Sweet Home Ontario
Disclaimer: I don't own LwD or SHA
AN: Inspired by Sweet Home Alabama (2002). Enjoy! Spoilers for the movie ahead!
Sweet Home Ontario: Chapter 1
August 17th 2018...
DPOV
It was a quiet summer morning. The skies were the perfect shade of blue. The birds were chirping the song of summer. The sun was warm on Derek's skin. It was the kind of beautiful morning that made him feel a little... domestic. And his version of domestic meant fixing up The Prince. He was in the middle doing just that when he heard a car pull up into his driveway. He didn't think anything of it. His dad had a habit of swinging by unannounced. But when the engine stopped he was greeted by the sound of high heels clicking along his concrete driveway; he knew it wasn't dear old dad. All he could see from his position underneath the car was a pair of black heels attached to some very nice legs. He was very confused, he didn't have the faintest idea of who it could be. He wasn't expecting anyone. And definitely no one with legs like those.
Confused he rolled himself out from under the car and was shocked to see none other than his wife standing before him. She had her arms crossed over her chest, looking like a pissed off principle. Her face was stone like she was already fed up with whatever bullshit that was about to spew out of his mouth.
He knew it would come to this eventually. He knew if he continued to ignore her emails, and the phone call she'd go out of her way and meet him at his doorstep. Deep down he was hoping he had more time. Nonetheless, seeing her in front of him again after two years was worth it.
She was beautiful, but no longer the same girl he fell in love with. She looked older. The stress in New York had aged her. He chose to believe that the Casey he knew and loved lived beneath it all. Under a heavy cloud of Chanel perfume, Louis Vuitton purse, and Gucci whatever she wore. She was in there somewhere and he had missed her dearly, but he couldn't let it show.
"Honey, your home!" He grinned, sarcasm rolling off his tongue. He was itching to hear her split his name in two like she use to.
"Derek," she stated calmly. Yeah, she had said his name… but wasn't in the way he wanted to hear it. There wasn't enough spunk behind it. Where had the passion gone?
"I was starting to get worried! I called the sheriff and filed a missing person report and everything!" he continued with his antics. He was so clearly stalling the inevitable conversation; the reason she had got on a plane to pay him a visit.
She rolled her eyes, not dignifying that with a response. "Sign the papers, Derek," she spoke through gritted teeth. He watched her pull out a yellow envelope from her massive leather purse before thrusting it into his face.
Given his position on the ground, she could have stepped on him with those pointy shoes if she wanted to. With that in mind, he got up, dusting his dirty hands on his jeans, taking the envelope from her perfectly manicured hands without a word. He tried his best not to stare at the ring on her finger, it wasn't like he didn't know about it.
He made his way into his...well, their home. She followed close behind. She probably thought he was actually going to sign. Silly girl.
He watched her out the corner of his eye, the way she looked around and noticed the difference in their home since that last time she was there. A grin played at his lips. He felt good about the state of their home. Casey had humbly decorated years ago when they had close to nothing, and he maintained it as such, keeping it decently clean, and adding a few of his own touches since she'd been gone for so long. A bigger tv. An additional recliner. Still, it was a decent home. Not a dump he was sure she was expecting to find.
"Listen," he started, throwing the paperwork on the dining room table, turning towards her standing in their living room. He looked down at the watch on his arm an winced. Fixing up the car had taken longer then he had anticipated. "I'm actually about to get out of here. I'll talk to my lawyer about it on Monday morning, ok?" he offered, hitching an eyebrow. He didn't wait for a reply and made his way towards the kitchen to wash his dirty hands.
"Derek, I need to be on a plane tomorrow," she argued, staring him down with an intensity he remembered all too well.
"I'll mail it back?" he offered with a shrug, knowing damn well it was a lie.
"I don't trust you." she countered, crossing her arms over her chest.
She was very confrontational, but he understood. She had come ready and willing to fight him tooth and nail for that divorce. When she left him two years ago to dance in New York. She thought she'd come back... he thought she'd be back, but clearly, she didn't. After six months without her, he went to New York looking for her. And when he did, he realized he was no longer the man for her. No matter how much he loved her, Derek Venturi just wasn't enough for her.
He shrugged, "Well then, get comfy Princess! Got a place to stay?" he asked. Of course, he was hoping to have his wife under his roof again, but he knew better than to believe that was even an option. She wanted a divorce because she's was engaged to a banker. Or was it a lawyer? He didn't remember. The details didn't make a difference.
"You're seriously making me stay in Ontario?" she sighed, pouting like a child. Like she couldn't come up with a worse way to spend her valuable time.
He rolled his eyes at her dramatics. Some things really didn't change. "It's up to you," he started, "But you won't get that back till Monday afternoon at the earliest." he clarified, striping his dirty t-shirt off his back in one swoop. He didn't miss the way her eyes raked over his body like they use to. He had put more time in the gym since she's left. He smirked, headed towards what used to be their bedroom to find some clean clothes to put on. He didn't lie, he did have plans. And he had to look presentable for them.
