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[I MISS YOU, I'M SORRY]

1.05 || know better than to get caught

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"Hey."

Aurelia shifts from where she'd had her head resting on her hand to look over her shoulder at Freya. "What are you doing here?" Aurelia asks with a frown.

"Aurelia, honey, you've been here for nearly a week now. You're going to have to leave eventually. Come home. Sleep in an actual bed. Shower." Freya says.

"No, I know." Aurelia says. "I just- I can't not be here. He knew when Laura and Derek left. I just don't want him to think I left too." Aurelia says, her voice shaking slightly.

"Honey, he's not going to think that. Okay? You're pack, probably more so than they were. He knows you're here. And if you come home for the night, he's gonna know you're not gone. Okay? But you've got to come and sleep and eat something that's not from a vending machine." Freya says gently, resting a hand on her arm and Aurelia sniffs slightly, looking back at Peter. "Come on. I'll make you dinner, you can get some sleep and I'll bring you back in the morning. I promise. He wouldn't want you to stop taking care of yourself like this, you know that." Freya says softly and Aurelia exhales slightly shakily as she hesitates for a moment before nodding a little.

"You'll bring me back on the way to the bakery in the morning?" Aurelia asks, glancing at her aunt.

"If that's what you want, then yeah." Freya says and Aurelia nods gently.

"Okay."

"Okay, come on." Freya says gently, grabbing Aurelia's bag and coat as the brunette lets go of Peter's hand before pushing herself up.

She leans into her Aunt's side when the woman wraps an arm around her, resting her head against her shoulder as Freya gently rubs her arm. "What do you want to eat?" Freya asks.

"Can you make that spicy garlic mushroom pasta?" Aurelia asks.

"Yeah, sure." Freya responds and Aurelia nods a little.

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"Did they forget my curly fries?"

Aurelia looks over at him as she takes the paper off Stiles with the salad from his burger. "You're not supposed to eat fries, especially the curly ones." Stiles responds as Aurelia picks up the tomato slice.

"Yeah, they're bad for you. I amended the order." Aurelia says.

"Well, I'm carrying a lethal weapon. If I want the curly fries, I will have the curly fries." Noah says.

"If you think getting rid of contractions in all your sentences makes your argument any more legitimate, you are wrong." Stiles says and Aurelia snorts lightly in amusement as she reaches forwards to steal one of Stiles' curly fries.

"Don't make me turn your own deputies into spies for us. They'd do it. I'm their favourite." Aurelia says and Stiles laughs briefly.

"Unit one, do you copy?" All of them look at the radio at the voice before Stiles immediately reaches for it, just for Aurelia to reach forwards and bat his hand away.

"Sorry." Stiles says, pulling his hand back as Noah grabs the radio.

"Unit one, copy."

"Got a report of a possible one-eight-seven." The dispatcher says.

"A murder?" Stiles exclaims around a mouthful of food as his head snaps up.

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Aurelia picks at the salad on her veggie burger, scrunching her nose up in disgust when she finds a pickle slice before reaching forwards to pass it to Stiles and he glances at her before taking it as Noah goes to get out of the car. "Stay here." He says and they both look at him as Aurelia takes a curly fry off Stiles.

"Okay." She says and he nods before shutting the door as he climbs out. "Give it." She says, slapping Stiles' hand when he tries to stop her from stealing his fries.

"Oh, no way." Stiles says and she looks over at him with a frown.

"What? Dead body?" Aurelia asks.

"Worse. Lydia and Jackson." He responds and she scrunches her nose up briefly.

"Not totally sure that constitutes worse than a dead body but I'll let it slide." Aurelia says. "What's going on?"

"Why are you, the telepath, asking me, the human, that?" Stiles asks and she shrugs.

"I'm listening to Derek and Scott on the roof of the video store." Aurelia responds.

"Seriously?" Stiles asks and she nods with a hum as she sips her drink before scrunching her nose up and taking Stiles' drink and tasting his.

"Thieving little shit." She grumbles, swapping the straws over before taking her drink off him.

"Why'd you use my straw and then swap them?" He asks.

"Because you're worse at using straws than a four-year-old. Look at it, it's bent in three places." She responds, gesturing at his drink. "Jackson's being an asshole to your dad." Aurelia says after a moment without looking up from her food. "I said no pickles. That's two." She grumbles under her breath, putting it in Stiles' tray.

"Oh, woah!" Stiles exclaims and Aurelia looks up with a slightly startled expression when he suddenly opens the car door and half gets out. "Is that a dead body?" He asks loudly before immediately sliding back down into his seat when Noah looks over at him impatiently.

"Pretty sure he said stay in the car." Aurelia says.

"Pretty sure he said stay in the car." Stiles mocks under his breath.

