A/N: If I owned Life with Derek, it would be called "Derek's Inner Thoughts...On Casey." LOL.

Prologue

The brown haired woman and her blond haired daughter held hands as they walked up the stairs to the door of the two story house. The little girl tugged on her mother's shirt.

"Mommy, why are we here?"

Her mother smiled gently. "We're here to see Grandmother Nora and Grandfather George."

What she didn't expect was her step-brother, Derek, to show up at the front door when she knocked.

"Casey?" Derek asked incredulously. "What are you doing here?"

"What are you doing here?" Casey asked back in the same tone.

"Uh, Case. I still have a room here." Derek said, noticing the little girl at Casey's side for the first time. Changing his manner abruptly, he said politely, "Won't you come in?"

Nora and George were in the kitchen when they noticed Casey and her daughter. Nora leaped up to give her daughter a hug and George followed.

"Casey," Nora murmured against her hair. "It's been too long."

Casey stepped back and looked at her mother. "I know, Mom."

Seeing Derek at the doorway, Casey whispered, "Mom? Take Susie into the basement with George, will you?"

"Of course," Nora said, without noting the name choice of Casey's daughter. Together, she and George took Susie down into the basement.

"Casey." Derek said coming up to her. "Why are you here?"

"I need to tell you something, Derek." Casey replied.

"Uh-oh. That doesn't sound good." Derek said looking at her face.

"It's not."

"Casey, you haven't been here in five years. You do realize that?"

"No, it slipped my mind." said Casey sarcastically.

"Why didn't you tell me that you had a daughter?" Derek asked.

"I don't know." Casey admitted. "I was scared. Five years ago, I gave birth to Susannah and had to raise her on my own. It was so difficult, Derek. I didn't want to give her up for adoption. Or…"

Derek nodded. "Why didn't you come here when you had the chance?"

"I was taking responsibility for my actions." Casey said simply.

Derek was quiet.

Then…

"Who's Susannah's father?"

Casey sighed.

"It's Sam."