último

It had only been a week.

A week since, as Tomei liked to refer to it as "it all going down with that Gerard prick and that teenage lizard" and Violeta could understand her abuela's insistance. Before, Violeta was so angry, so full of rage at how her grandmother was so... done with living after Joey died. It was as if the concept of life no longer interested her. And after a week of the bond with Stiles, Violeta could understand.

For example, since sleeping in the same bed with Stiles... there was no way Violeta could part with him and sleep in a different bed. And she was glad he thought the same thing.

Of course Noah was a bit hesitant at first but after seeing how they interacted, it almost felt wrong to say no. Stiles and her standing in the kitchen as Stiles awkwardly rambled about how "would it be okay if Violeta stayed the night and not on the couch but in my room but the door would be open not that we'd be doing anything wrong we're just gonna be sleeping together-- in the bed, sleeping as in asleep sleeping. Unconscious sleeping. Not sleeping as in--"

"Yes, yes-- just stop talking." Noah had interrupted him. But he had agreed not to get his son to stop talking, but because anyone staring at the two of them could see. If Stiles moved, Violeta moved. And the other way around. It was a clear, yin-yang of sorts. Stiles was rambling nervously and Violeta was rubbing comforting circles on his inner wrist. Violeta was looking faraway up at the ceiling, clearly somewhere else and Stiles was tapping her at the moment she needed to re-engage with the conversation. The pair were definitely linked by something. Even those who weren't in the know with the supernatural could tell.

Noah had done a bit of snooping. After they had gone to bed, Violeta pressing a kiss to Stiles head the moment he started nodding off after dinner and his son had only responded with, "Yeah." And pulled her off the couch before saying goodnight to his father. Noah had stayed about half an hour or so downstairs, pretending to watch TV. He then crept upstairs and peeked in the door that was, indeed, open to see Violeta curled up beside Stiles. Her hood was up, covering her hair and her back was to Stiles, the 'bigger spoon' who had his arm around her. However, his head was dipped down, nesting between her shoulder and neck. It almost didn't look comfortable.

Noah recalled the first morning and how Violeta had woken up before Stiles. He'd been up before the two and had sat with his coffee and morning paper. Violeta had trudged down and after an awkward moment where Noah reminded in a lame joke that "mi casa su casa" Violeta prepared her own coffee and some toast.

Not even a full minute passed - Violeta had just put the toast in the toaster - and they both heard the sounds of Stiles coming downstairs. He was half-asleep, rubbing his barely open eyes. Yawning, he ignored his own father and went straight to Violeta. He wrapped his arms around her from the back. The toast came out at that exact second and Violeta held it up over her shoulder for him to take a bite. No spread on it - just as Stiles liked.

Noah felt the need to look away. For some inexplicable reason, the very innocent, albeit cute moment, seemed too intimate for his foreign eyes.

Violeta and Stiles continued on this way for the next week or so until Tomei's 'house party.' Tomei had invited everyone - even Peter - over to their house for a BBQ. For Tomei, it was long overdue. Violeta should feel like she could have her family around her at home and stop punishing herself.

Which, by the way she was around Stiles, Violeta had evidently done so.

She cooked extra dinner to take to the Sherrif's office. She sat on the bleachers while Stiles and Scott practiced lacrosse. She sat with Stiles' head in her lap as she listened to Scott ramble about Allison. She walked into D-Bo or UG's house parties hand-in-hand with Stiles. Violeta asked Tomei where some piece of clothing was until she realised she'd left it at the Stilinski's. She even went to the gym with Stiles once and Tomei had smiled at Violeta coming and recounting Stiles' adventures training arms.

It was something Tomei had wanted for Violeta for a long time. To have everyone close to her, close to them, around. A Vin Diesel Fast n Furious moment of sorts. So she invited everyone around. It was the tradition. Now that Violeta had her soulmate and could fully ascend to the Head, it was time to have everyone around to acknowledge it and establish bonds and relations. The funeral wasn't enough.

