Derek rolls his eyes, sounding all fond when he says, "You're an idiot."

"And you still married me."

"I did, didn't I?" Derek grins, eyes crinkling in the corners.

"Still one of your biggest accomplishments so far," Stiles says seriously. "You should be proud."

"That I put up with you for so long? Definitely."

Stiles makes a face at him, but doesn't complain when Derek tilts his head, brushing their lips together.

"Okay," Stiles says against Derek's lips. "We should go. It's not a very nice thing leaving our family with the kids so we can stay upstairs making out."

"I remember Erica and Boyd doing that," Derek says. "And Scott and Allison. And Laura and Alex. And Danny and Ethan leaving Apollo with us for a week when they went on vacation."

"You know you just made my point right there," Stiles tells him, pressing his lips together not to laugh when Derek scowls. "Plus, everyone's been dying to know what we decided to name him. I'm actually kind of surprised no one came to get us yet."

"That's because they were all too scared they were going to walk in on something," Lydia says from the door, giving them a pointed look.

Stiles startles and yelps, only not falling on his ass because Derek wraps his arms around Stiles's waist and pulls him up and against his chest.

"You could have knocked," Derek grumbles, glaring at her.

"You also could have come down ten minutes ago," Lydia says, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "But you didn't, so."

"Alright, alright," Stiles waves a hand, disentangling himself from Derek. "We're coming."

"Good," is all Lydia says, turning on her heels, not bothering to see if Derek and Stiles are following.

Because they are.

They all know better than to question Dr. Lydia Martin.

The first floor of their house is decorated with purple and blue balloons, the welcome to the family banner up on the wall just behind their tv, and occupied by pretty much their entire family and friends—except Peter, who had to stay in New York because of business.

"So you've finally decided to grace us with your presence," Laura bats her lashes at both of them, ducking away when Derek tries to ruffles her hair.

"We saw you when you came in," Stiles shakes his head at her. "I'm even the one who opened the door for you."

"What Laura means to say is that it's good that you two finally decided to come down," Danny says from his place on the floor, Ethan by his side, both of them helping Tony and Charlie build a castle with their blocks.

Kyle skates into the living room then, keeping himself from barreling into the coffee table by holding on to Erica's knee. Jamie's at his heels, and both of them are flushed and breathless, no doubt from running and skating around the house and yard while playing.

"Does this mean we can have cake now?" Kyle asks them when he sees Derek and Stiles. "Because my mom said we could after you and Uncle Bear got here."

"Your mom said, huh?" Stiles glances at Erica.

"I said you could have cake after your uncles came down and they introduced the baby to the family," Erica corrects him, running her fingers through Kyle's curls when he frowns.

"But we already know him," Kyle complains. "For months."

"He didn't have a paper with his name on it that said he was Uncle Stiles and Uncle Bear's before," Zach explains, staring down at the baby he's holding, the Sheriff and Mrs. McCall sitting on either side. "Like me with mom and dad before they adopted me. But now he does."

Laura comes up behind Zach on the couch and bends down to kiss his head, followed by Alex resting a hand on his shoulder and squeezing. They both say there, arms around each other, gazing down at their kid with proud smiles on their faces.

"Is that true?" Kyle turns to Derek and Stiles.

"It is," Derek says, a small smile on his face. "We're celebrating officially becoming his parents. That means now he has our names. That's what your mom meant when she said we're going to introduce him to the family. Today is his first day as an Stilinski Hale."

"Oh," Kyle says, expression smoothing out, and then nods. "I guess I can wait then."

"Thanks, little dude," Stiles says, offering him a closed fist. "How about you and Jamie hang around here a little bit? We promise we won't take long."

Kyle bumps his fist against Stiles's, but turns to Jamie before he answers. "What do you think?"

Jamie tilts his head to the side, considering. "Can we have soda if we stay here?"

Stiles looks around to find Allison with Boyd near their dinner table setting up the cake, and both wave their hands dismissively at him.

"I don't see why not. Why don't you go ask Uncle Jackson to get you guys some? But Kyle," Stiles stops them before they can get away. "You should probably take off your rollerblades first. We don't want to end up with soda on the floor."

Kyle pouts but sits down on the floor, getting his rollerblades off and placing them by Erica's chair before taping Jamie on the arm.

They both run to Jackson, who glares at Stiles before turning to the boys, letting them grab his hands and try to drag him off the loveseat.