"Oh, yeah, cause that's mature." Aurelia retorts with an eye roll.

"Whatever. So, hey, the other night," Stiles says.

"Gonna need to be more specific." Aurelia responds.

"When we kinda saved Derek's life and you guys took Scott to the long-term care facility." Stiles says and Aurelia hums.

"What about it?" Aurelia asks.

"Scott said you guys took him to see Derek's Uncle. Who apparently was the only survivor of the Hale Fire." Stiles says and she nods a little. "He the same guy you go to see several times a week or do you just happen to know two people there?" He asks and she hesitates for a second.

"Same guy." She says and Stiles nods briefly. "Why?"

"Just, curious, I guess. Scott apparently never made the connection but it was the first question I had." Stiles says and she hums. "Did I cross a line?" He asks and she looks up.

"No. No, it's fine. It's just- Before all the stuff with the Alpha and Scott getting bit, everyone who needed to know already knew what happened. Never had to explain it before." Aurelia says and Stiles nods a little.

"Scott said you also seemed a little testy the entire way there, the five or so minutes you were inside and the entire way back to his house." Stiles says and Aurelia hums.

"I understand Derek needed to make Scott understand how dangerous the Argents are. And what Scott said at the clinic hurt both of us. Scott being willing to trust the Argents over us. To hand us over to them. And I know that the only way to fully have him understand is to have him see what they're capable of. I just don't like that it meant taking him there to Peter." Aurelia says.

"Why is it a secret?" Stiles asks.

"No, I just- Derek was only doing it because Peter was a convenient example. Aside from a trip to the cemetery that is. But I knew that seeing it wouldn't do anything to change Scott's mind and it didn't. Not really. First thing he asked was how we knew it was them. Then he claimed the Argent's must have had a good reason for it." Aurelia says.

"For arson and mass murder? Yeah, because there's notoriously perfect reasons that justify that." Stiles remarks dryly and she hums. "Wait, so, if Peter's a werewolf, why isn't he healing? Or healed? It's been six years, right?"

"We don't know. Never figured that part out. Derek and Laura figured it was probably his body's way of protecting itself while he healed and recovered. And maybe his mind's way of protecting itself." Aurelia says.

"You don't agree?"

"I haven't been able to clearly read his thoughts since the fire. But there's something. So, I think he's at least partially present. Aware. And if his mind were protecting itself, that doesn't make much sense." Aurelia says.

"So, you think he's been-"

"At least partially cognizant the entire time. Yeah." Aurelia says.

"That sounds like hell." Stiles remarks and she hums. "Sorry, that was insensitive."

"No, it's okay. It does." Aurelia says and Stiles nods.

"So, you think that when you guys were there the other night and Scott said that, he heard him?" Stiles asks and she nods again.

"Yeah. Possibly." Aurelia says.

She couldn't say 'I swear I clearly heard his thoughts for a moment there after Scott and Derek left the room' no matter how sure she was it happened. Because Stiles would probably just think she was insane. Not that she disagreed.

"Wait, so, question." Stiles says and she nods. "Is that where you were when I didn't see you for like two weeks straight about six years ago? Dad would never tell me where you were and no matter how hard I tried, neither would Freya when she babysat me instead." He says.

"Yeah, I was at the hospital. I sat in the waiting room for three days before they let me see him. I sat in his room for another four days. Melissa and several other nurses tried to make me go home several times. We hit a week solid of me refusing to leave the hospital and, I assume it was Melissa, called Freya to come and drag me out of there. And then the following week, I went home for dinner and to sleep and had Freya drop me off at the hospital on the way to work in the morning." Aurelia explains.

"Why wouldn't they let you in the first three days?" He asks.

"Wasn't family. And Laura wasn't answering anyone's calls. Which nobody told me because she'd have answered mine. So, it wasn't until we found out I was his healthcare proxy that they realised Laura didn't have power of attorney. I did." Aurelia says.

"You were? Why did he have a healthcare proxy if he was a werewolf?" Stiles asks.

"You know, I asked myself the same thing. It's why I never even thought to have them look. But then I was looking for something in his apartment, found his will and realised I was the sole beneficiary and executor of it. And then I figured he must have done it when he had that written up. Guess it was just one of those things they said to do." Aurelia says with a shrug.

"How close were you and Derek's uncle?" Stiles asks incredulously and she huffs out a brief laugh.

"Closer than Derek and I are." Aurelia responds.