As such, Violeta had spent the day greeting the odd supernatural creature and their fellow associates. Intermittent through playing Mario Kart with Stiles, of course.

Alas, Tomei had spent the day answering the door to vampires, witches, werewolves, hunters, hybrids, mages and the likes. Stefan Salvatore had passed by - with some human he was in love with Edward Cullen style. There were those two hunter brothers that Violeta had lunch with and who could forget that guy with the really, really, really odd hat.

It had gotten to the evening and Tomei could finally let out a deep breath. She had mentally prepared for the idea of him arriving but even though he was someone who liked to show up late as some display of his power there was no way he would now--

"I daresay it's been a while, love."

Tomei had been taking the shells of prawns (de-shelling? de-prawning?) when she heard that voice. That English accent that belonged to a certain someone she wished would die.

Even if he couldn't.

Like, sure an ordinary stake wouldn't work on an Original but, heck, surely a bazooka would? It happened on Buffy!

"I forget the whole invite to walk in thing doesn't happen in a house with a Rodriguez." Tomei sighed.

"Need a hand?"

"No."

"I'm very handy."

"Do you laugh when your phone battery hits 69%?" Tomei asked, turning around to face one Klaus Mikaelson in the eye. In his stupidly beautiful blue eyes. He looked every bit the same. Dressed like a tortured artist - although that did fit the bill - with blonde curls that, yes, she had to admit did get the girls. Although it was shorter than she'd seen it before. Other than that, was the exact same, no new wrinkles, no new tan, no weight fluctuation - nothing.

Her on the other hand? Ha.

"My apologies that I couldn't make the funeral." Nik said. Tomei only turned around and went back to what she was doing. Annoyingly, he rolled up his sleeves and started helping her out.

"Please don't."

"It's alright, love. Other than the fact that abuela Maria was a well respected Head whose advice and help was always much appreciated, I should've been there for you." He said the last part with that Niklaus intensity, looking her deep in the eyes and, normally, Tomei would've gotten lost in his eyes.

But they were both holding slimey prawns.

Which was what she had been talking about in the first place.

"... I meant about the prawns. You don't have to help with the prawns."

"I want to."

Tomei sighed, knowing it was better than to argue with him. Besides, Klaus de-prawning prawns was a pretty funny sight to see. A big bag Original hybrid struggling to take the shell of fish? Priceless. It also meant that he wouldn't snoop around her house and try to piece together what happened in the past three years since she's last seen him. Besides, it wasn't like anyone else was here. Violeta was off with Stiles somewhere, Noah was getting new gas for the BBQ and Melissa was running late with Scott.

And Derek was probably being melodramatic Great Gatsby-ing out some window and being all reclusive and tortured whilst Peter made annoying quips that stole her spotlight as the funny one.

"I was otherwise preoccupied with my family."

"Your family?" Tomei asked. Last she had recalled, they were stuffed away in coffins and Klaus was overdue for therapy.

"The coffin was opened by some annoying witches and their even more annoying friends." Tomei's eyes grew at the news and couldn't help but turn to face Klaus at the utter bombshell he just dropped on her.

"So your mother?"

"Said she wanted peace. Then plotted to kill us all."

...

"I'm sorry what?"

"Alas, I do wish to express my condolences and apologies to the proteigda who I've heard has recently become Head? I would love to meet her--"

"It's bullshit! I did not hit her. I did nooot!"

"--Oh hi Mark!"

"And, and, and--"

"YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA!"

Tomei and Klaus both turned to see two teenagers walking into the house doubled over in laughter, quoting The Room. Stiles was holding a head of lettuce on his own head as he proclaimed, "Anyway, how's your sex life?"

"Are you both done?"

Stiles turned to see a blond man standing beside Tomei. He immediately dropped the lettuce, thinking that this was probably someone important since he knew that this BBQ was an open invite. That and the blond man observed Violeta was inspecting eyes.

