Chapter Text
~June 21st, 2027~
As he laid down in the back of the Suzuki Samurai that his Dad had finished fixing just before school ended, and had allowed him to take camping, Eli sighed happily. He had laid a thick square mattress in the back of the Samurai, and had laid his sleeping bag and pillows over it as he had opened the back of the Samurai, letting in the sun. It was finally warm enough to go camping near a lake, and that was exactly what Eli had done, having Ash drive out with him, only for the wolf to shift and run back to the pack lands, leaving Eli with his sweet baby, Shiloh on a lake trail in the woods. Shiloh was going to town on a stick that Eli planned to use in the fire, as he jumped out of the back of the Samurai, and walked over to Shiloh.
She looked up at him with curious eyes. “Give me that stick.” he said, and Shiloh obediently spit it into her person’s hand, as he took it, and threw it into the lake, which they were only a couple feet from, and watched as Shiloh followed it with her eyes, before turning back to him as soon as it was in the lake.
“No more chewing sticks I use for the fire.” he said, even though he knew she wouldn’t understand, and ruffled her head, as he walked behind the cover he’d made with a thick cord around the Samurai’s shell, and had put a shower curtain around, as he changed into swim trunks.
“Wanna go swimming?” Eli asked, and Shiloh got to her feet, wagging her tail excitedly, tongue lolled out of her mouth, as she held up a paw, watching him. “Let’s go!”
Eli took off towards the sandy shore, throwing off his shirt, and kicking off his shoes as he ran in, only for Shiloh to body smack him into the water, as she jumped in. Eli coughed underwater, coming up to the surface as Shiloh whined next to him, trying to comfort him as he caught his breath again, and wiped the lake water from his face, and mouth. “Why?”
“Why me?” he asked, and Shiloh let out a yap, paddling around him, licking his cheek as she leaned in close to him, watching him heal, reaching out to touch her. “That was uncalled for.”
Shiloh huffed, as Eli looked around, before he ducked back under, and swam past her, turning onto his back, as he looked up at the sun, closing his eyes, enjoying the heat on his skin, as he began to just float on the surface of the lake.
After awhile, he felt the burn on his skin, and turned over, looking towards the bank, where he had left his Samurai and Shiloh. The dog in question was sitting on a hot rock overlooking the lake, as Eli was still swimming in the lake, now heading back to the sandy beach, where he took a seat, and ran a hand through his hair, and a hand down his face.
“That was nice.” he said, as Shiloh came down the hill, and sat next to him, licking his cheek. “Ready to get toweled off?” he asked. Shiloh tilted her head at him.
“Ok, let’s go!” he said, getting up.
Shiloh followed him to the Samurai, as he pulled out a towel, and toweled himself off, before he wiped down Shiloh’s nose, and rubbed the towel all over her, getting her as dry as he could, before he laid the towel down on the sand and sat down on it, as Shiloh went up to her rock. She laid there for awhile, before Eli rolled onto his back, planning to tan.
The red Heeler jumped off her rock, and ran over to her person as he slept, licking his neck, as Eli groaned, shaking his head. “Not now Shiloh.” he groaned, and Shiloh stopped, but she laid there with him, eventually falling asleep herself.
Eli woke up when the sun was starting to go down, and he realized that he had to make some dinner, using what he had. A water pot that he filled with the gallon of water he brought along with him, and a ramen bowl. Shiloh sat beside him as he started the fire with matches, gasoline, and paper, until it was alive, and he had the pot over the top.
“Why are you judging me? You eat kibble.” Eli said, as the pot boiled, whistling as he poured it into the ramen, and went to the Samurai, to pour some dog food into Shiloh’s camping food bowl, and poured some of the water gallon into her camping water bowl. Shiloh ate happily.
“Glutton.” Eli smiled, as he pulled out his phone, and took a picture of the fire, and the two different ramen bowls he was going to eat. He smiled at the fact that he had no service, and took a couple more pictures of Shiloh eating, and of the lake, before he put his phone away, at the same time as the ramen was done, and he stirred it, adding in the chili oil, before he went to town.
~
When the sun finally went down, cold descended on the clearing, as Eli and Shiloh watched the sunset, before retreating to the warm comfort of the Samurai, as Eli had found a battery attached to the back of one of the seats, and used it as a heat blanket power source. He put a tent cover over the back of the Samurai, specifically made for cars, and unzipped the door, as he got into his pajamas, watching the dying embers of the fire, as Shiloh stepped around on the towel, before jumping into the bed with Eli. “Good girl, now lie down.” Eli said.
Shiloh obeyed, curling up under the blankets, as Eli pressed his pillow to the corner, and watched the embers of the fire, as he covered himself with the blankets, and Shiloh put her head on his thigh, curling up against him. He reached down to pet her, which turned into holding her close, until the fire was completely dead, and he looked up at the sky.
The stars glittered in the night sky like little salt deposits, in a dark soup that made up the sky, with the waning moon shining down on him like a dollop of sour cream.
“Isn’t it beautiful Shiloh?” Eli asked, turning to his dog, only to find her sound asleep, just a lump against his side, as she slept, and Eli sighed, leaning over to kiss her, before snapping one last picture with his phone, before he slid down the bed of the Samurai, snuggling further under the covers, and against Shiloh, zipping up the tent door from the bottom, so that the wind wouldn’t reach them, as he fluffed up his pillow, and laid down completely.