"Well, yeah, I figured that part out, thanks." Stiles responds and she hums. "Were you guys like,"

"No? Maybe? I honestly don't know. Never talked about it. Not really. If the fire hadn't happened then possibly. But we never got around to talking about it." Aurelia says with a slight frown. "I mean, I was twenty when the fire happened. It was around when I was thinking about college. I'd already pushed it back once when your Mom's dementia got worse. Didn't want to leave you and your dad alone. And then the fire happened and it got pushed back again. Which was probably for the best because I spent a week straight in that hospital and then I was there every day after that for a solid four months. Don't think I was in the right frame of mind to be worrying about college. But Peter's like eight, nine years older than me. So, I think the plan was for me to do college first or at least figure that part out and then talk about it. Based on what I got thoughts-wise. I mean, I would have brought it up but me and talking about feelings don't go well together, especially more so then. So, there was no way I was willingly instigating that conversation. So, I guess the answer is yes. But no. So, maybe." Aurelia says.

"You don't do anything by halves, do you?" Stiles asks and she snorts lightly in amusement.

"Not typically, no." She responds and he nods briefly. "You know, I haven't told anyone that." Aurelia says.

"Which part? The will or the fact that you guys were totally but unofficially a thing?" Stiles asks and she rolls her eyes.

"Both." Aurelia responds and he hums.

"You need more friends if your confidant is a sixteen-year-old." Stiles says.

"I have friends. I just don't tell them things." Aurelia retorts and he hums.

"Sounds super healthy." He remarks and she reaches forwards to flick his ear in retaliation. "Ow!"

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"Lia! You seen Scott?" Stiles asks loudly, running down the hall towards her and she glances up with a frown.

"Why would I have seen Scott?" She asks.

"Because you've been here all day so I was hoping you had?" Stiles says and Aurelia shakes her head.

"I've been in Coach's office all day. I let him believe he does all of his own work for parent-teacher conferences and then while he's teaching I make sure all of his notes have the right name attached to them. He writes out his own comments on students but then writes the wrong name next to them. So I go in and fix it. He also doesn't know your name." Aurelia says.

"What?" Stiles asks and she shrugs.

"Well, no. He knows your name is Stiles. But I'm also pretty sure he just thinks Stiles is your last name." Aurelia explains and Stiles frowns slightly. "Yeah. I mean, I've clocked this before that he normally writes everyone's surnames beside the comments and for you he writes Stiles but I literally realised exactly why he does that today and I swear it's because he thinks that's your surname." Aurelia says.

"That's- Huh, he does call me Stiles and he calls Scott 'McCall'." Stiles says and she nods. "But I write Stiles Stilinski on papers." He says.

"Oh, sweetie, he doesn't mark those. He just adds the grade when I'm done because I'm not technically allowed to grade. I'm not qualified to." Aurelia says and Stiles hums. "Why are you looking for him? Where is he?"

"Well, Lydia's MIA and Jackson's walking around looking like he's got a time bomb inserted in his face. Plus, you know, dead guy." Stiles says and Aurelia nods with a hum. She was still trying to figure out the 'why' part of the dead guy. She'd kind of been banking on her theory of it all tying back to the Hale Fire. But she had no idea how that guy was involved. "Scott, I don't think is here. Today is Allison and Delaney's birthday and I'm pretty sure he and Allison bailed together. But that's super inconvenient so I just figured I'd ask if you'd seen him before I called him." He explains.

"Right, well, you should probably just call him because I haven't seen anyone today." Aurelia says and Stiles nods.

"Oh, uh, so, you know Allison and Del's aunt came to town?" Stiles asks and Aurelia hums, scrunching her nose up briefly. "Well, said aunt has a daughter. Nike. She's here too. At school. Apparently she's like a hunter-hunter. Like Kate took her on the road with her most of the time training her as best Del knows. Sometimes she'd be dropped off at theirs but super hunter-y." Stiles says.

"Well, that's the Argents for you. Indoctrinating their kids from the moment they can hold a gun." Aurelia says and Stiles hums.

"Well, not all of them." Stiles says and Aurelia raises a brow. "Allison and Delaney's parents didn't tell them. Allison still doesn't know and Delaney found out from someone else. So, they're not all indoctrinating their kids." Stiles says and Aurelia hums.

"Well, excuse me if I'm not suddenly convinced of their innocence because two people in a family line of hundreds weren't informed of the family secret. Doesn't mean they're good people, Stiles. Just means they're finally exercising their right to common sense and free will." Aurelia says with a shrug and Stiles nods.

"Right, you have serious issues with people you don't actually know. Not a judgement, I think it's impressive you can hold a grudge that well against people you haven't met." Stiles says.

"I have met them. Most of them. Not Allison and Delaney's mom but I've met the rest." Aurelia says and he pauses with a frown. "Not every comment I make against the Argents is unfounded. Most of them are from personal experience with them in some way. Only some of them are baseless accusations and insults. Even then, I don't think I've ever been too far off." Aurelia says with a shrug before patting Stiles' arm with a smile. "You should call Scott. I have things to do." Aurelia says before walking away.