"I didn't know you'd be so young, love."

Violeta apparently knew exactly who this was. She heaved up the shopping bags in her arms onto the table. Stiles, to busy himself, went to them and started unloading them. Tomei continued to work on the prawns and the newcomer wiped his hands clean to offer one in handshake.

"My sincerest apologies about your abuela, love."

"Thank you." As Violeta went to shake his hand, Klaus went to grasp it and give it a kiss. She snatched it away. Tomei gave her a look and Violeta knew it was impolite but even if she was who she was, she wasn't at the point to let random men kiss her hand.

And nor was Stiles, evident by how he was looking at Klaus.

"I apologise for any offence." Klaus said, picking up on this. He glanced at Stiles briefly before turning to look at Violeta. "I was raised in a different time."

"Yes what do you think about the historical accuracy of Vikings?" Tomei spoke.

"Haven't seen it, love." Klaus said, coming back to stand beside Tomei. However, his back was to the sink where Tomei was working, looking at Violeta was helped Stiles unload all the groceries. "You seen it, mate?" He asked, finally addressing the new soulmate.

"I-uh, er. A few episodes. Tomei likes it so we've, uh, seen a few."

"Well if Theresa here likes it so much--"

In the blink of an eye, Tomei had a blade to Klaus' neck.

"Woah, love." He said, holding his hands up but clearly unafraid.

Tomei was unfazed. "I told you not to call me that name."

"Wait I thought your name was Aurora." Stiles chimed in without thinking. Violeta gave him a soft look, shaking her head.

"Tomei." His girlfriend gave a warning call. Stiles, for that second, was once again taken aback by the fact that he was living with a literal secret agent who used to work for the mafia. If he was being honest, Tomei's story was almost cooler than the werewolf business because it was just plain humans, nothing supernatural involved. He would never forget the night him and Violeta stayed up as she disclosed to him the highly secretive information about her aunt. It suddenly made sense why no one cared to lock the door, opting to leave it open for 'the sake of ease.'

No, it was because if anyone was stupid enough to break in, Aurora Tomei would be able to kill them in fifteen different ways.

"You know that weren't hurt me." Klaus said, looking down at the weapon to his throat.

"No but it would fucking hurt, wouldn't it?" Tomei seethed. "Don't forget you're alive because of me."

The last piece of information had Klaus' laidback attitude fizzling as Tomei outed a weak piece of information he'd hoped no one would know. Klaus' eyes darted to Stiles who suddenly felt very uncomfortable. He didn't know that Tomei had had any interaction with the supernatural before Scott and this vampire definitely didn't like people knowing he had once needed help. It almost made Stiles want to roll his eyes, the egos of these supernatural creatures, honestly.

Klaus, however, knew his options limited. If it were any other situation than a Rodriguez, he would've snapped the human's head and everyone else in that room. If Tomei was the only one who knew of how he had once been weak, he could live with it. The uncomfortable knowledge that Klaus owed her he could live with because, well, it was Aurora.

"Niklaus." Violeta spoke. "We're having a BBQ - and you're more than welcome - however I ask that you don't piss my aunt off."

"That was not my intentions, love."

"So what were they?" Violeta spoke.

"I would say of similar vein to when the Salvatore's visited." Klaus spoke, a confident smirk coming back to his face. "If you pardon the pun."

Tomei let out a sardonic snort.

"Consider your interests and intentions noted." Violeta said with a huff. "Are you staying for the food?" She looked tired, as if talking with a child.

"Alas, I don't want to step on anymore toes. I'll leave you in peace. Although I would like to state my gratitude once more."

"Anytime." Violeta said. She looked at Tomei who met her eyes in the reflection of the window. Violeta turned to Stiles and smiled. Klaus blinked, for a short moment taken aback by the smile the young Rodriguez gave her partner. It was the same way Maria looked at the Joseph fellow. He averted his eyes when she reached to touch her partner's cheek.