He laid on his back, as Shiloh curled against him, warm breath hitting his skin as he kissed her face, and finally fell asleep. The only thing that didn’t sleep was the crickets, which creaked the entire night, as Eli wrapped his arms around Shiloh under the covers, and fell asleep, happy in the bed of his Samurai, that he wasn’t even licensed to drive.
~June 22nd, 2027~
Shiloh’s ears perked up as the sun bled through the tent door, and she began to lick her human’s face, trying to wake Eli up. “What is it Shiloh?” he groaned, rubbing his eyes as he rolled over onto his stomach, and unzipped the tent.
“Hey, are you parked here legally?” Eli groaned, rubbing his eyes as he glanced at Shiloh, making sure that she didn’t do anything to get him into even more trouble than he already was in. His name was on the title of the Samurai…sure, but he didn’t have his license, and he didn’t even know if this was private property.
“Uh, that depends on if you’re a cop or not.” he said, propping himself up on his elbows as he looked up at the dude who was either fucking with him, or attempting to get him arrested. “I was just camping with my dog, I didn’t think this was private property.”
“Well, it kind of is, and my grandma was all pissy when she smelled smoke this morning. I’m gonna need you to pack up and leave.” the dude said, and Eli groaned, rubbing his face, getting the sleep out of his eyes as Shiloh attacked him with kisses.
“Shiloh, get off, I’m busy here.” he said.
As he turned to the dude, whose arms were now crossed over his ridiculously broad chest, Eli sighed. “So, will you let me pack up in peace, or am I going to have a parole officer watching me while I get changed, watch my dog piss and take a shit, before I go all Tetris on everything I brought with me?” he asked.
The dude frowned. “Were you planning to be here for a long time?”
Eli shrugged, snapping his fingers and pointing, as Shiloh jumped out of the Samurai, barely missing the dude’s big, tan arms, as he whipped his head to the side, watching her go. “Kind of, I wanted to take her camping more as it started to warm up, and it was the summer solstice last night, so we like coming out on those days.” he said.
“You’re a Pagan?” the dude asked, and Eli shook his head, as he changed out of his sleep shirt, and into a normal tank top, before he shimmied into shorts under his blankets.
“Does it really matter if I’m religious or not? I just wanted to come out camping with my dog on the solstice.” he said, getting out of the Samurai, landing on the grass, and putting on his sneakers, after slipping into socks in the bed.
“I was just curious.” the guy said, as Eli grabbed his water gallon, the water pot, and his food, piling them next to the back of the Samurai.
He then turned to the guy. “I’m sorry I came here, I didn’t know your grandma had a house here, or that she was pissed that there was someone here. I also don’t think that this is private property, so I think you’re just giving me shit for the hell of it.”
The guy watched as Eli folded his bed in half, shoving the half that he still left open, to the right side, as he loaded the rest of his things into the other side, taking down the tent, rolling it into the package, and putting the cap back on the roof. At that point, Shiloh had finished her business, and Eli called her back, and she came running. “Good girl, get in.”
Eli jumped into the front seat, and turned the key in the ignition, turning the Samurai over, and barely got Shiloh settled in her bed in the back, before he drove away. The guy faded into the background, not saying a single thing as Eli drove away, and eventually found the county road, and headed back to Beacon Hills. “That was a sour way to end our camping trip, wasn’t it?” he asked as Shiloh enjoyed the air being blown through the vents.
“Yeah, definitely.” Eli said, as he clicked on his blinker, turning onto the main downtown road, passing by the driver’s school which he had enrolled in months ago, and had finally managed to get his final behind the wheel session the previous week. He just had to get that, so that he could go to the DMV with his application, which he had already printed out, and had filled out everything, and just needed his Dad to sign, since that was the safest option.
He stopped at the stoplight, spotting one of the seniors at school in a pretty sleek looking Mazda, and put on his sunglasses, not wanting her to see him. He waited for the light to change, before he pressed his foot on the gas, and Shiloh made a surprised noise as they turned a corner, and Eli took them down one of the back roads, behind the main street buildings. “Well, that was close.”
Shiloh turned to him, looking up at him from the back of the Samurai, as he parked in front of his favorite coffee shop, Cool Beans. He turned to Shiloh, a smile on his face as he grabbed Shiloh’s leash, clipping it onto her harness. “Come.”
He jumped out of the Samurai, and Shiloh followed him, bounding onto the sidewalk, next to him, as he opened the front door of Cool Beans, leading Shiloh inside. It was a blessing that Cool Beans was an animal friendly place, so Eli could sit at a table with Shiloh for hours, and he wouldn’t be judged, but now, he wanted a drink, and something for breakfast. “Good morning, how can I help you?” the barista asked, and Eli grinned.
“Hi, can I get a twenty ounce iced snickerdoodle chai?” he asked, as Shiloh heeled next to him, sitting perfectly still as she leaned against Eli’s leg. “Oh, and a breakfast panini with sausage, and a pup cup if you can?” he asked.
“Sure, I can do that for you and your sweet little one.” the barista said as Eli handed over a twenty dollar bill.
“Oh, and a blueberry muffin?” he asked.
The barista…Kylie raised a brow as she and Eli held onto the twenty dollar bill. “Ok then, do you want your change?” she asked, punching the muffin in.