"You're crazy!" Stiles calls after her and she waves at him over her shoulder.

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Aurelia fishes her phone out of her pocket as she leans against the counter in Freya's bakery, frowning a little as she looks at the number. "Who's that?" Freya asks, placing another coffee cup in the tray next to her and Aurelia glances at her.

"It's the house phone. So, Bash or Derek. I hope." Aurelia says as she answers it.

"Kate was at the house." Derek says before Aurelia can even open her mouth and the witch pauses slightly.

"What house? My house?" Aurelia asks.

"No. Mine." Derek says and Aurelia frowns.

"How do you know that?" She asks.

"Because I was there at the same time." Derek responds.

"Are you okay?" She asks immediately and Freya turns to look at her with a concerned frown.

"Yeah, I'm fine. She just confirmed the Alpha killed Laura. Amongst other things." Derek says and Aurelia hums.

"Well, we already knew that. But you're sure you're okay? Because I can come home. I'll just tell Coach, well, I don't think it matters what I tell him because he won't like it but he doesn't get a say in the matter. So, I can-"

"Aurelia, I'm fine." Derek says and she hums, scrunching her nose up briefly, clearly dissatisfied with the answer.

"You're not exactly the best judge of whether or not you're fine. You're emotionally repressed." Aurelia says.

"Says you." He retorts and she rolls her eyes.

"Okay, look, we can talk about it later when I get home. As long as you're sure you're okay." She says.

"I'm sure. I'll see you later. I just didn't want to get accused of hiding things from you if I waited until you got home to tell you." He says and she pauses.

"Yeah, okay, that's valid." Aurelia concedes and he hums. "Okay, fine. Call me if you need anything." She says.

"Yeah, I will. See you later." Derek says before hanging up and Aurelia huffs softly in frustration as she lowers her phone before shaking her head and turning it off so she could put it away.

"What was that about?" Freya asks.

"Derek saw Kate up at the Hale House today. I swear to God, if laws weren't a thing, that bitch would be six feet under." Aurelia grumbles as she grabs the trays.

"Well, they are. So, don't do that. Don't want to deal with the phone call when Noah calls me and tells me he had to arrest you for murder." Freya says.

"Yeah, especially considering my lawyer's in a coma." Aurelia says idly and Freya shakes her head as Aurelia milk, sugar and stirrers from the display beside her.

"Yeah, that'd be your biggest issue." Freya responds dryly and Aurelia hums, glancing up at her with a frown. "Nothing, don't worry about it." The woman says, putting the last drink down in the tray.

"Okay. I've gotta go. I need to get there before Coach starts talking to parents about the wrong kid." Aurelia says as she picks up the trays.

"You know, I'm pretty sure he handled parent-teacher conferences mostly okay before you started working there." Freya says.

"Yeah, but now I work there so he doesn't have to. It's not that he can't, it's that he doesn't want to so he just doesn't." Aurelia responds. "Would you like me to say hi to Noah for you?"

"You know the rules. If I haven't told you I'm in a relationship, you're not allowed to acknowledge the fact that you know." Freya says.

"I didn't, I was just being polite. But you just confirmed it. So, thank you for that." Aurelia says and Freya pauses before sighing impatiently.

"Shit." She grumbles and Aurelia smiles as she heads towards the door.

"I hope you crash." Freya calls after her.

"Love you too, Frey." Aurelia responds as she pushes the door open with her elbow.

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Aurelia puts both trays of coffee on back of her car so she could push the door shut before opening her bag to put her keys in the inside zip or she'd have no chance of finding them when it was time to leave. "You need a hand?" Aurelia looks up with a hum at the question as she stops at the door to the school.

"Oh, yeah, sure. Freya needs an easier method of transporting six coffees around." Aurelia says as Noah pulls the door open for her.

"Well, most people don't have to carry six coffees around." He counters.

"Ah, semantics." Aurelia responds and he hums briefly. "Freya said hi by the way." Aurelia says.

"She did?" He asks and Aurelia nods with a hum. "You know?"

"What kind of idiot do you take me for? Stiles?" Aurelia retorts and he chuckles briefly. "Who I haven't said anything to. But, yes, I know. I mean, Freya went out to dinner a couple of times and it didn't take much figuring out because I know everyone she knows. And if it were someone I didn't know, she'd have just told me herself." Aurelia says.

"Yeah, that's fair. I'm surprised Stiles hasn't figured it out yet to be honest." Noah says and she shrugs.

"Stiles is a sixteen-year-old boy and neither you nor Freya are a sixteen-year-old girl with red hair and green eyes. He doesn't care what you do." Aurelia counters and Noah inclines his head briefly.