"I think your dad will be here soon."

"BBQ set up, let's go!" Stiles said. She followed her human out the door, leaving Klaus and Tomei together once more.

It was silent for a short while. The only sounds were Tomei taking out her frustrations out on innocent, but dead, fish. Klaus didn't resume helping her. Instead, he stood there. For the first time in a long time... he felt something. He hadn't felt it in over century - wait, that wasn't true. He had felt it during that year when he was stuck in Sicily and dependent on a human marksman with daring brown eyes.

It was awkwardness.

Niklaus Mikaelson felt awkward.

"Tomei--"

"Nik--"

They both spoke and looked up at the exact same time. Klaus stared into her temptingly daring brown eyes and Tomei stared back into his stupidly beautiful blue ones.

And then Nik was hit with another feeling that he hadn't felt in a long time; bar the year he'd been with Tomei.

He felt longing.

"You've done well, love." He spoke first. "You always were anxious about children but you've raised her well. I know your brother would be proud." Whatever Tomei had been about to say melted on her lips and she stared at Klaus with with a certain sad fondness neither showed others.

"Thank you, Nik." Tomei said. "I, uh, I'm sorry about your family."

"It's alright, love, that's family."

"You know, you can make your own family." Tomei said. "My family now includes an Adderall-infused teenage boy, one police sherrif, a nurse with questionable film taste, some wannabe thugs, a few Moon-Bound werewolves. Not including Peter." Klaus frowned as Tomei continued, adding a side comment that was more to herself that "I don't know how Melissa hasn't seen Ferris Bueller but that's fine."

"Not everyone is afforded that liberty, love." Klaus said.

"Dude..." Klaus pursed his lips, hating her calling him that, "I'm here... affording you that liberty, or whatever. And don't go on this whole spiral of putting us in danger. Violeta is here and I was literally your body guard for an entire year. Say what you want about humans but our weapons have evolved."

"No, I think that was more the skilled marksman behind said weapon." Klaus said with a small smile, allowing for a moment the quiet joy of reminiscing. He really had never met anyone like Tomei. Even with a their supernatural speed and gifts, she'd still taken down centuries old vampires like they were the amateur humans she used to train. "And I know you can take care of yourself."

"So you won't stay because..."

"I'm not family."

"You can be." Tomei said. "Hell, after everything we've been through surely we can think of ourselves as family."

"It's because after everything we've been through, we're not family in the way I want us to be." Klaus said. Tomei had nothing to say to that. It was as if they were having the same conversation they had the day they parted ways three years ago.

"Nik, I--"

"You don't have to say anything, love."

"No, but..." Tomei huffed. "You, you're important to me. And you're... you're always going to have part of my soul."

"As do you, my love." He smiled. The only problem was that they didn't mean it the same way. Klaus leaned over and Tomei closed her eyes as she felt him press a small kiss to her temple. She took a small breath and heard the brief woosh as Klaus sped away with his vampire speed. Opening her eyes, she knew he was gone. For a brief moment, she wished she had opened them to his stupidly beautiful blue ones shining into hers -- her 'daring' ones as he always referred to them.

"Love, you are the most singularly remarkable individual I have met over the thousands of years I have spent walking this earth. My heart will henceforth always belong to you, Theresa."

If only she had enough courage to dare to love him as he loved her.

*

"You're burning the prawns!"

"How can you burn prawns?"

"Just look right in front of you sweetheart!"

"Oh go die again!"

"Wait, so this guy actually died and came back to life?" Noah asked his son who was sitting with Violeta perched on his armchair and talking to Scott about upcoming holiday plans. Stiles was half invested in the conversation - apparently Scott wanted to get a tattoo the stupid werewolf - and half focused on his father who was now coming to terms with the supernatural.