"Go stay with Nora, Case." He sighed heavily remember how much Nora missed her. "She misses you. Does she even know your here?" He asked himself while he searched for a shirt. Nora didn't know. She would have given him a heads up. A warning. Anything.
"No. I was hoping to make this a quick trip." she sighed, running a hand through her dirty blonde hair. Yes, blonde. She got rid of the brown, it made his heart ache, but again he tried not to flinch.
"Go home, Princess." He told her walking back into the living room, with a fresh pair of dark jeans and a clean shirt in hand. "Swing by on Monday, noon? I'll be here," he promised. It was another lie. But still.
"Are you actually going to sign it this time?" she asked in disbelief.
"As long as this makes it past legal," he replied, finishing the last button on his shirt. He looked up at her with a pleased smile.
"I'm not asking for anything but your signature, if that's what you worried about," she looked down at her feet. She looked embarrassed.
Derek smirked. She didn't know. After all this time she still had no idea. He thought maybe at this point she would have seen his name on some credits, or in an article. But no. She didn't realize he had been moving up in the world. That he too was worth something. He was no longer the worthless piece of shit that she thought he was. "Do I get anything?" he countered, gathering his keys, phone, and wallet.
She eyed him but didn't answer. She was so desperate to get this divorce she would probably give him anything he wanted if he asked. She looked around their former home again, and it dawned on her. "Where's Eddie?" she asked with knitted eyebrows.
Derek sighed, running his hands through his hair. He was hoping she didn't notice. He didn't want to be the one to tell her. But alas… "Eddie got hit by a car last year," he muttered softly. Losing Casey and then Eddie had made life miserable.
He watched her eyes fill up, she turned away from him and towards the door. "Monday," was all she said before disappearing through the front door, quietly this time.
Derek fell onto his couch in a puddle. He scrubbed his face with his hands. He had the rest of the weekend to figure out how to get out of this and still have a wife. All he wanted to do was make her proud, to be worthy of her, but he had run out of time. She was engaged to be married. She needed their divorce finalized and he knew it.
After his lunch with the Director of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), he was feeling pretty good. But still, his morning run with Casey had put him on edge. Naturally, he ended up swinging by Ralph's bar for an afternoon beer.
"When's your next meeting with Hollywood?" Sam teased Derek, sitting next to him at the bar.
"Next week," Derek smiled a real genuine smile. He was proud of himself. He had a few golden opportunities in the air. He had worked on a film that was premiering at TIFF. As a result, he was being considered to work alongside one of his favorite directors! And additionally he was going to be working as a Director of Photograph on a new show on FreeForm filming in Canada; his first national cable show. Things were looking up, but he wasn't where he wanted to be yet. Not where Casey would want him to be.
"Hey, is that Casey?" Ralph asked squinting from behind the bar, looking towards the entrance. His confusion was quickly replaced with a grin and confirmation. The pair of boys turned, and sure enough, there she was.
Derek hadn't mentioned it to his friends yet, he was hoping she'd lay low. But unfortunately, he was wrong. "Yeah, she's back for the weekend," he replied turning back towards the bar chugging the beer in front of him with a few big gulps. He knew he couldn't put up with her again sober.
"That's good news, right?" Sam asked, gripping Derek's shoulder. "Maybe she'll stay?" he said hopefully.
Casey made her way around. Greeting people she hadn't seen in so long.
Derek didn't want to be the one to tell them, but false hope was no good. "No," He replied with a heavy sigh. "She only here to get me to sign." He admitted. To the boys and to himself.
"What are you gonna do?" Ralph asked solemnly.
Give her hell is what he wanted to say. That was Derek and Casey way after all. But, unfortunately, that wasn't in the cards. "I might actually have to sign," Derek admitted defeatedly.
"Or maybe tell her the truth?" Sam suggested. Always the optimist that one.
Derek shook his head "It's not enough. I gotta let her go. For good this time." He has to let Casey go and mourn the loss of that relationship once and for all.
The trio silenced as she approached them. "Boys," she greeted with a tight smile. "It's been a while."
After Casey's arrival, Derek made his way out the bar as fast as possible leaving her behind. She seemed happier then she had that morning which creeped him out. Was she up to something? Whatever it was he'd find out eventually. But at that moment he wanted to be as far from her as possible. Plus he had work to do and he knew he'd be safe from Casey there. They had started production on his new Freeform show in the Toronto studio headquarters. He had scripts to read. A vision to create! Casey would have to wait.
After a long day of errands, work and avoiding Casey he was ready for a shower and bed. He was minutes away from his house when Ralph called him. Casey had gotten a little too drunk at the bar during happy hour. She had started a scene and he needed to get her out of there asap.
Quickly he was off the phone and turning his car around. She had left him. She was marrying another man. She was no longer his responsibility. And yet he was at the bar in minutes rescuing her from herself.
She looked completely disheveled compared to how to put together she looked earlier that morning. Had she been there all afternoon? She was sweaty and shiny, her makeup was mostly faded. Her face was flushed pink and her clothes wrinkled. She had danced the night away at the bar and must have had a good time. But unfortunately, it was time for Derek to take her home.