"Yeah, that's a good point. But I thought he was getting over that crush. Didn't he have a date with some other girl the other night?" He asks.

"Yeah. I forgot about that. He never actually told me how that went." Aurelia says with a slight frown.

"Probably not well then." Noah says and she hums.

"Probably not. I don't know, this is Stiles. He probably got distracted by researching God knows what and forgot he hadn't told me." Aurelia says.

"Yeah, that's also possible. So, am I going to hear good news tonight or should I be prepared to ground him?" Noah asks and Aurelia shrugs, tilting her head briefly.

"I don't think any of it is grounding worthy. It depends on your definition of 'good news'." Aurelia says.

"Yeah, that's what Stiles said. That worries me." Noah says and she smiles slightly.

"It's fine. If there were anything immediately concerning, I'd have already completely betrayed his trust and ratted him out. So, don't worry about it." Aurelia says.

"That's what I like to hear. I assume I'll see you later." He says and she nods.

"Yes, if I haven't already killed Coach, any of the parents or myself by the time your appointment rolls around." Aurelia responds and he hums.

"Try not to. I'd like not to lose my only consistent method of reigning Stiles in because she got herself arrested for murder." Noah says.

"I never said I was getting arrested. I know better than to get caught." Aurelia says.

"I didn't hear that." Noah says as he walks away.

"I said 'I know better than to get caught'!" Aurelia calls after him.

"Didn't hear a thing!" Aurelia snorts lightly in amusement as she pushes open the staff room door beside her with her elbow. "I come bearing coffee." Aurelia says, putting the trays down on the table as she grabs her own.

"You're a lifesaver." Ms Ramsey says.

"I know, I'm fantastic. You don't have to tell me." Aurelia responds as she sips her coffee.

"Finstock's in his office. Couldn't find something." She says and Aurelia hums, grabbing his coffee and two sugars before walking out of the room. "Jesus Christ," Aurelia says, just saving the drinks when someone walks straight into her. "Watch where you're going would you." She says, looking up at Chris.

"Oh, because that was entirely my fault." He says.

"Well, I can't see through walls and you were walking down an empty hallway alone so, I assume you saw the door opening and thought 'Nah, fuck it, I'll just keep going'." She retorts dryly and he rolls his eyes. "Now if you don't mind, I have somewhere to be." Aurelia says impatiently as she walks around him.

"Very cordial and professional, by the way." He says.

"Eat my ass." Aurelia retorts and he shakes his head incredulously as she walks away.

"Unbelievable."

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"I don't understand why you don't understand the list. It's just what you already had but in order of your appointments. I made your life easier, why are you making it harder?" Aurelia asks incredulously before looking up when the door opens. "Hi, come in. Please." Aurelia says, reaching over to the desk and forcefully putting Stiles' sheet, folder and papers down at the top of the pile.

"We're here for,"

"Stiles." Aurelia says, glancing up at the ceiling briefly.

"Stiles, that's right." Coach says before pausing for a moment and Aurelia glances at him to see him frowning at the sheet of paper. "I thought Stiles was his last name."

"Oh, my God." Aurelia mutters under her breath. She really shouldn't have been right about that.

"His last name is Stilinski." Noah says.

"You named your kid Stiles Stilinski?" Coach asks incredulously.

"No, that's just what he likes to be called." Noah says, starting to sound slightly impatient and Aurelia shakes her head a little.

"Oh. Well, I like to be called Cupcake." Coach says and Aurelia turns to look at him incredulously as she mouths the word 'what?'. "What is his first name?" Noah leans forwards, pointing at Stiles' name on his file before Coach grabs it, lifting it up to read it. "Wow, that is a form of child abuse. I don't- I don't even know how to pronounce that." He says incredulously.

"It's Mieczyslaw." Aurelia says.

"Sure." Coach says and Aurelia shakes her head as she glances back at Noah.

"It was his mother's father's name." Noah explains with a sigh.

"Wow. You must really love your wife." Coach says.

Aurelia looks at him incredulously as she whispers, "Oh, my God," under her breath, raising a hand to cover her mouth with a slight head shake.

"Yeah, I did." Noah says and Aurelia just continues shaking her head incredulously as she stares at the floor.

"Well, this just became incredibly awkward." Coach says.

"Became?" Aurelia asks incredulously.

"Hey, what do you say we get to the conference part of this conference, Cupcake?" Noah suggests.

"I like your thinking." Coach responds and Aurelia sighs. "So, Stiles. Great kid. Zero ability to focus. Super smart. Never takes advantage of his talents." Coach lists off and Aurelia nods a little at every point. She'd honestly been prepared to tweak Stiles' a little but it was just so spot on that she couldn't even bring herself to do him a solid.