"Yeah." Stiles said, then went on to explain, "That's Peter. Former Alpha. Derek's uncle. Bit of a dick."

"Language." Noah chastised. "Just because we're talking about werewolves doesn't mean that you can swear." With Noah's words, Stiles knew immediately what film reference was going to be mentioned. He looked at Violeta who was still talking to Scott but had a knowing smile on her face.

"Werewolves not swearwolves!"

Tomei had been the one to do it. Stiles laughed and, to his surprise, Scott did too.

"Oh I know that movie! What happens in the shadows or something." Melissa said, coming to join Noah on the lawnchairs outside. Lola came up and Melissa picked up the child who was playing with bubbles to sit her on her lap.

"What we do in the shadows." Stiles corrected.

"Wait, so you haven't seen Ferris Bueller but you've seen some niche New Zealand mockumentary about vampires and werewolves?" Tomei asked.

"Scott played it once." Melissa said with a shrug.

Stiles looked at his bestfriend with a face of utter confusion. "How?"

"How what? I watched it on my laptop." Scott, the clueless werewolf, innocently answered.

"No, how have you seen some indie film but haven't seen all the Star Wars films."

"Because he has taste." Violeta chipped in. Stiles' mouth dropped open at the insult. Even Noah was offended.

"Now I get you're some powerful being," the elder Stilinski began, "but that's a crime." Violeta rolled her eyes and just went to hug Stiles by way of apology. He caved within three seconds.

"I still don't get how you even knew about it." Stiles said to Scott.

"Isaac told me to watch it." He shrugged.

"I, uh, you-- you listened to Lahey! After all these years when I, I-can't believe--"

"Maybe it's because I've got better taste." Isaac said with a shurg, coming to sit beside Scott on the floor, a plate full of food. Food that Stiles had spent preparing with Violeta. "Like your girlfriend said." At that, she gave the young werewolf a look

"Violeta babe could you get some wolfsbane real quick?" Stiles said, glaring at the werewolf sat beside Scott. "Let's not forget whose the best friend, here huh?"

"Okay so now wolfsbane--" Melissa began.

"Is poisonous for werewolves." Noah confirmed with a swig of his beer.

"Right."

"So is silver." One Peter Hale said, coming to sit beside Melissa. "Hence the plastic cutlery is greatly appreciated." He held up beer to Tomei by way of gratitude.

She just flipped him off in return.

"Oh yes, okay so wolfsbane and silver." Melissa said, nodding to herself.

"Also might I say what a lovely shirt you're wearing." Peter said, sidling up to Melissa. On the side, Scott eyed this. His mother's shirt was a plain blue. There was no need for Peter to spend all this time complimenting it. He looked over at Stiles and Violeta helplessly. Stiles was busy with Lola to notice now but Violeta shook her head with a soft smile. Somehow this made Scott feel easy. If Violeta wasn't worried about something, there was no reason for him to be.

Besides, if anyone could take care of Peter if he stepped out of line, it would be Violeta.

By the BBQ, Tomei was still working on grilling prawns when Derek Hale finally came up beside her. He had spent the better half of the past hour 'on the phone' - but actually just mentally preparing himself about what he was going to say to her. He'd even tried to drink a few beers to the edge off. Not that it did much but he thought maybe the eighth one would've helped out. It did a little bit.

But then, of course, as always, she beat him to it and opened with a line he could've never foreseen. This time, when he came up to her with a safe ice-breaker, she didn't even look at him when she said, "If you're gonna bitch like your uncle that I'm burning them, you can fuck off."

"Woah, I was just gonna offer you a beer." The alpha said, a can in each hand. Ice breaker.

Tomei wordlessly took one, opened it, took a massive sip and then, wordlessly, went back to cooking. Can in hand. He observed her for a short moment and how she finished the beer in another few gulps. She was clearly tense, anyone could tell that, which was odd in itself. Even when Allison Argent was trying to kill her, all Tomei did was deliver one liner after one liner. And Derek doubted Peter's comments about her BBQ-ing skills got to her. Nothing ever got to Tomei. His entire adolescence could testify to that. Something deeper had to be going on.

