#i fell in love with Eli in this time in case you didnt notice

[dreamlandforever]

@writersmonth Prompt: Day 31 - Fall

Fandom: Teen Wolf | Sterek WC: 1k

AO3

XXXI. Fall | Piles of Leaves

“Eli, please don’t…” Derek started, as soon as he saw the mischief in his son’s eyes when they passed a considerable pile of leaves on their walk through the preserve. He interrupted himself the moment he noticed his husband had already jumped on it, dry leaves flying all around Derek’s feet. He let out a sigh and counted to ten, giving himself a little space to calm himself before facing his husband again. Who was now making a leaf angel while Eli tried to do a belly flop on the leaves, landing half on Stiles instead. Derek was thankful for that, both because it broke his son’s fall before he landed on the ground, and because of the way it had left Stiles slightly gasping for breath. “Having fun, you too?��� He asked, gently prying Eli off of Stiles so his husband could get some air, instead of Eli’s bony elbows to his stomach. 

“Yeah, it’s Fall, Derek! The best time of the year. Get in here!” Stiles said excitedly, throwing a bunch of leaves at Derek’s face, and taking Eli from his arms to set him on the pile of leaves next to him. “Make an angel with me, munchkin!” Stiles said excitedly, showing Eli how to make an angel on the floor. Derek simply watched as both his husband and son covered themselves in mud and dirt, finally allowing himself to laugh. He could really do without the mess, but he knew what he was getting into the moment he met Stiles. 

“I’m okay over here.” Derek said, stepping back to allow Stiles’ long legs to move more freely.

“Oh, come on! You are wolf. Be one with nature and all that.” 

“Papa a wolf?” Eli asked, trying his best to get back on his feet, but landing twice on his butt before Stiles could stop laughing enough to help him to his feet.

“Yes, Papa’s a wolf but it’s a secret, honey, remember?” Stiles said, placing a finger against Eli’s lips. Eli nodded hard enough that Derek kneeled next to him to hold his head.

“Secrets are for Pack only, aren’t they, son?” Derek coaxed, and Eli nodded again, but now that Derek’s hand was mostly holding him in place it was a lot less violent. 

“Eli!” Stiles called, and the boy immediately turned to him. “On three?” And Derek felt he had missed a full conversation. Until Stiles suddenly yelled three, and both Stiles and Eli grabbed his arms and pulled him until he landed on the leaves with them. 

“Don’t you love Fall?” Stiles asked, as Eli grabbed handfuls of leaves from around and used them to try and cover Stiles up, who simply allowed it to happen.

“It’s not specifically Fall I love.” Derek answered with a smile. 

“Oh, look at you being all romantic. I’m glad. Eli’s going to need a shower and he’s still terrified of them since that time he saw Malia trying to take one when she fell on the mud puddle and he thought she was a monster. “

“Stiles, you told him she was.”

“She looked like one! I didn’t think he would believe me. Also, she was coming out of the shower, I don’t know why he thinks the monster lives inside the shower.”

“Stiles, again, our son is three years old. He believes everything you tell him.”

“I’ve to teach him critical thinking.” Stiles decided, intertwining his fingers on top of his chest and coming up with different ideas.

“Again, Stiles, he’s three.”

“And he’s ours. He’s smart. And much too trusting. He believes everything Jackson tells him. The other day, he was looking for the Tooth Fairy.” Derek barked a laugh at that.

“You know, I actually think I trust Jackson the most with telling Eli all kinds of things.” 

“Yeah, Scott tried to convince him that pizza is made out of broccoli so he could eat the last slice.” 

“You did not let our son be fooled out of pizza.” Derek said incredulously, turning to look at his husband, who was now mostly covered in twigs and dirt.

“Of course not.” Stiles snorted, upsetting a few of the leaves on his face, which Eli was quick to replace.

“No move, daddy! No move! I make pile! On daddy’s face!” Eli reproached, grabbing more twigs and placing them on top of his face. “Papa, daddy gone!” Eli laughed, turning around and pretending to look for Stiles.

“I can only hope, son.” Derek answered softly, low enough that only Stiles heard him. 

Stiles was still unable to speak, because he was hidden, so he settled for slapping his husband on the face as hard as he could without moving too much. It wasn’t too hard, but it got message across. Derek laughed, catching Stiles’ hand in his and kissing it softly. “I will always find you, my love.”

“You better, you asshole.” 

“I found him!” Derek called at Eli, raising Stiles’ hand in his to show his son. 

Eli laughed excitedly and jumped on top of Derek. 

“You found daddy!” 

“He always does, champ. And he’ll always find you, too.” Stiles promised, doing his best to get out of his dead leaves tomb. 

“That I will. Now, how about a shower ? Daddy smells like the forest.” Derek proposed, getting to his feet and placing Eli on top of his shoulders, before helping Stiles to his feet.

“And you love it, Sour Wolf. But I do need a shower. I think I have dirt inside my underwear.” 

“What’s underbear?” Eli asked, and Stiles decided the best option to answer that question was to explain to Eli how underwear came to be. Eli watched attentively, holding on to Derek’s hair. And Derek just led them both back home, waiting patiently to when Stiles would be done with the story, and Eli would nod and ask an incredibly weird question, and then ask the original question once again, this time for Derek to answer in a way Eli would understand. And he wouldn’t have it any other way.