"How do you mean?" Noah asks with a frown.

"Well, for his final question on his midterm exam, he detailed the entire history of the male circumcision." Coach explains and Aurelia nods when Noah glances at her.

"Well, I mean, it does have historical significance, right? I mean," Noah tries.

"I teach economics." Coach cuts in.

"Aw, crap." Noah says and Aurelia nods a little.

"He got a B though." Aurelia says.

"Yeah, great piece of work. Not relevant but a B on principle." Coach says and Aurelia shrugs a little at Noah when he looks back over at her.

"He's handed in weirder. Just not for a midterm." Aurelia says.

"That doesn't make it better." Noah says.

"It's not worse."

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"No, you know, I know why she's on the list. I have no idea why she's on it though. I'm pretty sure she started like yesterday or today. She's been here for a little while, though." Aurelia says, gesturing between Delaney and Nike's names on the list as she speaks.

"Why add her to the list if she's been here a day?" Coach asks.

"I don't know. I didn't put the lists together. I just organised yours." Aurelia says with a frown. "Uh, I guess just go super generic. I haven't even met her."

"I thought that was why you were late the other day." He says.

"No, that was this one." Aurelia says, pointing at Delaney's name again. "She started today, I'm pretty sure." Aurelia says, pointing at Nike's name.

"Well, this is ridiculous." He complains.

"I agree but I can't do anything about it so just bullshit your way through the meeting." Aurelia responds.

She didn't bother to tell him that if Kate was the one to walk through the door for that meeting, not having met Nike would be the least of his problems. But that was only because she definitely would have realised Kate was here by now if she'd turned up.

Aurelia sits back in her seat when the Argents walk into the office, taking the seats opposite the two of them as Aurelia picks her coffee cup up. "Right, so, Delaney," Coach starts and Aurelia nods subtly when he glances at her briefly. "Obviously hasn't been here all that long but she seems like a great student from what I've seen. Really smart. Focused. She seems to have adjusted well. No issues that I've heard of." He says. "Of course, with a recent move, that could change."

"It won't." Chris says immediately and Aurelia raises a brow at him briefly.

"He means, we move around a lot and we've never had any issues with Delaney before." Victoria cuts in immediately, briefly resting a hand on Chris' arm.

"If there were anything important, we'd know." Chris says, looking at Aurelia and she tilts her head a little at them both before raising a brow when Victoria also casts a glance her way.

"Right, okay then. Do you think she has any interest in lacrosse?" He asks.

"Stop asking everyone that. You cannot recruit the entire school for the lacrosse team. You have a full team." Aurelia whispers.

"We could always use more players." Coach continues and Aurelia shakes her head as she looks down at her coffee cup.

"No, she's more of a cross-country person. Or martial arts." Chris says.

"Well, the lacrosse team does cross-country in the off season. Tell her to consider it." Coach says.

"Oh, my God." Aurelia mutters under her breath as she shakes her head briefly.

Coach goes back to looking at his notes but nobody moves and Aurelia presses her lips together as she glances up briefly before lightly elbowing him. "Oh, I really don't know her that well. I don't have anything else to discuss. She's stayed out of trouble so far and she's doing well in class." He says.

"No, we're also here for Nike. Kiki. Her mother couldn't make it. She's our niece." Chris explains and Aurelia hums softly, rolling her eyes briefly when he said Kate couldn't make it.

"Oh, right. Well, she started today, right?" Coach asks.

"Yes." Victoria confirms.

"Right, so, neither of us have actually met her yet. She also hasn't gotten herself into any trouble that I'm aware of." Coach says, glancing at Aurelia and she shakes her head.

"Not that I've heard." Aurelia confirms.

"So, we don't really have much to discuss but if you or her mother do encounter any issues once she's settled in, just come into the school and someone should be able to help you." He says and Aurelia nods.

"Usually Janice in reception." Aurelia says and Coach nods.

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"My God, I have never been so happy to have finished work in my life." Aurelia complains to Nancy as she walks over to her car.

"You poor thing. Did you have to actually do the bare minimum for your job to be called a job?" Nancy asks.

"Why did you call me?" Aurelia asks and Nancy snorts lightly.

"I actually called the house first. You have my dress and I need it." Nancy says.

"Why did you call the house first?" Aurelia asks with a frown as she tosses her bag into the backseat of her car.

"Because I'm at Jeremy's brother's and my phone is dead and I for some reason managed to recall your landline number from memory before your mobile." Nancy says and Aurelia frowns.

"Two questions. Why didn't you just ask your husband for my phone number since he has it? And didn't Jeremy go completely no contact with his entire family?" Aurelia asks as she leans against the side of her car.