Lydia helps, pushing at him with a hand on his back and winking at Kyle and Jamie when they grin at her.

"Are you really not going to take long?" Isaac asks from where he's sitting in one of the armchairs, Cora squeezed there with him .

"Why?" Derek looks at him. "Do you have somewhere to be?"

"No," Cora says, glaring at her brother. "But we're with Kyle. We want cake."

Kyle fist bumps the air at hearing that, too busy gulping down his soda to yell something back at her.

Stiles sees Derek blink.

And then get that look on his face that tells him Derek's silently asking for strength.

So Stiles grabs his hands and laces their fingers together, stealing a kiss when Derek turns to him.

"We should do this," Stiles says quietly. "No reason why we have to wait anymore."

Derek lets out a slow breath at that, nodding, and he and Stiles go to Zach, Stiles taking the baby from him.

And Zach, now that he doesn't have a baby to hold, goes to Jamie and Kyle, asking Jackson to hold his cup for him when he serves himself some soda.

The baby's wearing a black onesie with the words Live to Ride written across the front—a present from Peter when he called to say he wouldn't be able to come—, and is currently mouthing at his fist, drool running down his wrist.

He looks about as pleased as Stiles has ever seen him, and even though Stiles could do without spit, he can't help but smile down at the baby.

"I don't think you'll get anything from that, bub," Stiles says, bopping his nose.

"Here," Derek hands Stiles a binky, and then proceeds to take the baby's hand from his mouth and starts cleaning him up with a couple of napkins. "Now he's presentable."

"Thank you, Papa," Stiles smiles, kissing Derek's cheek, and then giving the baby the pacifier. "You won't get anything from this, too, but at least it's not your hand."

The baby doesn't say anything, just blinks up at him and Derek, his eyes now a color that's more green than grey.

Stiles lowers his head and places a kiss on his forehead, and then turns to everyone cramped up in their living room.

"Is everyone ready for this?"

"Wait!" Tori yells, appearing behind one of the arm chairs, Apollo by her side. "Pictures! I want to take pictures!"

"Here," the Sheriff says, grabbing Tori before she can take another step, while Ethan catches hold of the dog and starts petting him. "Why don't you help me and Grandma with our camera?"

Tori beams at him and flops down on the empty seat between Stiles's dad and Mrs. McCall, excitedly explaining to them how taking pictures works. Mrs. McCall presses her fingers to her lips, trying to hide her smile, while the Sheriff nods dutifully at everything Tori says.

"I think now we're ready," Allison says, sitting on the arm of the armchair Scott is sprawled on.

"Yup, we're good," Boyd confirms, sitting down on the chair by Erica's side, throwing an arm around her shoulders.

Stiles looks around his living room, at his family, taking in all of them sitting together, and can't help but get a bit teary-eyed.

They've all been through a lot these past ten years, some more than most, but today they're all here together, happy and whole and welcoming another member to their tight-knit circle of friends and family.

They're more than Stiles ever thought or hoped he'd have, and sometimes he still has a hard time believing he gets to keep them.

He knows Derek feels the same way, knows this reminds him of what his family used to be like before the fire, with the way his eyes shine and the lines of his mouth turns soft whenever they do something like this and bring everyone all together.

Stiles notices Talia looks the same way, with an added air of sadness about her, as she crosses her legs and folds her hands over her lap, her gaze heavy on them.

Sometimes he wonders wonder if that's part of the reason why Peter is not around much, because of all the memories Beacon Hills brings, only visiting every once in a while, never staying more than a few months.

And that makes him miss his mom fiercely, wishing she was here and seeing the life he made for himself, the family he has now, his and Derek's kids and all of their friends.

So he gets a bit teary-eyed, big deal.

It's not like all the people currently staring and smiling at him aren't used to it.

And it's not like Derek wrapping an arm around his waist and pulling Stiles flush against his side doesn't make it all better.

Especially when he brushes a small kiss to the edge of Stiles's jaw.

"So," Stiles clears his throat, getting distracted when the baby raises a hand and starts slapping at his chin and mouth.

"Not even a year old and he's already trying to shut you up," Jackson says, impressed, only to get smacked in the arm by Lydia.

"Be nice."

Stiles glares at Jackson and pretends to eat the baby's fingers, making hungry noises when the kid lets his binky fall and starts laughing.

Derek is just about to bend down and pick it up when Apollo catches it in his mouth, running away and out of the living room before anyone can try and stop him.

