One more step closer to his heart, that's what Stiles was. At this point, Derek couldn't lie to himself anymore. The electric sensations traveling through his body when the teenager touched him didn't go unnoticeable. He had to consider strongly whether he wanted to break the fragile human's heart or give in and express entirely his deep and strong love for him. Which, for the moment, maybe wasn't the best option. Yes, Derek was a coward. He was scared, like everyone else could get scared, even though he was a werewolf. Most people that knew about them seemed to think that once you're a werewolf, then bye-bye feelings, which was false if not the total opposite. You actually felt feelings in a much deeper level, something so intense that when you found the one, your mate, it was most likely impossible to back down, or even try to deny it. But Derek didn't know if he was ready, or even if Stiles was ready. He was a teenager, he had oh so much time in front of him and how could Derek just so selfishly take it all from him? Love may make you blind, but the Alpha still had a head on his shoulders with serious reasons to why he shouldn't confess entirely to Stiles just let. Even though telling him he cared about him was already a big mistake.

"Hey, Derek?" the small body next to him asked. Derek just looked at him, waiting for him to speak more words. "I just... thank you, you know. I mean, my actual best friend isn't even here, and you are. And Heaven knows we're not the closest buds on earth," Stiles let out a nervous laugh, hoping that his words didn't hurt Derek in any way. Not that I could hurt the big bad alpha, he then thought. But Derek being the quiet one, he didn't say anything, because he was afraid to say something that would make Stiles run away.

Long ago Derek had forgotten about the idea of being happy. With a past like his own, it would be foolish to expect happiness in a near, or even far, future. So did it make him a naïve and mindless person to believe that Stiles could light back that spark inside of him? It probably did. But even so, everyone, including werewolves, deserved happiness at some point of their life. The older man lived it in his childhood, for a little while and maybe, if he was lucky enough, in his future. A future that would fortunately include a lot of Stiles.

Stiles, that was still holding onto Derek firmly, moved his legs so each of them were on Derek's sides, his movement creating a small friction against the other man's bulge. Derek tensed. And Stiles cursed in his head. Maybe that had been a bad movement. And with Stiles being Stiles, Derek would most likely start smelling arousal quite soon. "Maybe you should leave, sourwolf," Stiles said, and it was so sudden that Derek tensed even more, if possible. Stiles was a mood killer. "No," Derek said, regretting right away how weak that little word sounded when it came out of his mouth.

Stiles chuckled, burying his face into Derek's neck, his skin hot against his pale cheek. "You know," the human one started, letting his fingertips dance up and down Derek's sides. "Sometimes, well let's be totally honest, often, I'm afraid that every little word or sound that comes out of my mouth will aggravate you and make you cringe and hate my existence," Stiles finished, a small laugh coming out of his mouth, but it sounded fake. He wasn't confident, he wasn't the confident hyperactive sarcastic little brat that the wolf knew.

But Derek didn't say a word, because he knew that Stiles understood, he knew that Stiles knew that Derek was more like the listener, and in a way, that made Stiles content. He wasn't all that good at listening anyway, so having a quiet– partner? Friend? was something he enjoyed more than disliked. "That's what I like about you," the young one continued, and definitely, shutting up was not something Stiles ever heard about. And the way he had to be so true, he had such a pure heart that it made Derek mad. How could someone be so honest and satisfied with their own feelings? It was something the wolf never experienced, and he wanted to ask the human how he did it. He also wanted to know how he could handle being with so many werewolves. He wanted to know how he kept himself together, even after all what happened in only a few months. And the alpha wondered if Stiles' life would be any better if Derek wouldn't have made an appearance into it. He wanted to know how he could be so strong, how a human could be so strong. Not physically, just– every part of him. Every part of him was strong, and Derek didn't understand that. "What I like about you, Derek, is that you're silent, and most of the times, when we're like that, you let me talk and talk. And for a while it doesn't seem like it bothers you; me talking, it almost feels like you're happy being there, with me, just listening to my voice, my heartbeat. Feeling my skin against yours, even if sometimes it's just my fingertips," Stiles stopped, breathing in through his nose before adding: "Sometimes I feel like I could make you do anything just by touching you with my fingertips."