He didn't bother bargaining with her when he waltzed into the bar like a man on a mission. He knew there was no compromising with drunk Casey. He was the only one who knew how to deal with her when she was like this. Instead, he easily picked her up and threw her over his shoulder. "Derek!" She squealed his name, kicking and punching anywhere she could reach. But it was no use. Derek had a strong hold on her.
"Thanks, Ralph!" he muttered on his way out the bar. He knew she had driven there, but her car would have to stay.
He placed her in his passenger side seat. She pouted and threw shitty insults at him but he pretended not to hear. He knew she'd tire herself out quickly. She always did. He made sure she was buckled in before wrapping around to the driver's seat and taking her home. He smiled, thinking back to what felt like a lifetime ago. She never could hold her alcohol. It was nice to see that not everything had changed.
"Where are you taking me!?" She groaned, annoyed. The ringing in her ears must have set in. She was no longer screaming at a high pitched frequency.
"Home," he finally answered her, eyes locked on the road. He wished it was their home.
She mumbled something he couldn't quite make out so he ignored her. She was out like a light within minutes. The fight taking too much out of her. She was even lightly snoring by the time he pulled up to the Venturi -McDonald household.
He knew the house would be quiet for a Saturday night. Edwin and Lizzie were probably out, enjoying the dog days of summer with their hometown friend before heading back to campus for their fall semesters at Queens and U of T the following week. Marti was out at some party; she had taken over Derek position as the social butterfly of the family since starting high school. His dad, and Nora were probably the only ones home. Still, he didn't want to run into anyone. Getting in and out was the mission at hand. He didn't want to see anyone or have to talk about the implications of Casey being home. He wasn't ready for that. Not yet.
He killed the engine with a sigh. He really didn't want to go inside, so they sat in the silence for a bit. It had been a long day. He rubbed his face a bit and got himself out of his thoughts. He gently got her out of the car picking her up bridal style, trying his best not to wake her. She snuggled into his arms comfortably which made his heart tightened. He pushed his feeling aside and made his way into their childhood home.
He managed to lay her down on the couch in the empty living room when he heard some noise in the kitchen.
"Derek?" Nora called, making her way into the dark living room confused. Clearly, she had been getting ready for bed. "What's going on?" She asked tightening her robe, her concern written all over her face. She must have read his body language.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you...Casey's home," he explained pointing at the slump of a woman curled up on the family's couch. He had thrown a spare blanket over her.
Nora's eyes went wide as she rushed passed Derek to toward Casey's sleeping form. "What happened?" She asked clearly worried. She must not have known that Casey was in town.
Derek shrugged, hands deep in his pockets clearly uncomfortable. "She's not used to Ralph's drinks anymore." It was a guess. Maybe it's because she drank all day. Maybe she was drinking to forget. Who really knew?
Still confused, Nora pressed on. "Why is she here? Is everything ok?" Her motherly intuition kicked in. It had only been a month since Nora had seen Casey last in New York, but the distance took a heavy toll on his stepmother.
He nodded. "Everything ok, I think. She just wants me to sign the papers," he admitted, running a hand through his hair. It was a hard topic to talk about.
Nora frowned, suddenly understanding everything. "Did you tell her?" Her voice was softer than. Calmer. Like suddenly she understood everything.
"No. And everyone promised they wouldn't," He reminded her with a pointed look. No one was to tell Casey what Derek had been up to.
Although she was Casey's mother, Nora kept Derek's secret. She had never gotten over what her firstborn had done to him. She loved him like a mother, and still resented Casey just a tiny bit for leaving. The whole family did. They just didn't talk about it.
Nora nodded understanding his words.
"I gotta get out of here," was all he said, closing the front door behind him.
He had to get away from her; to add some miles between them. There were many miles between home and New York. But with Casey home, he felt like he was suffocating and couldn't get away from her fast enough. He missed her but being around her hurt. The wound he had been trying to ignore throbbed in his chest. She left him. She left him. And now she was back. And in less than 24 hours and she had completely turned his world around. He needed another drink.
It had been an eventful day. All in the name of Casey of course, but what else was new? No one drove him as crazy as she did. But he really did need sleep. If he had no choice but to sign those papers he would… but she'd have to wait for Monday to earn it.
"What the fuck?!" he said to himself when he got inside his house, staring into his living room. His eyes were wide as he looked around his unfamiliar surroundings.
Everything looked different. Most of his old stuff gone replaced by new items. His couch. His TV. His stove. His fridge. Everything had gotten a makeover. And had Casey Written all over it. She loved all those HGTV home renovation shows. It had to be her. Casey was the only explanation he could think of. And although he needed to talk to her, he knew it had to wait till morning.
He grumbled rubbing his face in frustration to himself. That woman!
AN: I would pay money to read a good LWD/Sweet Home Alabama AU because it screams Dasey to me. But alas I could not find anything (if you have, PLEASE link me!) So I wrote my own shitty makeshift version.