AUTHOR'S NOTE:

This story differs from my others, it only has 7 chapters, but I hope you enjoy and reviews are appreciated.

This is just a fill in while I work on my other one about Casey's life. I'm also in the idea process of writing one surrounding Kyle and another surrounding Brax/Ricky so any input of ideas or situations you might like to see for those stories are welcome and would be helpful. Thank you :)

A life left behind

Chapter 1 - Pregnant

Denny sat along the beach watching the tide rush over the sand. It had been a month and it all just didn't seem real that the guy she loved had been stolen from her in the matter of one night.

It had only been the day before the incident when Casey had taken her to Angelo's and surprised her with a romantic dinner followed by a night time stroll along the beach, and an even more special night at her home at the farmhouse.

Denny could not have been happier. Since the first time she had met Casey, she knew there was something about him and the more the relationship developed, Denny realised her world was complete with Casey Braxton.

"Hi Denny." Brax greeted from behind.

Denny turned and glance up at Brax.

"I finally got around to cleaning out Case's room today and we found this." Brax held out his hand containing a small velvet blue box. "I think he had plans to give this to you. I just thought you might like to have it."

Denny carefully took the box out of Brax's hand and opened the box to see a shiny diamond ring. Before any tears had the chance to escape Denny quickly closed the box.

"He really loved you Denny. You meant a lot to him and I'd never seen him as happy as what he was when he was with you." Brax explained in a quiet tone, for he too was still trying to move on from his brother's death.

"Thanks." Denny replied.

Brax just nodded and walked off, leaving Denny to stare back out into the ocean with a small box held tightly in her hand.

"He was going to ask me to marry him?" Denny whispered to herself, unsure of what to feel.

Denny got lost in her thoughts of what it would have been like had she had the opportunity to spend her life with Casey, they could have travelled together, bought a house and had a family, there were so many possibilities but Denny would never know.

Denny stood up and headed back to the farmhouse. Lately she had been feeling not right and put it down to the grieving of Casey. Denny walked into the house.

"Hey are you okay?" Evie asked.

"Yeah just feeling a little tired. I'm gonna go lie down for awhile." Denny replied.

"Okay, well let me know if you need anything. I'll be just out here doing some study." Evie said as she sat down at the kitchen table with her school books and drink.

Denny smiled at her sister. "Yeah thanks."

Denny placed the small box on the bedside table next to a photo of her and Casey.

"I really miss you Casey and I would have said yes to your proposal, no doubt."

Denny lay down on her bed, staring up at the ceiling until she fell asleep.


The following morning Denny woke up feeling nauseous and ran to the bathroom of the Maguire house. After several attempts of being sick, Denny walked out of the bathroom and into the kitchen where she was greeted by Hannah.

"Morning." Denny greeted.

"Denny are you alright? I thought I heard someone being sick in the bathroom when I got up. Sit down, you look a bit pale." Hannah suggested as she looked at Denny.

Denny sat down at the table. "Yeah I just didn't feel right. I think it's just the stress of grieving over Casey that is making me feel this way." Denny explained.

Hannah handed Denny a tea. "Are you sure that's all it is? Maybe you should come down to the hospital and get Nate to check everything's clear." Hannah suggested, growing concerned about Denny's health.

"Hannah I really think this is just something that will go away on its own, over time. I'll be fine."

Hannah gave a sigh and sat down at the table with her tea and breakfast. "Denny we all know this is hard, but we are all here for you and you need to look after your health as well, it's what Casey would have wanted."

Denny sighed and stood up to put her cup in the sink when she felt light-headed.

"Denny?" Hannah called as she noticed Denny's unsteadiness. Seconds later the cup fell to the floor and so did Denny.

"Denny!" Hannah yelled, rushing to Denny's side.

Denny recovered a few minutes later and Hannah helped her up.

"What happened?" Denny asked drowsily.

"You fainted. Here sit down." Hannah helped Denny to the couch and got her a small glass of water.

"Thanks."

"Denny I really think you should get check now. You can come into work with me when I leave in half an hour."

Denny took a sip of her water and agreed, her stomach felt nauseous again and her head was spinning.

Hannah helped Denny walk into the hospital. Nate glanced up from his paperwork in hand and saw Hannah and Denny in the waiting room.

"Hi, is there a problem?" Nate asked glancing at Denny.

"Yeah can you please check over her for me? She just fainted about half an hour ago and she was sick this morning." Hannah explained.

"Sure come right this way." Nate escorted the two into a consult room and Denny sat down on the bed.

"Look honestly it's nothing, I feel fine now. I'm just tired." Denny stated.

"Let me just check you over and if you're fine you can go." Nate replied.

"So Denny, what exactly have you been feeling? I got that you were sick this morning and fainted, but have you had any other symptoms? Light-headedness, weakness, eating habits changed?" Nate asked.

Denny sighed. "I've been feeling nauseous and I have been a bit dizzy at times." Denny explained.

Nate took notes on his pad. "How long have you been feeling like this?"

"Um, I get it every couple of days." Denny explained.

"Well it sounds like you're blood sugar levels dropped, so I'd like to check that, but what about your cycle, when was the last time you had that?"

Denny thought for a moment. "I can't remember, I think sometime last month, I've been so stressed that it's probably messed it up."

Hannah looked to Nate suspecting there was more to this than first thought.

Denny glanced at Hannah and Nate. "What?"

"Denny have you had any sexual activity in the last month." Nate asked.

Denny gave a stunned look and remembered the romantic night with Casey and then it click, they were thinking she was pregnant.

"No. No it can't be." Denny said with worry in her voice.

"I'd like to run a blood test just to confirm." Nate left the room to collect the tubes and needles. Hannah rested a comforting hand on Denny's shoulder.

"Hannah I can't be, I just can't. It was one time and we used protection." Denny said.

"You know that doesn't always stop the chances, but just wait and see what the tests show."

Nate came back and took a sample of Denny's blood and ran the test.

Denny had nerves in her stomach as Nate walked back into the room.

"So?" Hannah asked.

Nate took a deep sigh. "Denny the results of the tests have confirmed you are indeed pregnant."

Denny felt like she would have collapsed had she not been already lying on a bed.

"How...how long?" Denny asked.

"With the tests and your symptoms I'd have to say you're about four weeks along."

Denny stared silently in shock, she had just lost the person she loved, and now she was dealt the blow of having a baby, she didn't know what to feel. A few tears fell down Denny's face.

"Hey, it'll be okay. You have all your family and Nate here to support you through this."

"I'll set you up with some appointments and give you some information to take home and read."

"Thank you." Hannah said as Nate headed to leave the room.

When Hannah and Denny got home, Zac was already in the living room after having finished work.

"I'm gonna go lie down." Denny said quietly.

"Alright, just let me know if you need anything." Hannah replied. Zac looked at Hannah.

"What happened?" Hannah walked into the kitchen and put the kettle on.

"Denny fainted and I took her to get checked out and it was discovered that she's pregnant." Hannah explained.

"Casey's?" Zac asked.

Hannah nodded. "Appears so."

Denny rested down on her bed and stared at the picture of her and Casey, Nate's words kept running through her head. 'Tests have confirmed you are indeed pregnant.'

Denny just could not get her head around this, how was she ever going to manage Casey's baby without Casey?