Eli shook his head, letting go of the money. “No, you keep it for yourself, I’ll be fine without it.” he said, and Kylie smiled, nodding as she put the money into the register, and pulled out the change, pocketing it in her apron.
“I’ll get those out to you shortly.” she said, and turned back behind the counter, as Eli led Shiloh to the table close to the window, and pointed his finger down towards the floor. Shiloh laid down, and Eli pet her head, scratching behind her ears.
“Good girl.” he said, and after a couple minutes, Kylie brought him his drink, the muffin, and the pup cup for Shiloh, informing him that the sandwich was taking a little bit longer than normal. He smiled, nodding, watching as Kylie walked away, her brightly dyed hair swinging around her waist, as she walked behind the counter.
He had barely turned around when Shiloh growled quietly. “Wow, you’re pining.”
Eli looked up with curious eyes. “Emma? What the hell are you doing here?” he asked, getting up to hug the dirty blonde, as she sat across from him.
“My dad and uncle brought me here for the summer. Father-daughter bonding, or something like that, but I don’t care if I get to see you.” she said, and Eli grinned.
“Do you want some of my muffin?” he asked, and Emma nodded, taking a bite out of it, moaning in happiness as she enjoyed it, and then took a sip of Eli’s drink, washing the muffin down as it dried her throat just a little bit.
“Wait, how did you get here?” he asked, and Emma pointed outside, where a beat up old truck sat in the parking lot, next to the Samurai.
“Are you driving around illegally?” she asked, and Eli rolled his eyes.
He put his hand on Shiloh’s head, just holding it there, keeping her in place, and making sure that she was comfortable. “Aren’t you?” he asked, and Emma held up a Kansas driver’s license, with her information on it, including the address of the bunker, in Lebanon. Eli sighed, shaking his head as he sipped his drink, a smile on his face. “Lucky motherfucker.” he said, and Emma laughed.
As soon as she put her license away, Kylie walked over, and handed Eli his breakfast panini in a basket, a smile on her face, which faltered just slightly when she saw Emma. “Hi there, can I get you anything?” she asked.
Emma nodded. “Sure, I’ll come up and order at the counter. See you in a second Hale.” she said, and got up from the table, and walked over to the counter, leaving Eli to eat his panini all alone at the table, while she ordered at the counter, from Kylie.
After a couple minutes, Emma came back with a croissant in her hands, and a warm latte in her other hand as she sat down in front of Eli, with a smile on her face. “That girl doesn’t like me very much.” she said, and Eli turned to look at Kylie.
“Well, you’re a little bit of a bitch sometimes.” he said, and Emma laughed, shaking her head as she leaned back in the chair.
“Thanks El, you’re a sweetheart.” she said.
The werewolf grinned, as he ate his panini, and he and Emma just existed together in relative silence, until Eli was done eating, and he put his trash in the basket that his panini had come in. He’d fed Shiloh a piece of cheese, before he got to his feet, and Shiloh sat next to him. “Well I’m going to go now. Do you want to come with me?” he asked.
Emma got to her feet. “Where are you going?” she asked, and Eli gestured to Shiloh, whose tongue lolled out happily.
“I was going to take her to get some new dog food…she’s running a little bit low, and better safe than sorry.” he said, going to throw the trash away. “I’m probably also going to get her some new t-o-y-s, and some t-r-e-a-t-s.”
“Ah, right, that’s smart.” Emma said, as they both left Cool Beans, and Eli waved back at Kylie as he walked out the front door, and turned to Emma, who was looking like a smug little bitch in front of him, as she leaned against the beat-up Ford. “You’re such a sap.”
“Shut up Emma.” Eli said, as he snapped his fingers towards Shiloh, and she jumped into the Samurai, sitting on the passenger seat, as Eli turned to Emma fully. “I am not a sap, I don’t even think I like anyone right now.” he said.
Emma sighed. “Aw, you’re questioning yourself.”
The brunette leaned against the Samurai, shaking his head. “Do you want to come to get Shiloh some stuff with me or not?” he asked, and Emma smiled, clapping him on his shoulder, as she turned to open the driver’s side of her truck.
“I was just fucking with you.” she said, and jumped in, as Eli turned, and got back into the Samurai, driving off, with Emma following him in the Ford.
“God, I don’t understand that girl, do you Shiloh?” he asked her as he turned into the parking lot, and watched Emma pull in after him, parking next to him, as he jumped out, and clipped on Shiloh’s leash again, helping her out of the Samurai, as he and Emma walked into PetSmart, as the dirty blonde smiled at him.
“You know it was just me giving you shit, right?” Emma asked.
As Eli grabbed a new bag of lamb dog food, he nodded his head, and put the bag into the cart, as Shiloh walked next to him, her leash in Emma’s hand this time, as Eli led them into the treats and toys aisle. “It’s cool Em.” he said, and bent down to Shiloh. “You want to pick out a new toy?”
Shiloh yipped happily, and Eli grinned, as he pointed at the wall, as she started sniffing. “So, does she always get new toys?” she asked.
Eli turned to her. “She gets a new toy every two weeks or so, to keep her engaged with the toys she has, and then destroys.” he said, and Emma nodded.
