A/N; Okay so this is for some of my Bones readers who have had me on author alerts; I'm sorry this is not Bones related as you might've read. Honestly this rocks a completely different boat. But I am still working on my first story, I'm just having a hard time letting go. It is the finale, can you blame me?

Okay so for my new readers, this is a story line that has been baking in my back yard(Folder; Rejects) and I thought I'd post it because… because well apparently it's not 'Fair' to let stories die without giving them a chance to flourish or something like that. Blah, either you like this or you don't! I do have a few more chapters written down but I will not post them until I have enough people reading it, and this story is in great need of a Beta so this is a fair warning to keep the criticizing to a minimum! I do the best I can. Oh and offers for Beta are greatly appreciated readers out there who have a better understanding of the English language then I do. It is not my native language so maybe that serves as a bit of an excuse….

So, on we go with it!

It had been one of the most frightening calls of her life. For the life of her had she expected the phone call from the hospital. And her daughters involvement in the accident didn't ease the profound gnawing in the pit of her stomach. Even with assurance that Haylee was doing fine. All the hairs on arms stood up and she was sure she'd burst into tears if she didn't have her daughter wrapped in her arms safely and soon. No. Casey McDonald did not do good with bad news of any kind or degree.

She pushed through the revolving doors straight into the emergency room and practically jogged towards the reception desk. Casey displayed the classical signs of a mothers natural reaction when knowing their off spring was in danger. She frantically told the nurse her name and waited for her when she went back to retrieve more information on Haylee's status. While the nurse was away Casey wondered whether to call her mother, or maybe even Lizzie to tell them what had happened but decided against it, at least until she herself saw and could verify her daughter was indeed in good health. In that same second she considered notifying one more person of the accident but as quickly as the thought came it vanished, leaving in its track trails of resentment and maybe even hatred. She would never willingly contact Derek Venturi, the lowlife that not only fathered her child but also abandoned her shortly after the night of the conception. The first and only night they'd been together. The first and only night Casey had been with anyone intimately. But that was all in the past, and she wished to never relive it. And surprisingly even though it hadn't been easy for Casey she felt no need to change it. Though Haylee was anything but expected in any way shape or form, she loved her daughter more then she thought ever possible. And even now eight years later as the young mother paced the emergency room's granite floor she wished for anything but the permanent change of what had happened that night five months and eight years ago.

The nurse came back with the promise that a doctor would be with her shortly. It had meant to calm Casey down, but instead she sought for ways to run past the thick doors separating Haylee and her, unnoticed. Right as she contemplated whether to just run or sneak by, the doors in questioned, opened revealing a young handsome doctor. Yes, with firm cheek bones, strikingly green eyes and thick black hair the doctor could've easily given half the room palpations or even caused a few cardiac arrests but even so his looks had been the last thing on Casey's mind.

"Mrs. McDonald?" The doctor asked in a light tone that had no indication of anything grave that might've happened behind the doors he just emerge from, Casey noted.

"Ms." She corrected as she approached the doctor slash sexy actor slash underwear model for Calvin Klein. The doctor's eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

"It's Ms. McDonald, I'm not married." She said low, worry still seeping through her voice.

She wasn't sure if she had heard right but, the doctor muttered something along 'thank God for that', under his breath. But then again it was barely audible.

"Excuse me?"

Again Casey wasn't sure if she was seeing right this time, but his cheeks seemed to redden as a small blush emanated on them.

"Uhm.. I'm Dr. Manvel, I treated Haylee, your…" he held out his hand as he trailed off and Casey shook it as more of a polite gesture than anything else.

"Mother. I'm Haylee's mother. How is she?" she asked quickly. The doctor smiled broadly, "She's doing fine, just a few superficial scratches." He informed her and she instantly felt a rush of relief wash over her as she let out the breath she'd been holding unconsciously.

"Can I see her?" She asked as soon as she was sure she could breath and live normally now that she knew Haylee was fine.

Dr. Manvel seemed to be staring intently at her, almost unnervingly so, and Casey once more repeated her request before the doctor jumped back into reverie.

"Sorry, o-of course." He answered smiling sheepishly. Casey disregarded the pang she felt in her chest when she saw his smile, that reminded her so much of someone else. A smile that her daughter also wore on occasion. "Follow me."

And Casey did.

Casey reassured once more that the bandaged on her daughters forearm was securely in place and received once more a frustrated sigh from Haylee.

"Mom, it's fine!" the eight year old repeated for the umpteenth time.

"Just checking." Casey said dismissively. Haylee leaned back into the passenger seat of her mother's car as they drove back to their apartment. "I still don't know what on earth you were doing on a skateboard. As of when do you skate?" She questioned her daughter who grunted.

"I just wanted to try it, see if I could do it." Haylee reasoned as she fidgeted with her shirt.

"Well obviously you can't." Casey answered. It didn't come out as harsh as it might've seemed, since it had been more so directed to any future attempts at trying to scare your mother half to death.