"Well, that one's lost now," Stiles says, lips curling up when both Danny and Ethan stare up at him with equal guilty looks in their faces.

"Sorry," Danny says.

"We'll buy you new ones," Ethan promises.

"Guys," Scott calls out, leaning forward in his seat. "The baby?"

"You've all met little Noah when we first got him," Derek starts, reaching out to grab one of Noah's hands between his. "But it wasn't until yesterday that we finalized the adoption and made him officially ours."

"So we wanted you all to welcome him," Stiles continues, eyes cutting to Scott. "Noah Scott Stilinski Hale, to our family."

Everyone laughs, clapping and whistling and taking pictures of Scott apologizing to Allison because he startled so hard when he heard the name that he accidentally punched her in the leg.

It's not until after she actually slaps his hand away and says, "Go hug your best friends. He just named his child after you," that he gets up and goes to Stiles, Derek, and Noah.

"Dude," Scott says, voice cracking. "Why?"

"You're my bro," Stiles shrugs. "The best person I know. I wouldn't want my kid named after anyone else."

"Dude," Scott says again. "Dude."

"And you gave him a blanket," Stiles adds quietly, Derek's hold tightening on him. "When we found him you gave him a blanket. He was cold and scared and hungry and you gave him a blanket. You helped make him warm again. So there's also that."

Scott blinks at him.

And blinks again.

And then his chin starts wobbling.

Stiles passing Noah to Derek is all he can do before he and Scott are hugging and crying, a mess of tears and snot and half-formed words of thanks and love.

Tori helps Stiles's dad catch it all on video.

"Can we have cake now?" Kyle and Cora as in unison, successfully making Scott and Stiles laugh.

They can, with Stiles passing around plates while Derek cuts the cake. But only after Scott steals Noah from him so they can get to know each.

"You already know him," Derek rolls his eyes.

"He's my namesake, it's important," Scott sniffs. "And you sound a lot like your nephew right now. I always wondered where he got that from."

Stiles snickers, hip checking Derek when he huffs and the tips of his ears turn pink.

They both trade places with Danny and Ethan on the floor to try and oversee the twins eating their cake slices.

They don't make much of a mess at first. You know, until they decide they don't want to eat cake anymore and stick their hands in it, getting frosting all over their fingers.

This time Laura is the one to get that on video, laughing in wicked glee when Derek goes to clean one of Charlie's hands and she ends up smacking him in the face, leaving a frosting handprint on his cheek.

Stiles licks it off.

But only once, because then Apollo bumps him aside and takes over, slobbering all over Derek's face before Danny pulls him back.

"At least you're clean now," Danny grins, dimples showing, completely ignoring the way Derek's glaring at him.

Cora and Isaac end up with the twins after Derek goes wash him face and Stiles goes cut more cake for Kyle, playing around with blocks and their stuffed animals and posing for pictures without too much complaining when Laura or the Sheriff asks them too.

The older kids join them after a while, getting busy trying to build a town for all of their toys to live in. Jamie turns out to be surprisingly good when it comes to creating different buildings and bridges, tongue sticking out as he carefully piles blocks on top of blocks.

Scott still has Noah with him, telling him stories and tickling his feet and making him laugh as Allison watches him with warmth in her eyes. Lydia and Jackson are talking with Talia and Boyd about some new restaurant in town, Erica, Danny, and Ethan are discussing yoga routines, and Stiles's dad, Mrs. McCall, Laura, and Alex, are in a deep conversation about bullet wounds and how to properly get blood off clothes.

Stiles looks around and takes them all in, sighing happily at having his family close.

Even more so when Derek molds himself against Stiles's back, arms coming around Stiles's waist, lips brushing the side of Stiles's neck.

"We did good, didn't we?" Derek asks quietly.

Stiles smiles but doesn't say anything, not right then.

Not when Noah falls asleep on Scott and they set him down on his crib, or when Tony and Charlie start yawning and drop on top of the throw pillows for a nap before Isaac and Cora carry them up, or even after everyone kisses and hugs them goodbye and leaves.

He waits until after the house is quiet and the living room is clean, after he and Derek go check on the twins to make sure they're still sleeping, after they change into their pajamas and go back to their room.

It's not until Noah wakes up briefly and starts fussing, immediately going quiet when Stiles picks him up and rocks him a little, at the same time Derek runs his fingers through his hair and hums under his breath, that he says anything.

"Yeah," Stiles whispers, lips brushing against the top of Noah's head. "We did perfectly."