They finished picking out Shiloh’s new toys a couple minutes later, which consisted of a double knotted rope, a couple chewy bones, and another stuffed toy. Eli grinned, as he ushered Shiloh into the Samurai, and Emma put her hand on his shoulder, a small smile on her face. “Where are we going now?” she asked, and Eli shrugged.
“I was thinking that we could go get some ice cream at Baskin Robbins, before we go back to the house, wait, where are you staying?” he asked, and Emma shrugged.
“Um, I don’t actually know. We just got into town, and a blonde dude met us at the gas station, told me that you were camping, so I went to find you, and then I saw the Samurai at Cool Beans.” Emma said, and Eli nodded his head.
“Ok, then let’s just go back to my house.” he said, and Emma nodded.
The two headed for the Hale House, where Eli parked the Samurai in the middle of the driveway, in front of the garage, and Shiloh jumped out, running into the forest to do her business, while Eli unloaded the back of the Samurai, putting his camping things into the garage, while Emma parked her truck at the front of the house, and walked down to find him tucking the tent, sleeping bags, and camping utensils into a locker shaped cabinet with his name on it. “You have your own locker in your family’s garage? That’s insane.” Emma said as she walked in.
Eli turned to her. “You have an entire garage full of vintage cars, and a cell in one of your rooms. Don’t judge me for my garage locker like a firefighter.” he said, and Emma laughed, shaking her head as she leaned against the front of the Samurai.
“I can see you as a fireman, I do find firemen to be hot.” she said, and Eli snorted in his throat, as he closed his locker.
“Well, I for one, cannot see myself as a fireman right now. I just need to get through the next six months with my permit, take my driving test, and start working.” he said, getting back into the Samurai with Emma, the two driving to the upper driveway, where her truck was parked.
“Aren’t you focused.” she said.
Eli laughed as he got out and tucked the keys into his pocket, calling for Shiloh, who came running to her person, and lapped up at his hands “Come inside.” he said, and Emma followed him in, as Eli kneeled down and used a rag to wipe Shiloh’s dewy paws, before he let her go, and slipped out of his shoes, turning to Emma. “This is a no shoes household.”
The blonde hummed. “Got it.”
As she unclasped her sandals, and followed Eli deeper into the house, she marveled at the marble stone flooring, and the softest looking furniture. The dining chairs were cushioned, and so were the bar chairs against the kitchen island, but the most appealing was the couch. It was too bad that there were two men on the couches, with a large binder open on the coffee table, their laptops out, talking about floral arrangements and flower types.
Emma walked over to Eli, who was pouring what looked like chai tea mix out of a glass bottle, into a glass, a half carton of half and half on the table. “Who are they?”
He turned to her. “My pappa is the one with his hair in the headband, who you met at the bunker, and my Dad is the one with the salt and pepper hair.” he said, and Emma laughed as both men turned towards them, and just then, Emma was struck by family resemblance.
“Wow!” she exclaimed. She could already see Eli’s resemblance to his auburn haired father, those eyes of his, the way he fixed his pale blue eyes on hers, his hands, his lips, the way his hair glowed in the sunlight flooding the floor to ceiling windows of the living room.
“Hello Emma, how are you dear?” the auburn man said, and Emma was racking her brain, trying to remember his name.
She smiled. “I’m good.”
The other father…Eli’s Dad smiled at her. “Are you the young girl that Eli picked up in Utah? Salt Lake City?” he asked.
“Yeah, I am…I’m Emma.” she went to shake his hand, and when he gripped her smaller hand with his larger one, it felt like a firmer version of Eli’s handshake. His hazel eyes contributed to the green of Eli’s, but his other father’s blue had made his eyes a deep, greenish blue. His smile was the exact same as her friend’s.
“I’m Derek, just Eli’s old man…his only old man.” he said, smirking at the auburn man.
“Oh come off it, I’m old in spirit, and body.” he said, running his hands down his torso, a big smile on his face.
“Pappa, you’re immortal, we get it.” Eli said, and his pappa laughed.
Derek smiled, wrapping his arms around Eli’s pappa, kissing his forehead. “You’re so sweet to Eli’s friends, aren’t you Conri?” he asked.
Conri! That was his name.
“So, Diana told me that she brought you, Treetop, and Pocahontas to visit, but I only see you.” Conri said, and Emma snorted, covering her mouth as she laughed, covering her mouth with her hands until she heard Eli using the ice dispenser, to put ice in his drink.
“Are those your nicknames for my dad and my uncle?” she asked.
Conri nodded with a smile on his face. “I mean, I didn’t come up with Treetop, but Dean pointed a crossbow at me once, and so I call him that now.” he said.
Emma nodded, as Eli walked around her, sitting on the armchair with a smile on his face as he sipped his drink, and Emma sat on the end of the couch, far from Conri and Derek who were sitting on the loveseat side of the couch, while Shiloh had settled on her bed, next to the fireplace. “So these are your parents?” she asked Eli.
“Yep, aren’t they the best?” he asked, and Emma smiled, as Derek kissed Conri’s cheek, as the shorter man showed him a picture of a flower arrangement.
“They are.” she said, as Derek pointed to a different picture on his phone. “Why are they arguing about flowers?” she asked.
“Oh yeah…Dad proposed to pappa in January, and they’re planning the wedding. Looks like they’re on the flowers now.” he said, and Emma hummed, shaking her head as she looked over at Eli’s parents, who were curled up together, just barely arguing about flowers.
