Title: Long Enough
Author: Kathea
Pairing: Casey/Derek
Rating: T
Summary: What were they waiting for?
Setting: Ten years after high school, explanatory AN at the end.
Disclaimer: I own a house, a car, a large quantity of shoes but I've yet to figure out how to own LWD or any of my other fandoms.
…LWD…
He's not surprised to se her waiting at the bar. She was habitually early for everything. The lighting I dim but he can make out the fall of dark hair over a slim, pale shoulder.
He slides into the seat beside her and signals the bartender for a beer. The wine glass, slowly twisting in her long fingers, is half empty.
"Hey Case"
"Hi Derek"
Silence fills the space between them. Derek peels the label from the beer bottle as Casey continues to spin her wine glass.
"How's your Dad?" Casey asks suddenly, making the barest of eye contact.
"Good. He's good." Derek pauses. "Just started his own firm with a couple friends. A legal aid thing."
"That's nice." Casey smiles, remembering some old memory. "That was his dream."
"How's Nora?"
"Good. She and David moved to the States a few years ago. I've got a new sister coming next month." Casey paused and sipped her wine. "A late in life surprise." She finished with a rueful grin.
"Wow."
"Yeah. It makes me feel old. Am I…" She stops and finally looks in his eyes. "Are we old?" Derek chuckles and signals for another beer.
"You'll be 30 before I will, Princess."
"De-rek!" Casey responds in mostly mock outrage. "What kind of brother are you to remind me of that! I'm freaking out about turning 30."
"If you'll recall," Derek says, leaning close to capture her chin between thumb and forefinger. "I haven't been your brother for almost a decade." His thumb swept slowly along her jaw. "It's been long enough don't you think?" He asks, leaning closer, his eyes locked on her.
"Yeah," Casey replies softly. "Long enough." She closes the distance between them and let their lips slid together. Old memories are burnt away by new as their lips continue to explore. Casey's hand fists in the leather lapel of his jacket, urgency pulsing from her fingertips. Derek pulls back to watch her eyes flutter open. He stands, pulling cash from a pocket to throw on the bar. He finds his hand twined with her and a gentle, persistent tugging. The cool air embraced them as the door to the bar swings shut behind them. No words were needed. They'd said them all years ago. It had been long enough.
AN: This came in a rush at work this afternoon. It's meant to be a little choppy, a little vague. Use your imagination folks. Casey freaking about being 30 is me right now. Just a little bothered by it. I couldn't remember who was older, so I went with Casey. I also don't know if Canada does the legal aid thing but why not. This also pushed me to write chapter 3 of "Such a Beautiful Mask." I'd neglected it. This might cause me to write the prequel since I've alluded to quite a bit. And yes Nora and George divorced sometime after they graduated. I haven't decided why.