Disclaimer: The only thing I own is Kaitlyn and the plot. The rest belongs to Disney and their writers.

Prologue

(Christmas 2006)

Derek's best friend Sam always threw the best parties in town and this Christmas was no different. Their hockey team had just won yet another game and so of course it was time for a victory party that was unsupervised. Sam and his girl of the week, Kaitlyn, were in the kitchen with Derek waiting for his own date to show up, whom Kaitlyn had been nice enough to fix-up for the loner. He wasn't able to deal with the girls at his high school, finding them too vapid or shallow. Finally, at a little past 9, she walked in through the back door. Derek didn't see her at first until she was standing next to him and there was only one word out of his mouth.

"Wow!"

She walked in like she had a purpose to every step. Her light brown hair was just above her waist, her bangs had a red streak to them and her smile was gorgeous. For once in his entire life he was focused on a girls' smile instead of her chest. Sam and Kaitlyn saw the expression held on his face and could not help but to smile knowingly at each other.

"Derek, I would like to introduce you to my friend and current roommate at my boarding school for all girls, Casey."

Derek managed to only catch her name for he was still staring at her. Casey giggled because of the way he was acting and he snapped out of it at the sound before blushing slightly at being caught for being so rude.

"Smooth D," Sam whispered.

Derek flipped him off subtly as he put his arm around Casey, trying to once again regain what little dignity he had.

"Here, let me show you to the drinks," he said.

Casey laughed again at the way he was trying to play it cool.

"Lead the way."

Once they got to the keg, Derek filled two cups for them and handed one to her.

"So Katie tells me you're Captain of the hockey team."

"She's just mad cuz I beat her precious Sammy for the position," Derek said with a smirk.

It was a lie since Katie didn't know Sam before the season had started and thus hadn't even been around when the Captain had been chosen but Derek was hoping that she didn't call him on it which she merely laughed at before letting him lead her away from the keg. As the two talked more, they wondered about the house until before they knew it they were the last ones there besides Kaitlyn and Sam. Casey looked down at her watch and noticed the time, slightly freaking out in the process.

"Oh, no! I'm supposed to be home in 5 minutes."

"Here, let me give you a ride home. We can continue to get to know each other along the way."

She wasn't sure at first, since she had barely met him, but a reassuring smile from Kaitlyn as she grabbed her jacket from the kitchen gave her the courage to walk outside with him and let him open the passenger side door for her. Once in Derek's dark emerald green 69 GTO Judge, he put on the radio and even in the dark Casey could tell that the car was his pride and joy.

"Wow, she's a beauty," Casey remarked, trying to be heard over the noise being blasted from the speakers. "Better than what I have."

Derek turned down the radio a bit so they could converse easier.

"Oh yeah, what type of car do you drive?"

"Oh just a 75 midnight black corvette."

"Are you serious? That's like one of the best 70s cars that there is."

"Yeah, my dad gave it to me for my 16th birthday, but I would trade it any day for this beauty," Casey said while she patted the dashboard affectionately.

After 10 more minutes and many songs later Derek finally pulled up in front of Casey's house.

"Thanks for the ride, I had fun tonight."

"No problem. Hey are you doing anything next weekend?"

"Not that I know of," Casey said, her mind already working on how she was going to tell Derek yes to the date without sounding like she was desperate.

"Well how about we double with Katie and Sam? Maybe catch a movie and eat out?"

"That sounds like fun," Casey stated with a smile.

Derek got out of the car to open her door. Once she had stepped out, Derek opened his arms for hug but Casey had more on her mind than that. She went into his arms like he had wanted before she tilted her head up and pushed her lips against his. What did not feel like a sufficient amount of time for Derek, she pulled away and retreated a few steps back, that smile now returning to her lips.

"See you next week," Casey said quietly and rushed up her front steps and into the house.

"Yeah, see ya," Derek whispered to himself, barely able to contain a grin himself.

He drove off for home after she had gone inside, a smile plastered to his face, music blaring, and the windows rolled down to catch the night air, allowing it to whip his hair around. For the rest of the week up until their date his mind was constantly on her, and him, hers.

When she drove to his house the day of their date his little sister Marti had come out to meet her.

"Hi, are you Smerek's new girlfriend?"

"Yes, I'm Casey. And who are you?"

"I'm his cute little sister Marti. I like you, when are you moving in?"

At that point Derek had come out and rushed over to put his hand over her mouth.

"OK Smarti, time to go back inside."

"AWW. Bye Casey."

"Bye Marti. She so cute."

"Yeah, so you ready for that date?"

"Obviously if I'm here," she said with a smirk.

"Right. OK let's go."

For the next few dates Derek and Casey were the perfect couple. Only a few disagreements had ensued between the two but nothing serious. It wasn't until the day after New Year's when their lives changed though, for that was when they had to hide their relationship from their parents, who unbeknownst to them had also been dating and were getting married that day. Having cancelled plans with each other saying they had family stuff, they didn't realize what the other meant until Casey walked up the isle in front of her mom and saw Derek standing in the best man's spot next to George. Lizzie and Marti were both flower girls and Edwin was in charge of the rings for the small affair at the tiny church. That night was the first and almost last night that the McDonald/Venturi household had peace and quiet, at least until now