“Is this what it will be like to get engaged with someone?” Emma asked and Eli shrugged his shoulders, as Conri sighed, curling into Derek’s body pressing a kiss to the alpha’s cheek.
“I don’t know, but this is what it’s like to see my parents engaged and happy.” he said, and Emma hummed, nodding. “They were together for most of my entire life before they got engaged in January.” he said.
Emma smiled, as the front door opened, and both she and Eli turned towards the source of the noise…as three people came through the door, and Diana reminded Sam and Dean to take off their shoes before they came in. “Why do I have to take my shoes off?” Dean griped.
Next to him, Sam smiled. “I like it, it makes the floor more clean, and leaves impurities outside.” he said, as Diana paddled across the marble floor in her socks.
“You’re weird Sammy.” Dean said, following his brother, as they spotted Emma and Eli on the couch, and the two teenagers waved. “This is still weird.” Dean said as he saw Conri put down flower samples, and smile at him from the couch, an engagement ring glittering on his finger.
“Well, you live in a bunker with your brother, and my best friend, in the middle of nowhere, wearing dead men’s clothes, so I could give you a run for your money…the low amount that you have.” he said as Diana poured drinks.
“Oh Conri, you’re hilarious.” she said, and Conri smiled, rolling over on the couch, so that he was sitting upright, and got to his feet. He ran over to Diana, wrapping her up in a hug, pressing his cheek to hers, with a big grin on his face. “I forgot to tell you that Alexis wants to be the decorator for your wedding by the way.”
Conri’s eyes grew wide. “The daughter of Aphrodite, the goddess of love? Decorating my wedding, that sounds like a dream!” he grinned, as Derek got up to approach him.
He wrapped an arm around Conri, tugging him close. “Are we solid on having the wedding back in Long Island?” he asked, and Conri nodded, clapping his hands together as Eli got off the couch at the mere mention of his childhood home.
Conri leaned on the counter. “I was thinking about it, Eli was born there, the garden and fountains are gorgeous, and perfect for an outdoor wedding. We can either have the reception in the pool house, or the mansion, and we can have someone do a drunk nose dive into the pool.” he said.
Derek smiled. “You are adorable…we both know that if you have full access to the bar, that you will be the one jumping in.” he said.
“I’m so glad you know me so well.” Conri smiled.
“You’re a hard nut to crack, but after awhile, I got to fall in love with you, sweet coconut.” he said, and Conri scrunched up his nose at the alpha, looking up at him with a look that conveyed slight annoyance, bewilderment, and at its core, love.
“Why did you say it like that? I am not a coconut, I’m a lychee.” he said, and Derek shook his head, tucking a lock of Conri’s auburn hair behind his ear, as he kissed his forehead, stroking his shoulder with his warm, large hand.
“You have the hard shell of a coconut, because you’ve built up so many walls that were hard for me to break down, but the sweetness of a lychee, is that good enough for you?” Derek asked.
Conri smirked at him, showing his impressive set of pearly, white teeth, as he leaned up and kissed the alpha’s cheek. “Way better.”
Across from them, Eli had gone back to sit with Emma, who was curling up her nose in disgust, while Sam and Dean were completely removed from the sweet display of affection from the engaged couple, enveloped in each other. “Ugh, love.” Emma said.
Eli turned to her. “It’s not that gross Em, I’m sure that if I was as in love with whoever I end up with, as my pappa is with my Dad, I’d be like that too.”
The blonde laughed. “As if you would.” she said.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Eli asked, with a big grin on his face, as Diana opened one of the cupboards, and pulled out something that had to be in her plan for dinner. “Are you making dinner?” he asked.
“I sure am, you guys deserve it.” she said, and Eli grinned.
~
Later on that night, after everyone had gone to bed, dinner was cleaned up, the hunters were set up in the guest rooms, and Eli was immersed in his phone, as Shiloh guarded him in his bed, across the hall, in their room, Conri and Derek sat in bed together. The were-witch was on his laptop, on the shared Google doc that he had with Derek for wedding planning. “So, what do you really want for the flowers around the altar in the back garden?” he asked.
Derek shrugged his shoulders as he looked down at his mystery themed book. “I think that we should do the flowers according to yours, Danae’s, and Eli’s scents.” he said.
“You do know that cherry blossoms, lilac, and roses are all different colors, right?” he asked, and Derek nodded, with a sigh.
“I do know. I was thinking that the big flower garlands and decorations would be all different kinds of roses…pink, white, yellow. And then, the tables and chairs could line with cherry blossoms, and you could carry lilacs.” he said.
Conri hummed. “Or I could carry a bouquet full of all three?” he asked and Derek smiled, despite the fact that he shook his head.
He placed a hand on Conri’s shoulder. “I think that the bouquet should be fully you, and it should be green, with the lilacs. Having just you walking towards me, and not smelling anyone but you would be the best thing ever.” he said.
The were-witch chuckled. “I’ll think about it, I need to talk to my mom, and apparently Alexis, my new decorator.” he said.
“Is it really a good idea to let a demigod decorate our wedding?” the alpha asked.
“Do you trust her?” Conri asked.
Derek nodded. “Of course, I do, I just never see her.”
