A/N; Thanks for the reviews and story alerts guys! Okay so I really despise this chapter. Not only did it take SUPER long to write, after a dozens of times of rewriting(and I'm not exaggerating) It still doesn't sit right with me. It's a Derek chapter, and quite frankly my brain doesn't seem to agree with itself on what it wants happening on Derek's side of things.

Warning this chapter might be rewritten in the future.

Disclaimer; for obvious reasons I don't own LWD…

Chapter 2

"If one more fan sneaks into my apartment I think I am going to have to involve the authorities," Derek warned menacingly. The security guard at the end of this Derek's wrath cowered in fright as he nodded and pleaded with Mr. Venturi that it would not in any way

be necessary. Derek watched the man filled with regret and angst and couldn't help but feel sorry for the lonesome security guard. Yes, Derek Venturi was a known a-hole to some, but only to the ones that really deserved it. But mostly, it was all in the image. He couldn't be perceived as a softy and allowing people the chance to walk all over him. Not in his line of work.

All Derek ever wanted was to play hockey. He loved the sport. Little did he know that shoving a puck around on ice came with the price of having your face constantly in tabloids and sports magazine, and not being able to take a piss without forty camera's capturing the blessed event. Okay so maybe he had expected some of the fame, even welcomed it, but when crazy teenage girls began literally invading his privacy he had to draw the line and haul out the restraining orders. You'd think that he'd be safer in New York then Canada it wasn't like he was one of the Giants right? You'd think that at the least people would know how much was too much, I mean stealing a man's briefs and toothbrush just means you're demented right? You'd think that people knew breaking and entering was a felony, even when no actual breaking was involved, I mean it's common knowledge right? And you'd think Derek would be used to it by now, well then apparently you'd be wrong on all four counts.

"Look , Sam, I don't want to do that," Derek began more calmly. "It's just… well the lady is really not liking this and I hate coming home from press conferences or practice, to then have to deal with this, you understand?" The security guard nodded sympathetically. You didn't have to know her personally, not at all, to know certain things about the lady just mentioned by Derek Venuri. Like many other things, staying away from upsetting Amanda Waylon, was common knowledge. Derek's steady girlfriend might be beautiful, gorgeous was more like it, smart and flawless in every sense of the word, but you did not under any circumstance, want to upset her. Being at the receiving end of the blonde's bad day was like having poison ivy or itching powder thrown all over your clothes, you wouldn't know what hit you until you try it on. He smiled assuring-ly and patted the security guard on the shoulder before he turned back towards the elevator of the apartment building.

He entered his spotless apartment and made sure his door was locked behind him. He could hear Amanda rattling away on the phone, about the unexpected mess they had encountered when they entered the apartment. When she began describing the 'monstrosity', Derek shook his head had her dramatization of everything. Really it wasn't to disastrous what his fans had done. Just a few things were misplaced and a few things were missing. But only things that personally belonged to him like articles of clothing he'd been seen with in public. They took those to tabloids and magazines as verification to whatever rumor or lie they came up with. At least he had been wise enough to lock up Amanda's jewelry and his as well, including the Rolex he had gotten as a gift. He couldn't phantom why someone in their right mind would buy a $40,000 watch, only to gift it to someone else. But Derek got somewhat used to the little quirks some rich people had.

The fans, the rumors/lies, the expensive gifts. It didn't sit right with him. Derek was the kinda guy who rode a car named Prince for five years of his life before he reluctantly bought a new one after the scraps of metal gave in. Of course he did enjoy the wealth for a bit, I mean what young adult wouldn't? But he quickly grew bored. It had been one of the reasons he had a hard time letting go of prince. Sure, there was once a time when he hated the car, despised the piece of junk was more like it, but he grew to appreciate it when the car was all he had left. The only thing that still linked him to his old life. And now Prince stood graciously in his garage in Canada, spending the remainder of his old days rusting away.

Prince, among many other things, was what he'd given up for his dreams. He chose this life, and loved it even, but in exchange of all he had now, he had walked away from more than he ever thought mattered. Even if he had to yet admit that to a living soul. He rarely dwelled on the choices he made years ago. Once in a while during a drunken night irrational thoughts would cross his mind and dread would fill his heart, but while he was sober he knew well how to block it all out. But he was turning twenty eight soon. His career was slowly ending, and though he'd miss it he didn't mind retiring. It had come slowly but he suddenly realized he was maturing.