"Is everything okay?" Derek asked, genuine concern coating his voice. He took a step closer and then it hit hhim. "Why do you smell like that?" He demanded, his voice dropping a few octaves.

"Like what? Fish?" Tomei asked, and Derek's eyes narrowed at how she slipped back into the laidback easy Tomei he knew. She smiled at him, explaining "I have been cooking fish for the past hour, you know?"

Derek wasn't fooled. It wasn't the fish. No. Instead what he smelt was infinitely worse than any fish smell. Rotten or otherwise. It was in his DNA to find this smell utterly revolting. It was in his DNA to be able to track this smell.

It was in his DNA to kill whatever smelt like this.

"You smell like a vampire."

"Oh." Tomei said. "That was probably why Scott recoiled when I hugged him hello."

"Scott's young. He doesn't know the smell." Derek said. He took another step closer, speaking in a low tone so now one would hear. "You haven't answered the question."

"There was none."

"Why do you smell like a vampire?"

"Have you forgotten that supernatural creatures have been in and out of this house?"

"No. Just like I haven't forgotten what a vampire smells like and how this smell is... different." It was. Derek couldn't place his finger on why this vampire smell was different. It was pungent and arid, making his noise curl at this burn of the utterly disgusting smell. But there was also a sense of something different. Was it some other species of vampire he hadn't encountered before?

"I'm guessing you've never met an Original vampire before?"

"I have. At the funeral." And they only smelt like a super concentrated form of the smell. Derek was just glad the wake was held outside with fresh air.

"Okay. I'm guessing you've never met an Original hybrid?"

"Excuse me?" Derek asked. His eyes darted to Violeta who were now watching them with, if not concerned, merely curious eyes. Original hybrids? Hybrids! He looked back at Tomei and tried to reign in his emotions. "Is everything okay? Are you okay?"

"Derek, chill, it's was fine." She said, taking her arm away from him. "He-- he's an old friend. Wanted to speak to Violeta." Derek didn't seem to accept this but didn't say anything more on it. She had hoped he would leave her for a little bit but he just stayed by her side by the BBQ.

"Don't you want to eat?"

"I already ate."

"Don't you want to go socialise?" She said, turning around and gesturing with her tongs at the large assortment of people gathered in and outside her house, eating, drinking and, most importantly, laughing. It brought a small smile to her face, knowing that this group of people were all having a great night because of something she had set up. Her eyes briefly landed on Violeta, sat beside Stiles, his arm around her. They were engaged in different conversations but, even then, they were still interlinked.

"I'm talking to you, aren't I?" Derek said.

"What happened to Mr Quiet and Tortured?" She asked, unable to understand where this very chatty version of Derek Hale came from.

"Oh, that's only at night when the moon's out." He said and then took another sip of his beer.

Tomei needed a second to process. "Did... did you just make a joke?"

"Is that so shocking?"

"Honestly? Yes."

"Your prawns are burning." Derek said, allowing himself to smile. Tomei quickly observed the way his green eyes lit up before she drew her attention to the prawns that were, indeed, burning. "Look--" Derek took the tongs out of her hands and deftly went about trying to salvage the prawns from becoming charred inedible pieces of ash.

"Thanks." She said. He collected all the cooked prawns into the 'cooked' bowl and loaded more uncooked ones from the 'uncooked' bowl.

"I should actually be saying that to you." Derek said.

"What?" Tomei was still trying to process Derek Hale making a joke and smiling.

"Thank you." He repeated. "I don't know what would've happened that night without you."

"Ah, don't worry wolf boy. It was nothing." She said, patting him on the shoulder.