Next to him, Conri smiled. “She’ll be good at it, I trust and adore her, and I think that being naturally in tune with beauty and things like that, she’d be a natural.” he said.
“Well, I trust you, so I’ll go along with it.” Derek said.
Conri smiled. “I’m glad.”
The alpha wrapped his arms around Conri, pulling the were-witch down into his arms, curling around him as he pushed Conri’s devices away, and laid him on his chest. “Go to sleep baby, we’ll do more tomorrow, but now, we need to sleep.”
Conri purred into Derek’s neck. “Love you.”
~July 27th, 2027~
Eli and Emma spent most of their summer at the lake with Shiloh, who was obsessed with swimming and jumping off tall rocks, into the water. They were mostly accompanied by Sam and Dean, alongside Dean’s sweet doodle dog, Miracle, and the brothers would sun tan for most of the time, until Shiloh and Miracle shook out their wet fur, and got it all over the men. The teenagers laughed the whole time that the hunters groaned, wiping their faces free of all of the water from Miracle and Shiloh’s coats. The two dogs were now besties, and sat near the kids. Shiloh was next to her person, while Miracle curled up on a towel next to Emma, and looked up at Sam and Dean like the innocent little baby that he was, acting like he’d never done anything wrong in his entire life. “Miracle!”
Emma laughed at Dean, as he pushed his sunglasses up on his face. “Looks like he likes me more than his dad.” she said with a smile on her face as Eli used a dog towel with a dog face on it to dry off Shiloh, who then hunkered down on the towel itself, and looked ahead.
Dean looked at Emma with both annoyance and pride. “You know, if you weren’t my daughter, I’d be pissed.” he said.
“Should I be thrilled?” Emma asked, and Dean shrugged his shoulders as Eli spotted the open snack shack out the corner of his eye, and jumped up, wallet in hand, and Shiloh at his heels, as he ran over to it. Emma laughed, shaking her head as she pressed her knuckles to her lips.
“You like him?” Dean asked and Emma made a retching noise when she heard that coming out of his mouth, pressing her finger to her tongue. “Sorry, I was just curious.”
“Well you’re gross, and he is just a sweetheart, a cute little kitty, who has no idea how to talk to girls, even if his life depends on it.” she said, and Dean rolled his eyes, taking a sip of beer as Emma glanced back at the snack shack, and nodded to herself. “Be right back.”
She jumped to her feet, running across the sand, and then on the paved path, before she reached Eli and Shiloh at the light brown, wooden building. Eli turned to her, seemingly shocked, before he relaxed, and realized that it was her. “Do you want ice cream too?” he asked.
Emma shrugged, as Miracle trotted up behind her. “I had to get away from those two. Mostly Dean…he’s trying to insinuate that I like you.” she said.
“Ew.” Eli said.
“I know, right?” Emma grinned, as they got closer to the front of the line, and she patted her thighs, realizing that her wallet was back with Sam and Dean. “Shit…El?” she asked.
“Hm?” Eli asked, looking down at Shiloh, who was panting.
Emma brought out her puppy eyes for the werewolf. “Could you spot me? My wallet is back with my stuff?” she asked, and Eli nodded.
Patting her shoulder, he smiled. “I got you.”
By the time they got to the front of the line, Emma was vibrating where she stood, and the worker behind the counter was smiling at Eli, looking at his bare torso. Emma smirked at her friend as he ordered, before she put a hand on his shoulder, and stepped up, to order her own snacks, including swirl soft serve, and fries. The girl behind the counter deflated a little bit, as she saw Emma put her hand on Eli, but brightened up again when he tipped her an extra five dollars, and he and Emma stood to the side, while she went back into the snack shack and worked on their orders.
Emma turned to Eli with a dirty smile. “You’re so oblivious to the fact that she was totally into you Eli, I don’t get you men.” she said, and Eli frowned, as Shiloh and Miracle sat next to each other, exchanging little kisses on their ears.
“I’m tired of you saying that, I am not oblivious.” he said, and Emma raised a brow.
“Look at your receipt.” she pointed.
Eli did. “There’s a phone number on the back of it.”
The blonde giggled. “Give it to me, let me call the number.” she said, and Eli, ever the oblivious, innocent boy he was, handed it to Emma, and she dialed.
As the girl in the snack shack handed out their ice creams, and their fries, a phone in her pocket began to ring, and Emma smirked at her. “Oh, is that yours?” Eli asked.
“Oh, yeah, it must be.” the girl said, and turned away, only for Emma to click off the call, and grab her soft serve, while Eli took the fries, and the two of them left the snack shack.
“Ah, I love being right.” Emma smiled.
Eli rolled his eyes, licking his ice cream. “I hate you.”
Emma bumped his shoulder. “No you don’t.”
~August 15th, 2027~
It really did suck when the summer came to an end, especially when Eli had to go shopping for whatever he needed for the new year, and when he had his friend with him, but she would be leaving almost immediately after they finished, but before he started school. Thankfully, his pappa and Dad were occupied with wedding planning, and didn’t notice when Eli and Emma took Emma’s truck, along with Shiloh in the back, to go shopping. School started the next day, on Monday, the 16th, so they had the afternoon, and the evening together, before Sam and Dean would let Emma go with Eli on the first day, before they would take her back to Kansas, and she would go back to online high school. While they were driving into town, Eli leaned out the window. “This school shit is complete bullshit, you know that, right Em?” he asked.
