Derek sat impatiently, wanting the day to end before it ever had a chance to begin. His heart thumped out of his chest and it took everything in him to stay plastered to the stiff pew.
"Are you okay honey?" his date asked with concern etched in her heavily made up face.

"I'm alright, it's just so damn hot in this church. And besides that, I hate the sappiness of weddings."

"Oh come on Der, can't you just enjoy the moment. Weddings are so romantic. I can only imagine what mine will be like someday…" She smiled suggestively at Derek

He forced himself to give her a head nod and his careless smirk even though inside he cringed at the thought of someday marrying this girl. In fact, the thought of marrying any girl was enough to send him running down the aisle to the bathroom and throwing up the little breakfast he was able to force down that morning. Well, not every girl he thought to himself. There was one girl he could imagine giving up his commitment phobic ways for. In fact, at one point in his life he had given almost everything up for that one girl. Forget about the past, he told himself. There is no going back and all you can do is accept what has happened. His one meaningful relationship, the happiest days of his life, the few short moments of clarity in his life, were all gone now. All swept away in one heartbreaking moment. All thanks to that one girl.

He stood and watched as she quickly rolled her bag down the crowded terminal. The only reason she was letting him tag along was because he had offered to help with her excessive amounts of luggage, and now that everything was checked in she had no need for him to be there. But he wouldn't let her get away that easily.

"Casey wait, at least let me stay with you until you board the plan. Can't I at least afford a few more moments with you? After all, this is the last time we'll be able to be together…in the way that we are meant to be together at least."

"Derek, you know damn well that we aren't meant to be together in that way. Everything that happened between us was wrong. We've said our goodbyes, and we've both agreed to let this be the end of us. Why can't you just accept what you know needs to happen?"

He looked at her with eyes hooded in pain, knowing that she didn't mean what she said. She was just too afraid to let things naturally; too afraid of what people would think.

"I know I agreed to end things after you left for school, but you aren't gone yet, and I want a proper goodbye. I just need one last kiss and then I'll let you go off and live your life. You can escape to school in the states and pretend you never felt anything for me, but you can't deny me one last moment of what we used to be."

"Fine Derek, if you most always insist on complicating things. It's hard enough already for me too, I just want this all to be past us. But after this, its over for good. Don't think it doesn't hurt me too. But I can't…"

Casey's speech was cut short as Derek's lips collided with her own. Try as she might, she couldn't hold back as a mere recipient of a kiss like that. Within seconds she was kissing him back with equal passion and sliding her arms around his neck. He let his hands wander to her waist pulling her tightly against his chest, breathing in her scent and embracing her soft touch against his own. But after a couple minutes the moment was cut off abruptly by the voice of a flight attendant calling the last passengers onto the plane. Before Casey could pull away to grab her bag and go, Derek reached for her arm and leaned his lips to her ear "This may be the end for you, Case. You can pretend that it'll be over. But just know this. With every passing moment of every passing day, no matter how many miles or years come between us, I'll always love you. I will always, always love you Case."

She shuddered for a moment as he left one last soft kiss on her forehead, and quickly turned toward the plane before she let herself change her mind.

"Goodbye Derek" she mustered out as she quickened her pace, without so much as glancing behind to see if he was still there. It wasn't until she had sat down in her seat and put on her headphones that she was able to say what she longed to say minutes before, "I'll always love you too Derek."

The sudden memory allowed Derek a much-needed distraction from the present circumstances. But it wasn't long until his date tapped his shoulder once again reminding him that it was time for him to take his place at the back of the church. Oh great, he thought. Time to saunter down the aisle with a smile on my face. He left his date to sit with the rest of the guests and took his place next to the maid of honor.

"Gosh Derek, she couldn't even sit by herself for a few minutes before the wedding started. That's one possessive new girlfriend you've got there."

"Yeah I know Emily, but she felt uncomfortable being here early and all by herself. Besides, its you girls that need to get all prettied up last minute, I've been ready for this to be over with for hours." Actually, I don't think I'll ever be ready for this to be over, he thought to himself.

"I can already tell this one isn't gonna last." Edwin quipped.

"Your right about that little bro. I've already got a few others lined up and waiting"

"Derek, try not to be so damn negative on your sister's wedding day. I can only imagine what you'll be like for Marti's and mine." Lizzie said from her place behind Emily, but not without out a knowing glare and forced laugh. He mentally corrected Lizzie that it was his stepsister's wedding day, but didn't dare to risk these words out loud at a time like this.

"Yeah Smerek," Marti teased, "Show at least some enthusiasm. It is your best friend's wedding as well. I mean, it is quite amazing that Sam is able to accept life-long commitment after being your friend after all these years. It's a wonder you didn't influence him with all your serial dating in high school and college."

"Well Smarti, all it takes is the right girl to force a man into marriage." Derek stated with a twisted smirk that didn't hide the sadness evident in his eyes.

They all gave him looks of confusion, or in Lizzie's and Edwin's case, a look of equal sadness. It was a mistake confiding in Lizzie and Edwin all those years ago he told himself. But with them always spying on everyone, it's a wonder they didn't figure it out themselves.

With that, the music indicating the beginning of the ceremony rang throughout the church and all comments they might have had were left unspoken. Within seconds it was their cue for the bridal party to make the long trek down the aisle. Derek took a deep breath and made the first step into the crowded church. "This is going to be a long day," he told himself as he forced on his trademark smirk and linked his arm with Emily's.