fadingspark | It was supposed to be a victory day

It was a closed courtroom that had the final hearing on the Stilinski-Grayson divorce. The evidence against the Grayson family as a whole was damning from the photographs of the attempted kidnapping, the assault charges, the history of abuse... it wasn't hard for the judge to grant the divorce.

It was the terms that shocked Stiles the most: Permanent No Contact order of Protection for him and Dina against the Graysons and any family member or agent on their behalf. Any contact moving forward for Stiles or Dina would be done through the Law Office of Samuel Winchester. Suzanna's parental rights over Claudia Marie were terminated, no visitation by anyone in the family or agents acting on their behalf, and Stiles was given sole custody of his daughter with an order to change her birth certificate to remove the Grayson part of her name and Suzanna from her records.

And then the big one: in order to protect the Stilinski family, alimony and child support would be established as a single lump-sum payment based on the financials of the Grayson family and taking into consideration the medical needs Stiles would continue to face both physical and emotionally at present and in the future, and to support Dina for all her present and future medical and educational needs.

Two Million Dollars. Half kept in trust for Dina until her 18th birthday or graduation from high school, whichever came first. The other half in account for Stiles to use as he deemed necessary to provide for his family. Plus all of Sam's legal fees were paid by the Grayson's.

And that was that. Stiles stood, partially in shock as the team of lawyers left with Suzanna and her father, and then he just turned and hugged Sam tightly. The taller man smiled at Malia, nodding at a job well done, and hugged his client back. "You did it, Stiles. You got your daughter the safety you wanted for her. Now it's time for you both to build a better life."

A plumbing issue had kept Stiles from moving into Allison's father's place right away, so he was still at the Hale house. Things had gotten a bit easier with the anger finally out in the air. But after a long day at court, Stiles was ready to join his daughter for naptime before dinner.

John hadn't wanted to worry Stiles, but the Grayson brothers had made bail and weren't in custody any longer. He warned Talia, but with the protective orders in place, putting a detail on the house wasn't possible without a real threat in the air.

No one realized that out in the desert, deals had been made between the family patriarch and another patriarch - Gerard Argent. Knowing that the Hales were protecting the granddaughter of his good friend, it was easy to help equip the two sons with a chip on their shoulder with the right weapons, and a team of hand picked hunters, to help them give one last message that no one could walk away from the Grayson family and expect to win.

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Malia makes a face like she's offended. "Me? Why would I do anything." Then she turns her attention back to her dad. "I'm good. Just came by to check on you."

Stiles' eyebrows go up. "Malia?"

Peter chuckled and shook his head. "I'm awake and alive. The rest will come in time."

"I was just texting Isaac. I think she was just disappointed, considering how she went to sleep."

Because, you know, you go to sleep next to the love of your life and wake up to find your meddling cousin there, you might be a little miffed. Then she just smiles at Stiles. Remember you love her, Stiles. Just remember you love her.

Oh. Yeah, no now he got it. "Right." He's going to go back to his bagel now and just shut up.

Peter, of course, has to ask, "How did she go to sleep that would make her disappointed to see you?"

Malia will just glance back at her dad, the same smile on her face. Then glances back to Stiles. And back to Peter again. Come on, Dad, you're smart. Awkward Stiles + disappointed Cora = ... ?

Peter has also been shot and poisoned with wolfsbane, so forgive him needing a minute to connect the dots. But he does, and he chuckles. "About damn time," he muttered so Stiles couldn't hear.

She nods a bit in agreement, leaning back against the couch so that Stiles couldn't see her. "That's what I said."

"What else do you know, my little spy?"

"That's about it." She makes a bit of a face. "But give me time. I'll figure it out."

"Just keep me in the loop, alright?" Because Peter obviously needs to know everyone's business.

Of course he does. Where do you think Malia got it from? "Definitely."

He reached over and squeezed her hand. "That's my girl."

Once he was done with breakfast, Stiles cleaned up his plate and Dina's bowl and then took his phone back. "Alright, kiddo, time to get dressed. I think your uncle Scott is picking us up for a play-date with him and Ryan."

Dina grinned and she was off and running upstairs like any excited child would, and Stiles made to follow, but stopped at the living room. "Can I get you guys anything before I go up to shower? Drink, food, a list of my intentions?"

Malia considers for a moment, before shaking her head. "Nope. I think I'm good. What about you, Dad?"

"I'm pretty sure Cora is the one we need to worry about more," Peter said. "But we do need to talk soon, you and I. Work on getting your plan for your future set up, as promised."

"Yeah, when you're feeling better, totally taking you up on that. And maybe you can help me do research too. For Lydia."

"Sure."

Stiles gave Malia a small smile, then went upstairs to go grab a shower and change while Dina played with her toys on the floor of the bedroom.

Malia's eyebrows raise a little at that, but she waits until Stiles disappears upstairs before glancing back to her father. "What are you working on with him?"

"Investing the money he got in support to be able to last him until Claudia is eighteen so her needs are all met," he explained. "Plus he needs a bit of reassurance that he's not screwing up as a single father - something I have a unique perspective on."

Malia nods a bit in agreement before leaning back against the couch as Nadia comes back with the toast. "Good. I'm glad you're helping him."

Peter looked up at Nadia a moment with a smile, moving to make room for her with him, taking the toast gratefully. "I think right now, he's realizing he needs the help and is willing to reach out for it. That's a big step for him since he got here."

Malia nods in agreement. "We just have to figure out how to deal with his ex-father-in-law's mob connections. With two of his sons dead, I doubt he's going to go away quietly."

"We're already working on that," Nadia replies softly as she takes a bite of her own toast. "Stiles will be fine. He should just focus on putting his life back together for now."

Peter looked over at her, an eyebrow raised. He had spent the better part of the last 24 hours unconscious and in pain. "And just what are you plotting, my dear?"

Nadia gives a bit of a shrug, before glancing to Malia. "Plausible deniability."

Malia gives a bit of a nod as she gets up. "And that's my cue to go to work." She adjusts her clothes, before leaning over to give her dad a kiss on the cheek. "I'll check in after work. Get lots of rest, okay?"

And Peter is just going to nibble on his toast at that, promising his daughter he will, and once she's out of earshot both eyebrows will go up at Nadia, too curious for his own good.

She gives a bit of an innocent shrug. "He can't use his mob connections if there's no mob to connect to."

"I hope your brothers understand the troubles that this may hail down on them." He took a deep breath. "And the eternal gratitude they will be earning for their troubles."

She shakes her head. "It's not trouble if it's family. Besides, they should learn not to mess with Russians."

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