Emma shrugged her shoulders as she pulled into the Dutch Bros drive thru, at Eli’s request, and rolled down her window. “I guess it sucks, but I do it online, so I can’t really judge as much as you can.” she said, and Eli rolled his eyes.
“I take AP classes Em. They’re so demanding, there’s summer reading, and homework, and I am expected to be perfect in all of them.” he said, and Emma shrugged her shoulders as she ordered for both of them, and got a pup cup for Shiloh.
“Then pick two classes, probably electives, and not put as much effort into them. Do you have any electives that you picked?” she asked.
Eli shrugged. “I have three this year, but I kind of forgot what all of them are.”
Next to him, with her elbow on the edge of the window, Emma frowned. “That’s kind of insane Eli, what are they?” she asked, and Eli shrugged as he opened his phone, going to the virtual grading app that was downloaded on his phone, and checked his tentative schedule. “Incoming!”
He jumped as Emma put his large golden eagle chai into his lap, and he quickly shoved it into the cupholder in the vintage Ford that Emma drove now. As soon as it was secure, Eli went back to his phone, as Emma went over the speed bump that led into the shopping center, which included a couple clothing stores. As Emma parked, she turned towards him. “So, what’s the tea in your classes? What do you have this year?” she asked.
“Wow, I have Latin, Human Geography, and French…all AP.” he said, and Emma’s eyes grew wide, sucking in a breath as she whistled.
“Damn, I can’t imagine that kind of bullshit, but I’m not taking AP classes, so I’m really not as sad as you are. Anyway, let’s go shopping!” Emma said, and Eli laughed, as she ushered him out of the cab, as he gave Shiloh her pup cup, before the two teenagers walked into the clothing store, and thank god they were allowed to have their drinks in their hands while in the store.
Eli wandered around for a little while, looking at clothes, before he found a decent selection of cotton tank tops in white, gray, black, and navy. He grabbed a couple, alongside about a dozen band shirts, and regular cotton shirts, before Emma tapped his shoulder, and showed him flannels. “Really Emma? I’m not a lumberjack.” he said.
The blonde rolled her eyes, tossing the red and black one, a gray and white one, as well as a blue and brown one onto Eli’s shoulders. “I know, but you wear flannel to bed, so I thought you’d wear it often.” she said.
“You’re right.” Eli grumped, as he shoved all of the flannels that Emma picked out, into his cart, as he made his way to the pants section, where he went deep into comfortable slacks, jeans, and shorts, grabbing four of each type in his size.
Emma watched him the whole time, as he flitted between the aisles, before he seemed like he was done, and walked with him, to the register, where he excitedly watched all of his new items get scanned, before he paid, and he and Emma left the store, bags in hand as they walked to Emma’s truck, where Shiloh sat in the back. “Hey baby girl.” Eli said with a smile.
“Let’s go to the supplies store.” Emma said, and Eli shook his head with a small smile on his face as he jumped into the truck, putting his bags into the back as Shiloh licked his hand from the bed, as he held onto the frame, as he stuffed his bags inside.
“No need, I already have that stuff at home, let’s just go to lunch instead.” he said, and Emma shrugged her shoulders, nodding her head as she jumped into the driver’s seat of the truck, putting it into gear, as she drove away from the clothing store.
~
Back home, Conri and Derek were working on cooking on their grill, for Sam and Dean, before they planned to leave with Emma the next day. It was nice, as Conri handed Derek a cutting board of seasoned meats, starches and veggies, and let the alpha put them on the grill. He watched the Winchesters, who were sitting outside, on the lawn chairs, lean into the back of the chairs, enjoying the sun that shone down on them. “You know Sammy, I really do like this family now.”
The younger brother sighed. “I can tell Dean, you’ve been enjoying that mattress in the guest room like it was your married partner.” he said, and Dean grinned.
“I love it Sammy.” he said, as Diana, dressed in a sundress, and a hat walked over, taking a seat in front of the brothers, a smile on her face, as she leaned on Dean’s knees.
“How are you two?” she asked.
Dean shrugged, with a lazy, easy smile on his face as he sipped his beer. “Enjoying the hell out of this place. It’s amazing.” he said, and Diana smiled.
Over by the grill, Derek pointed at Dean with a smile on his face, as he cat-called him, while Conri leaned against him, kissing his cheek. “You’d better!” the alpha called.
Dean smiled. “Those two, I swear to god.”
“They’re sweethearts, you know that Dean, and they have the sweetest little boy.” Diana said, gesturing to the two of them as Nixie came out of the house, joining the alpha and the were-witch in all the fun, as they chatted about something.
“You know, they’re so different than I ever would have thought that they would be, but they are so kind, so loyal and loving to one another, that I can’t even imagine hunting them.” Sam said and Diana smiled, nodding as she watched Conri and Derek.
She turned to Sam and Dean. “That’s kind of how I felt when I first realized that Danae was not a complete monster, when she helped me when I was a young hunter. When I met Conri, he was worse than she was at her worst, but he was so sweet, and so good, despite everything.”
“I can see that.” Dean said.
~August 16th, 2027~
“Hey, where is Eli? He’s not coming downstairs.” Conri asked, as Emma laid her things over her duffle, eating breakfast at the table. She glanced around, shrugging her shoulders as she took another bite of yogurt and granola.