"I couldn't ask him because he wasn't in the house. And I don't know his phone number either. And yes, he did go completely no contact but Jake reached out to make amends and they have been working on it for about eight months. But we are currently stuck staying with them because our landlord was a cunt who raised our rent again. So, we're looking for a new place and they only live about half an hour away. For work for Jeremy." Nancy explains.

"I told you not to move into that apartment. I told you that guy was a complete and utter asshole. And I told you he was ripping off his tenants. Why don't you ever listen to me?" Aurelia asks.

"Because you have a tendency to be overly dramatic at the best of times. I need my dress because we're supposed to be going out for dinner with Jake and his girlfriend and this place is fancy and you stole it." Nancy says.

"Right. Which one? I stole more than one." Aurelia says.

"None of my clothes fit you, you maniac. You're five foot two." Nancy says incredulously.

"That's what magic's for, obviously. But I still need to know which dress." Aurelia says.

"The green one." Nancy says.

"Need more."

"I'm going to kill you."

"Okay, the one with the lace or the one with the halter neck?" Aurelia asks.

"Lace." Nancy responds and Aurelia nods.

"When do you need it?" She asks.

"Wednesday night." She says and Aurelia nods.

"Okay, you closer to your Mom's or half an hour the other way?" Aurelia asks.

"Closer. We were gonna stay with them but they've got Anna staying with them with the kids and the baby because Mark fucked up again." Nancy says.

"What did he do this time? Sleep with his boss' wife and sister?" Aurelia asks.

"No. Jo." Nancy says and Aurelia frowns.

"Wait, Jo as in- Anna's maid of honour, Jo? That Jo?" Aurelia asks.

"Yes, that Jo." Nancy says and Aurelia shakes her head.

"So, they're getting a divorce this time, right? Like she's gonna listen to reason this time, right?" Aurelia asks.

"She's thinking things through." Nancy says and Aurelia frowns.

"Nance, I worry for your sister." Aurelia says.

"Yeah, so do I. I tried talking to her but she just handed me her baby and walked away. So, I gave him to my Mom and left." Nancy explains.

"Sweetie, he's a baby, not a bomb. A very cute baby, actually." Aurelia says.

"I know but he's still at the pooping, screaming and crying stage. I don't like that stage." Nancy says.

"Yeah, I don't know many people who do like it. But it's kind of a key stage." Aurelia says and Nancy hums. "Well, look, if Anna does decide to go back to Mark,"

"You mean when she does?"

"If she does, just tell her to lock him in chastity. Not like she'll miss it. In fact, she'll probably be glad for the break from the seven second wonder." Aurelia says.

"You say that like Anna will know what any of that means. If I tell her to lock him in chastity, I'm gonna have to explain to her what that is." Nancy says.

"Yeah, that's why you're telling her and not me." Aurelia says.

"You suck." Nancy complains and Aurelia hums.

"Anyway, my point was, go to your Mom's Wednesday and I will drop the dress off there." Aurelia says.

"Thank you, you're a lifesaver. Really." Nancy says.

"Yeah. I finish at lunch Wednesday anyway. So, I'll be by around three or four after I've been to see Peter." Aurelia says.

"I love you. Have I told you that recently?" Nancy asks.

"No and I believe your exact reason why was that if you tell me too often, my head will get too big for my tiny five foot two self to hold up." Aurelia responds and Nancy hums.

"Yeah, I was right to say that." Nancy says and Aurelia rolls her eyes.

"Aurelia, hey!" Aurelia turns around when she hears her name with a slight frown before she sees Melissa walking over to her.

"Okay, I'll text you later. Charge your phone, I'll see you at three-ish Wednesday at your Mom's." Aurelia says.

"Okay, I'll see you Wednesday." Nancy says before hanging up and Aurelia puts her phone away as Melissa reaches her.

"Have you seen Scott?" She asks.

"He's not here? He was supposed to be." Aurelia says with a frown.

"I know. And yet." Melissa says, checking her phone briefly.

"Okay, well, and I did not tell you this because I'm not a snitch. But, I'm totally gonna snitch and tell you he might have ditched today because it was Allison's birthday. But if he asks, Stiles told you. Because he told me." Aurelia says and Melissa sighs impatiently.

"I've just had to sit through the world's most passive aggressive parent-teacher conference with the chemistry teacher." Melissa says.

"I wouldn't take it personally. I'm pretty sure Harris just hates himself and takes it out on everyone around him because he's a miserable son of a bitch." Aurelia says and Melissa smiles briefly in amusement.

"Yeah, well, he lacked an authority figure because his father isn't around." Melissa says.