And as always, Derek kept his mouth shut, but this time it wasn't for the same reason as it always was. This time he was just afraid he'd let out something he'd regret, something including feelings. How long could he possibly run from all of that? Why didn't he let happiness take over? Probably because he did once and he lost everything. But what did he have to lose now? A burned down house without a roof? A crazy psychopath uncle? What did Stiles had to take away from him? Derek couldn't think of anything but his heart. The human could steal his heart, and that is definitely something Derek was afraid of. Last time this happened, everything went out of control.

"I don't know what you're so afraid of," Stiles murmured, and Derek knew him so well that even if he had his face buried in his neck, he could tell he was frowning. "I mean, I'm just Stiles, you know. I'm sarcastic and pure. I really don't know what I could do to you that could be so bad that you'd let loneliness win over happiness," the human left the werewolf's neck to be able to look into his almost lifeless eyes. And they were so gorgeous just like that that it made Stiles wonder how they'd look like if Derek was happy. "After my mom died, I understood that being lonely was not an option. I wouldn't have made it out," Stiles said, almost getting lost in his memories, nostalgia probably invading his thoughts. "And it's been years now, Derek. You've been lonely way too long, and look at you now. It pains me. It pains a lot of people to see you that way; I'm sure about it."

Even thought Derek knew Stiles was intelligent, so smart, he didn't know that he could be so right. Everything he said was now everything in the wolf's head, he couldn't think straight. It was like everything came back to him; the fire, his family, Kate. It hurt. It hurt so much that he got lost in all of it, holding Stiles firmly against his chest. He was so scared. So scared that if felt so right being in human arms. Scared to break him because being human was not an advantage when you were with an alpha. How could it be? But then he thought of Scott and Allison, Jackson and Lydia. They were stronger together and everyone knew that. Just like everyone knew that Derek needed Stiles probably a lot more than any of them needed the other. The werewolf is lonely. And Stiles is there to bring life back into him and make him see colors, happiness. Joy. He's also there to make him feel sadness, because he would ask about his past a lot. But Derek knew he needed it. He needed to let the bad things out and Stiles in. Because Stiles was pure. Nobody was pure like him. Not one other soul.

"What if I let you in," his voice was shaking, he was an emotional wreck and he didn't even realize it until he was there with his human. "What if I let you in, what will you do?" he finished his thoughts, not daring to look at the human boy. Who knew if the answer would make him feel better of worse? Who knew what Stiles really had in mind? He was complex– he was a teenager. Derek was an adult. But he was probably just as complex, but it was all his own fault.

Stiles held Derek tighter, it was like a silent promise that he would never leave him. Sometimes words weren't necessary when it came to the younger boy's feelings, he was an open book. It was like what he felt was high-lighted with a yellow marker. "You already know the answer, Derek," Stiles started, whispering softly. His voice was just as broken and shaking as the alpha's. "You already know that I would never do anything to hurt you. I would never leave your side, only a moron would. I'd never give up being your mate," he said the last sentence even more quietly, scared of the other man's reaction to that. They never really had agreed to the fact that that's what they were to each other; mates. But they both knew it inside of their heart. One heart big and full, and the other one broken. But with half of Stiles' heart, with half of himself, he could feel whole and complete, content. Because they would never leave each other, so why would they need more?

"Let me kiss you, Derek,"

Derek only nodded his head slowly and next thing he knew was that soft full lips were pressed against his, and that their love was finally sealed.

SO THIS IS IT. This was my final chapter.

It had a lack of physical stuff and I'm sorry.

Let's say that kissing scenes and smut isn't my forte.

Hope you enjoyed anyway, and thanks to all the people who favorited and followed this short story and to everyone who left supportive messages.