Tough love

Drowning

Drowning.

That was the only way stiles could explain it.

He was drowning in his love for Derek. They had spent the last two weeks in love so intense it could only be described as drowning, never breathing in air that didn't belong to the other.

Two weeks stiles had been with Derek, and two weeks he knew why life was worth living. He went home on school nights, locked himself in his room and called Derek until he left in the mornings, not looking or speaking to Elijah. He occasionally smiled lightly at some of his siblings, but never the oldest. Mainly, however, he was distant towards them all. Weekends were the best. They were the nights he got to spend with Derek, the nights both of them spent with a flashlight pointed towards the ceiling as they played with shadow puppets. The nights where Derek told stiles of old memories with his mom and dad and stiles did the same. The nights where they were able to escape from the world and emerge themselves into only each other.

At home, things were better. Elijah had kept his word and sent the boys to counseling, and he could tell they were making real progress. Damon was starting to look more like himself as his eating habits got better. The twins were branching out more, and more often than not one could be found with the family while the other was hanging out with friends. Dean had self harmed once more, but got through it with Elijah and Sam's help. Sam was doing a lot better, and had just gotten his stitches removed. Even Elijah was feeling more secure at home, feeling like he could finally breathe again now that he knew his brothers wanted to live.

Everything was looking up, except when stiles came home. They had all noticed how cold and distant the boy had become ever since that night three weeks ago. Stiles was with Derek every weekend, and didn't acknowledge them on the weekdays when he was there. It didn't help Derek had helped fix up Stiles's old jeep, so he could go wherever he wanted to. All of them had their theories as to why stiles was becoming so distant towards them, ranging from him not liking them (no, Damon he does like you) to stiles being bitten by a radioactive spider (very funny Peter).

But Elijah? Elijah was pretty sure he knew what was wrong. He saw the look of love in Derek's eyes when he would stop by to make sure stiles had gotten home safely. He saw the way stiles only lit up anymore when he would see a text or call from the older Hale. He knew the look that came across his little brothers face when it was time for the weekend and he would leave to see Derek, it was a look he had seen on his parents. It was the look his mom shared when his dad would come home from work. It was the look she gave him when they believed they were the only ones awake in the living room on family movie nights and Elijah was secretly awake, watching them. It was a look of true love. So yeah, Elijah knew what was wrong with his brother. He was terrified. Terrified that he would have to tell his brothers the truth about his relationship and scared they would resent him for it. So Elijah wasn't mad, he couldn't be. No matter how much stiles ignored him, he knew he was only scared that the approval he sought after in his brother would be shattered by his sexuality.

And although the oldest wasn't exactly happy with the four year age gap, he knew he couldn't stop his brother. Because when his brother loved, he loved fiercely. And Elijah couldn't, wouldn't fault him for loving just as their mother had taught him to.

So, on Monday night when stiles was cooped up in his room, Elijah sent all the boys out to go watch a movie and specifically instructed them to stay out for at least four hours. He cooked dinner for three and waited patiently until Derek showed up at 5:00 sharp, like he always did on his way home from work to be sure stiles was home.

"Hello, Derek." Elijah greeted nicely as he opened the door.

"Elijah," Derek smiled, "is Stiles home?"