To be defeated by a name

Chapter 3

"YOU COMPLETE AND UTTER ARSEHOLE!" Lydia screamed, fists swinging at Jackson's face the minute the door was closed behind them. She had been silent the entire car ride and now seemed to be letting out all her pent-up emotion.

"YOU'VE KNOWN STILES HAS BEEN ALIVE FOR GOD KNOWS HOW LONG AND YET NEVER TOLD US. NEVER TOLD ME. HOW MANY TIMES HAVE I CRIED TO YOU ABOUT HOW UNFAIR IT WAS HE DIED AND YOU KNEW HE WASN'T BUT DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING." She shouted, trying to get in more punches but unable to as Stiles pulled her back away from Jackson who wasn't even trying to defend himself against the strawberry blonde.

Tearing herself out of his grasp Lydia then turned on Stiles.

"AND YOU. YOU'VE BEEN ALIVE THESE PAST FOUR YEARS AND LET US GRIEVE WHILE YOU'VE BEEN ALIVE ALL ALONG. WHEN DID YOU DECIDE THAT PACK WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH TO HELP?" She cried, but more hysterically now, as if she was trying to hold herself together, "We're family Stiles. Family sticks with family." 

"Look, Lydia. I know you're hurt and upset right now but you were never supposed to find out I was alive. It was so much easier if everyone thought I was gone and yes, I have thought about coming back but I couldn't bring myself to do it. Not after all this time. Jackson only knows by pure accident and he didn't tell you because I threatened him if he spoke a word of it. If you need someone to blame, blame me." He stated, looking her straight in the eyes so she would know he was telling the truth.

He could tell the girl was shocked that he had decided to leave them all forever but that she also understood his reasoning to some degree. He knew how different he was now to when he last saw her and that she could tell what happened to Katrina changed him.

"You used to be so loving and so full of life and now you're just a shell of the man you used to be. We all saw the video Stiles and I am so sorry about what happened to Katrina. I know you loved her and I can't imagine what that was like for you but you should have come home, not run from us."

"I know Lyds, and I realise that now but at the time I was just so angry, with everything. The fact that it was humans who were so despicable they thought nothing of shooting down a holiday resort tipped me over the edge and all I could think about was getting my revenge on the men who killed her. I changed my name because I couldn't be Stiles Stilinski anymore, I wanted to hide from the pain of the past and try and keep you all safe from the hurt that seems to follow me everywhere." He admitted, looking down at the floor as though embarrassed by what he did.

"So instead you joined the CIA to kill terrorists? Stiles, you aren't hiding from the past, you're running. I don't blame you for leaving, I really don't but you should have come home. When I didn't scream for you we were all so sure you had survived but when the news report came out that you had been one of the victims..."

Lydia was cut off by her tears and Stiles didn't hesitate to pull her into his embrace. He was shocked at the fact she knew what he did but wasn't too surprised. She was Lydia Martin after all.

Before long they had both calmed down (Stiles had started crying too at some point) and he had texted Irene to let her know he was taking the week off to catch up with an old friend. Her reply had him smiling.

You deserve to have people who love you in your life, Mitch. Don't forget that.

After typing back a reply he turned to the two people before him.

"So what do you want to do?"