Scott sighed and shrugged. Hey, he'd tried, at least. He didn't want to burden Derek with his issues. "Yeah, I know. It just takes time." And missing his mom (and others) would probably never go away, but it would get easier.

He smiled at the bump and the reassurance. "Thanks," he said quietly but fervently. Having things really okay between him and Derek and not just lip-service for Stiles' sake--it meant a lot. More than Derek would probably ever understand, not without knowing the truth. And it was a truth that he never needed to hear.