"Mother, that's not very encouraging, my delicate mental state cannot withhold such coldness from my own flesh and blood." Haylee said in mock hurt and Casey smiled.

"Well once you stop making my heart jump into my throat, I'll consider keeping your mental state in mind when I comment."

They sat in a comfortable silence as Casey hummed to a song she knew well on the radio while Haylee itched to change the station disliking her mother's horrid taste in music.

"So the doctor seemed to like you." Haylee commented casually. She might only be eight years old but Haylee was a very intelligent and inquisitive little girl. There was hardly anything she missed. The sadness that appeared in her mother's eyes at times when Haylee did something that might've seemed normal to her but secretly reminded her mother of a man she'd rather forget, was one of the things that didn't go unnoticed. Neither did the line of men that wanted so badly to date her mother. Haylee constantly wished she could prevent herself from smirking in a certain way or acting defiantly in a matter only her father did but she could hardly change who she was slowly morphing into.

"Mmmh."

Not fooled by her mother's antics to ignore the issue Haylee pressed.

"You know, Dr. Manvel…" when her mother still didn't say anything Haylee tried once more. "He was pretty hot."

Casey almost swerved off the road as her daughter said this and Haylee bit down the smirk as her mother regained control of the vehicle mainly to shoot her a glare.

"Haylee don't frighten your mom like that, what could you possibly find hot in a man triple your age!"

"Oh, so you did notice him,"

"Haylee…"

"And you've got it down to even a estimated age I'm impressed…"

"Haylee."

"Aunt Lizzie would so love this,"

"HAYLEE ELIZABETH MCDONALD!!!"

Haylee giggled excitedly.

"Don't worry he gladly gave me his digits in case you ever got interested." She said still smiling broadly. Casey fought the blush that crept up her cheeks and screeched at her daughters actions.

"YOU ASKED HIM FOR HIS PHONE NUMBER?!"

"No, better…" Haylee waited for dramatic pause. "He offered."

Casey groaned.

"Mom," Haylee began her voice taking a very serious tone. "I want you to date." She stated. Casey's eyes widened.

"W-what?" she stuttered.

"I wouldn't mind it. At all. If he's a good guy, it'll even be kind of cool." She said matter of fact, causing Casey to gulp.

"I never knew my father, but… I guess… I don't know… I want you to be happy. Really happy." Haylee said trying to avoid her mother's gaze slightly. It was no surprise to Casey that Haylee had never told her this before. Much like her father she avoided speaking of her feelings like the plague, usually. Casey parked the car in the driveway and looked over at her daughter. Really looked, at the little girl who had just uttered genuine and mature words. Slightly taken aback she observed the way her light brown hair fell over her shoulders down onto her back with a slight wave, growing longer and longer despite being cut every few months. And the way her baby features had slowly, though it all seemed so quick to Casey, morphed into that of a child and soon to be preteen. And though she had Casey's deep blue eyes there was hardly anything else Casey saw of herself. Haylee was complete and entirely the spitting image of her father.

Casey found it hard to speak to Haylee about her dad. Derek was… It was just something she wanted to keep in her past. She wasn't sure if Derek knew Haylee existed. And even if he did Casey didn't think it would've changed much. At the time they both made their respective decisions they were old enough to know what they were doing. Yes, Casey could've stood up and spoken to Derek about what was happening when she found out she was pregnant. Then again he could've kept it in his pants and stuck around after the events that changed their lives. He could've at least called her once in a while. But he hadn't. And Casey was too proud and too stubborn to make the first move. He had hurt her, and instead of wallowing in pain she chose to live and do her best so that she and her daughter had everything they ever needed. And they did. She was twenty-six, graduated early at the top of her class and was now a editor at one of the most recognized publishing companies in New York. She had achieved all that while raising a child. And though there were plenty that offered their help, especially, Marti, Lizzie and Edwin, she refused to let it be more than the occasional babysitting jobs during finals or during a deadline. She had everything under control. At least that's what she fooled herself into thinking. Reality was, she had been selfish. Purposely so in hope that it would hurt Derek one day, but what she hadn't taken in account was that it all could've been hurting Haylee as well. Sure Edwin was there for both of them, surprisingly so, stepping up to fill the father role Derek didn't care or didn't want to step into even after all these years. But it wasn't the same. Of course she should've known that sooner or later Haylee would've either inquired for her real dad, or at least a more legitimate father figure instead of a uncle.

Casey felt her stomach twist in a knot as she stared at the wavering gaze of her daughter and the somber look she tried to hide behind a tough exterior.

So much like her dad.

"I'll give him a call." She said softly squeezing her daughter's shoulder a little.

And for a moment Casey wasn't sure who exactly Haylee thought she'd call as she stared at her mother her eyes bright almost shining.

Dr. Manvel or Derek Venturi…

So what'cha think?