Title: It Goes Without Saying
Fandom: Teen Wolf
Pairing: Derek/Stiles
Categories: Misunderstandings, friends with benefits
Length: Long (19,207)
Warnings: Implied underage (since Stiles is still a teenager)

Author on LJ: N/A
Author Website:  ZehWulf

Summary: “Well,” Danny says after a few minutes of heavy silence. “I guess you have to ask yourself how badly do you want him to be pack? If you really want to connect with someone—anyone—you can. You just have to figure out the right connector.”

“You guys, I figured it out,” Scott enthuses. “A true alpha’s powers come from love and acceptance. We just need to love and accept Derek. Body, mind, and soul.”

“Scotty,” Stiles says slowly, “are you suggesting…? What are you suggesting.”

“You heard the alpha,” Danny drawls. “We need to love and accept Derek’s body. And mind and soul.”

Review: green_grrl linked me to this story after I recced some kind of karmic-chi love thing a few weeks ago, mentioning that it had the same premise of Derek returning to Beacon Hills having found some inner peace, while Stiles is still struggling with nightmares. In "It Goes Without Saying," Scott and company need to integrate Derek into the pack by loving him body, mind, and soul, like the summary says. Stiles is initially hesitant about the mandate, but quickly learns that sex with Derek is addictive. The only problem is having to share him with the rest of the pack.

Like all misunderstanding stories, this one depends on the reader suspending disbelief through the lack of communication. This one tested the limits of that disbelief, but I enjoyed it anyway. This softer-edged Derek pulled me in immediately. I loved Stiles's jealousy over Derek's newfound peace, and the burning chemistry between them. The sex was mostly hinted at, rather than explicit, but the bits the author showed us were hot. And I loved how that intimacy tinged their interactions outside of bed. I also enjoyed reading the ramifications of Lydia pulling Stiles out of the ice bath -- I haven't seen that explored in post-3A fic as much as I would like, and the dynamic between Stiles and Lydia really intrigued me here. The story also ends with a twist that I really wasn't expecting. All in all, it was a solid read, one I've returned to multiple times.

It Goes Without Saying