"Well, everyone's better off without him around. Besides, fathers are totally overrated." Aurelia says and Melissa nods. "You want me to make me feel better? Coach inadvertently brought up Claudia in Noah's meeting."

"Oh, well, now mine feels like a triumphant win unfortunately." Melissa says and Aurelia nods a little.

"Yeah, doesn't it just." Aurelia says. "That's Allison's parents walking down the steps. You can go find out if they've seen her. Since they ditched together." Aurelia offers, gesturing at them briefly.

"I don't think we ever paid you enough for babysitting." Melissa says as they walk over to the two of them.

"You didn't pay me anything. I never took the money. I'd give it to one of the boys and Scott would sneak it back into your purse and Stiles would sneak it back into Noah's wallet." Aurelia says.

"Are you serious?"

"Mmhmm. I think there was a period where you gave me the exact same money four weeks on the bounce." Aurelia says and Melissa looks at her slightly incredulously. "I told you both I wasn't taking any money for looking after them. I can't believe either of you doubted my determination to hold that statement up." Aurelia responds.

"Excuse me, you're not Allison's parents, are you?" Melissa asks as they reach them and Aurelia shoves her hands in her jacket pockets as she looks behind her when they both turn to look at them.

Aurelia frowns, tilting her head a little when she sees the car directly behind Melissa and someone suddenly ducks down inside so they are out of view. Because that was subtle.

"I'm Scott's Mom, and I hate to say it, but he's not answering his phone, either." Melissa continues.

"You're his mother?" Aurelia turns around again at the accusatory tone, raising a brow at him briefly.

"Funny how you say that like it's an accusation." Melissa says.

"Yeah, watch it, asshole." Aurelia says sharply.

"Well, I wouldn't claim it as a source of pride, since he basically kidnapped my daughter today." Chris counters, ignoring Aurelia who just raises a brow at Victoria when the woman looks at her sharply.

"How do we know skipping school wasn't your daughter's idea?" Melissa counters.

"My daughter-" Aurelia glances over her shoulder when he suddenly cuts off, looking past them both to see Allison and Scott climbing out of the car. "Is right there."

"I'm gonna go home now, then." Aurelia says to Melissa when the Argents suddenly push past them.

"Yeah, thank you." Melissa says and Aurelia nods. "Rude, though."

"Oh, asshole to the highest degree. Yes, you're right." Aurelia says.

"Not at all what I said, but okay." Melissa responds and Aurelia shrugs.

"I paraphrased." Aurelia says and Melissa hums.

"I don't think you know what paraphrasing is."

"I couldn't describe it to you, honestly." Aurelia says before patting Scott's arm as they reach him. "You're in the shit. Have fun." She whispers and he looks at her with a slightly worried look before looking back at his mother.

"Where exactly have you been?" Melissa asks angrily and Aurelia snorts.

"Yeah, that's my cue to bail. Good luck. Think you're gonna need it." Aurelia says to the boy before walking past them all.

Aurelia pauses on her way to her car when someone screams, turning around with a slight frown. "What?" She mutters under her breath, walking towards the road between rows of cars as everyone starts rushing around.

"Lia, what's going on?" Scott asks and she glances at him, shaking her head. "Is it him?" He whispers.

"I don't think so. But I don't know. All I have is what everyone else is seeing and unless it's both eight feet long and the size of a mountain lion simultaneously, I'm gonna assume people are exaggerating." Aurelia says.

"But could it be?" He asks.

"Why would it be?" She retorts. "Just stay here with your Mom. Where the Argents can't suspect you." She whispers and he nods. "And no werewolf-ing." She whispers when she sees his eyes glow, pointing at him briefly as she walks away.

Aurelia turns when someone pushes past her prepared to snap at them before she sees them attempting to help Noah up. "Are you okay?" Aurelia asks, walking over to them.

"Ah, hell." Noah says without looking at her and she rolls her eyes.

"Yeah, because that's the correct reaction to someone being concerned about you." She responds dryly.

"Don't tell Stiles." He says and she huffs.

"Stiles is the least of your worries because I'm taking you to the hospital and then I'm calling Freya." Aurelia says.

"Jesus Christ." He complains and she hums.

"Then I'm calling Stiles." She adds before looking up at two gunshots.

Argent. Predictably.

Aurelia rolls her eyes briefly as everyone stops rushing around before walking over to where the mountain lion had been and she shakes her head. "Pretty sure it's just a mountain lion. It's not that interesting." She mutters under her breath and Noah raises a brow at her. "Saw it run between the cars. Still isn't interesting. Like nobody's ever seen a mountain lion before." Aurelia says. "Come on. I was serious about the hospital. And Stiles. Freya, you can tell yourself because I doubt that's how you want Stiles to find out."

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