"It wasn't." Derek said, taking full control of the prawns now. Tomei was happy to relinquish control and just sip on her beer. It was about damn time someone gave her a break anyway. "And please don't call me wolf boy." Derek added.

She snorted. "You saying to not call you wolf boy has 100% ensured that I'm going to call you wolf boy."

"Does that mean I can call you by your first name, then?" Derek responded, a smirk coming onto his face. Tomei's own smile faded as she was once again taken aback by this version of Derek Hale who not only joked and smiled but now had also smirked and had banter that boarded on, dare she say, flirting.

Ah, well two can play that game.

"Only a full moon, wolf boy." She grabbed the cooked bowl and went into the kitchen. Derek allowed himself to smile, watching her walk away from him.

Unaware that there was one Original hybrid watching far off. And he was fucking pissed.

*

"Today was a good day." Violeta said with a content smile as she took off her shoes. She kicked them off besides the pair of Jordans 1s D-Bo had gotten for her for Stiles. She would never say it aloud to anyone - well, maybe to Stiles, but he wasn't anyone anymore - but the fact that they had matching shoes made Violeta's heart sing. That and it made her want to actually go to the piano and sing.

"Yeah." Stiles said. She glanced back at him and saw him head leaned on the back of the couch he was sitting on the couch, eyes closed and feet up on the coffee table.

It was just the two of them at home now. Scott had bid them both farewell after Melissa apologised because she had an early shift tomorrow. The Hales and Isaac had followed suit. Noah had left a half hour beforehand, getting a call from the station. And for the first time in human history, Stiles didn't hassle him for anything. Noah knew the reason why was Violeta and the calm comfort she breathed into his son. It was for that reason that Noah didn't feel too bad about letting Stiles stay the night at hers and Tomei's.

Her aunt had gone for a wine run which Violeta knew would be needed after her run in with Klaus. Although Violeta wouldn't be surprised if Violeta went to the shooting range to let off some steam. Or touch up her skills.

And so, it was just Stiles and Violeta.

"You look comfortable." She said with a laugh.

"I am." He said, eyes still closed. "Do you know what else I am?"

"What?" She asked, continuing to undo her laces.

"In love with you."

Violeta stopped for a moment. She looked up from her spot on the floor at her boyfriend who suddenly didn't look the picture of comfort. His eyes flew open at her lack of response and he looked down at her. The arms that he had spread out on the back of the couch came to his side and his eyes stared down at her, imploringly.

Violeta forced herself to remain composed. If shoes made her want to sing then this...

Instead, she swallowed the smile, and looked straight at him with a deadpan. "I know."

It took him three seconds.

"Are you quoting Star Wars to me?" The smile that she couldn't contain provided sufficient answer. Especially since Violeta has sat through enough of Stiles' long rants about the deep symbolism in the dialogue exchange of that scene and how Leia's 'I know' is just her way of saying 'I love you too.'

At this, Stiles darted at her and Violeta laughed - no, she actually giggled - and got up to run away. Hence, the two teenagers who had dealt with several werewolves, the occasional vampire, one kanima and its old white man dick of a master, as well as the grief of loss and love, finally could just be what they truly were inside.

Teenagers in love.

She got to her room when Stiles playfully tackled her onto the bed. By then she was howling in laughter and Stiles pinned her down. "You let me do that."

"Oh, did I?"

"Yeah, you can just Wonder Woman your way out of this." Stiles said.

"Remember that issue where Wonder Woman and Batman get together?"

Stiles grinned. "Yeah. She, uh, she realise she fell in love with him when he saved that bus full of children, right?"

"Nah I think it's when he broke a vending machine trying to get some Reeses."

Stiles buried his head in her hair. "How did I get so lucky?"

And it was at this time that Violeta finally understood something her grandmother always told her. It brought some tears to her eyes now that the piece finally settled and Violeta could wrap her arms around Stiles, her Stiles, and say the words abuela Maria always said.

"It was written in the stars, mi alma. Just ask the moon."