“I haven’t seen him since Cards Against Humanity last night.” Emma said, remembering the exact moment when Eli doubled over, laughing his ass off, before staggering upstairs with Shiloh, where he must have passed out cold.
She watched as Conri probably used his superpowered hearing to search the house for his son, and groaned. “He’s still asleep.”
Emma hummed. “Do you want me to throw a pillow on him to wake him up?” she asked, and Conri smirked.
“I knew I liked you,” he said.
Emma smiled, getting up from the table, grabbing a throw pillow from the couch, as she ascended the stairs, where Conri locked his ears away, knowing that he didn’t need his enhanced hearing to know how pissed his son was about to be.
“EMMA!”
Conri burst out laughing.
~
Eli groaned as he leaned against Emma, who helped him through the hallway, into the bathroom, where he had laid out his clothes on the clothing rack, the night before, in preparation for this very situation that was happening right now. He looked at his reflection in the mirror, as Emma ripped off his sleep shirt, and pulled his tank top over his head, grabbing his deodorant, as he stood like a zombie in the middle of the bathroom, lifting up his arms as she worked. By the time she got to his waist, after brushing out his hair, she turned to him, and snapped her fingers in front of his face. He turned to her, confused. “You’ve gotta take care of yourself now, I am not pulling down your pants.”
He nodded, deciding that it was a good choice that he took a shower the night before, but had to get out of that habit, and take them in the morning, so that he could have that rude awakening of hot water on his head in the morning. “Sure, just wait outside.” he said.
“Hell no, I’m going back to eat.” Emma said, and slammed the door behind her, as Eli stripped out of his pants and boxers, quickly adjusting himself in his new underwear, as he jumped into his new cargo pants, and buckled his belt around his waist.
After rubbing sunscreen into his skin, and playing with his hair for a good ten minutes, Eli looked at his watch, and realized that he was almost late, as it was nearing eight o’clock. He sighed, shaking his head as he went to his room, to grab his backpack, while Shiloh sat there, waiting for him, her tongue lolled out as she shot him a sweet puppy grin. “Hey baby, I’ve gotta go now, I’ll miss you.” he said, bending over, to kiss Shiloh on the forehead.
She looked confused, and just a little bit scared, as her person stroked her cheeks, scratching behind her ears. “I’ll come back, but this is going to happen all the time, ok? It’s called school.” he said, and Shiloh whined.
This wasn’t the first time that Eli had left Shiloh, to go to school, but she’d spent the whole summer with him, so this was going to be hard for her to handle, not being around him all the time, and he knew that he couldn’t pretend that she was his service dog, but he really wanted to. He straightened up, and walked downstairs, with Shiloh following him, as he poured her food, and turned to his pappa, who was smirking at him.
“Don’t say anything.” he said, before both Conri and Emma burst out laughing.
“What did I miss?” Dean and Diana asked as they exited the guest rooms, followed by Sam, who looked more sleep worn than they did. Eli rolled his eyes, grabbing a tube of Ritz crackers as he drank from his water bottle, a frown on his face.
“Nothing worth talking about.” Eli said, as Diana laughed, clapping him on the shoulder, as she sat down on the bar chair next to him, as Shiloh flanked him, looking up at him with a big doggy smile, tongue out of her mouth.
“Ok then kid.” Diana said.
Emma turned to Eli a couple minutes after he finished eating, and gave him a knowing look. A look that he saw, shared, and understood, and got off the bar chair. “Alright Emma, let’s get going already, or I’ll be late.” he said.
The two left the house, and jumped into Emma’s truck, which was packed fully with all of her things, as she was going to leave almost instantly after Eli was left at school, despite not wanting to leave very much, and wanting to keep hanging out with him. She leaned back in her seat as she drove, and Eli sighed, shaking his head as he leaned out the window. “You’re so lucky that you can drive freely because you live in Kansas.” he said.
Emma shook her head. “Not really, I’m still on a restricted license, since I’m only fifteen in human years.” she said, and Eli frowned.
“But you’re sixteen, that’s what you told me.” he said.
“Yeah, physically, but my mom, the bitch filed a birth certificate that I tracked down, and it says that my birthday is February 3rd, 2012, so I have to pretend to be fifteen until next year, and hopefully I’ll start aging like a normal human.” she said, as they pulled under a stoplight.
“Right, the Amazon thing.” Eli said, nodding along. “Is it bad that I can only think of amazons as the characters from the DC movies?” he asked.
“Nah, it’s pretty much the same thing.” Emma said.
All he knew about the amazons did come from those movies, but Emma assured him that most of it was true, as mythology had a big part to play. Themyscira was real, and the amazon scouts did return after the breeding season, but, for obvious reasons, Emma had never been there. She pulled into the school parking lot, before throwing the truck into park, and turned to Eli, with a smile on her face, clapping him on the shoulder with a smile.
Eli smiled, despite where he’d have to go as soon as he left the truck. “Good luck Hale, god knows you need it.” Emma said.
“Thanks Em.” he said, and jumped out, slamming the door.
“Have fun, I’ll call you when we’re out on the road, just let me know if you need to talk about this.” Emma gestured to the entire school behind Eli, who laughed, and nodded, tapping his phone in his pocket, as he turned to walk away.