Three years ago he had decided to clean up his act and date seriously, and as if by fate he met Amanda. She was perfect, in practically every sense. It hadn't been easy leaving his single, noncommittal life, but his longing for something more then he already had kept him on track. He thought for sure that a real girlfriend would solve everything but the past year he'd been wanting even more than just a girlfriend. He was sure the sixteen year old Derek would've been repulsed by the idea, but he suddenly longed for a family. He wanted a wife and eventually kids. Hockey had been such a big part of his life, that it almost consumed him entirely, and now that he was finally nearing the end of that part of his life he needed something else to take its place. Something to fill the void he had ever since his visits to home became less frequent.

He had a big family once, and no one would've thought it but he missed having that. Especially during times like these when he laid back on his black leather couch and stared at the white ceiling. His apartment was big, huge actually, and though it was filled with pricey furniture and what not, it missed the homey feeling, despite the fact that he had bought the apartment here in New York years ago after his first year playing pro. He spend months pondering every possible reason why he chose New York. If questioned he could've easily given about a dozen well practiced answers, most of them nonsensical things like; 'It was cool.'. Though none of them would be the real answer. No, Derek could never admit to the real reason why he chose to buy his first place in New York. He could never again go down that road.

"Babe," Derek looked up to see blonde curls shaped around a small face with green eyes looking back at him. For a moment he wished for a pair of familiar blue eyes but he quickly shook the thought away and pushed it far away in the back of his mind with all his other unwanted thoughts. "Yes I am," he said smiling softly. She smiled back rolling her eyes, "Did you talk to Sam?" she asked sweetly. It may have sounded sweetly to anyone else but Derek knew Amanda well. Her sweet tone only existed to masker her annoyance with something or in this case someone. Derek shifted in his seat. "Yes, I talked to him and he's going to hire someone else to keep an eye on our floor specifically and he promised to be more cautious himself." Derek assured her. Amanda relaxed. Then she walked around the couch and dropped herself into Derek's lap wrapping her arms around him as he put his hands on her waist.

"Was that so hard in the first instance? I mean you've had this place how long? Six or seven years? Do they not comprehend the concept; celebrity." She sighed frustrated. Derek fought his own sigh. Sure he had always agreed that something was missing from the apartment but it wasn't exactly more security guards or a good interior designer as Amanda often liked to point out. Amanda never liked it at his place. It was never high maintenance enough for her and frankly it was one of the things that irked him about her.

"I'm not exactly a celebrity." Derek reasoned.

"Could've fooled me." Amanda retorted. Derek could've easily shot something back but he knew that instead of a harmless bicker, with Amanda it could easily escalate to a full blown argument and it wasn't worth it, so instead he bit the inside of his cheek and choked back his words. As he did that he wondered when he exactly he had reached to a point where bowing down from a fight was a option. He quickly shook his head mentally when his thoughts wandered to a time where he rejoiced in annoying one particular person. He hated how thoughts of her never stopped appearing randomly in his mind. He was in constant need of reminding himself that he needed to forget, but it had become a battle not worth fighting. "Mmh" he just murmured.

"Anyway as you already have been informed were having dinner with the Sander's tonight." Amanda reminded him Derek couldn't resist groaning loudly. He didn't mind having dinner with his coach's family, it was even fun at some point, the old man knew how to have a good time. It was just that lately he was being attacked from all sides to prolong his hockey contract and quite frankly he was growing tired of the ordeal. People had to start realizing that he wasn't going to budge on that particular choice.

"Sweety, don't look at me like that, coach offered and I wasn't going to decline. That would hardly be polite now would it?" she asked rhetorically. Derek leaned back his head resting it on the couch, as he fought a annoyed grunt. "Besides, if you plan to really quit this year then this dinner shouldn't bother you as it will be one of the few last dinners we have left with them." she said in already longing tone. Derek shifted softly taking Amanda from his lap. As he placed her on the couch he leaned in to peck her lips before he got up.

"I'm starving." he stated not wanting to continue this particular conversation knowing it would only lead down paths of anger and annoyance. It wasn't lost on Derek how the more serious their relationship got the more they seemed to argue. He also realized he became more and more unfulfilled in his relationship with Amanda by the second. Derek shook the thoughts that had been lingering his mind for some time now, away and focused on gathering some food from his kitchen like the hungry hunter he was.

Amanda rolled her eyes and pretended not to have notice Derek's 'subtle' way of changing the subject. She knew he was feeling more distant every day, but chose to ignore that as well. She also wasn't oblivious to the shift in their relationship ever since Derek decided he no longer wanted to continue his hockey career. Amanda saw both the advantage and negative points of his choice. The end of his career would mean they no longer needed to travel much which meant they'd have to settle down and become more seriously involved. And quite frankly it was about time she got the high life and title she so badly wanted and deserved.

The negative side (a side she hadn't even realized existed until recently) they'd needed to find other ways to remain in the public eye. And as it was Derek wasn't all too fond of being famous. Also( and this really caught her off guard) their relationship seemed to strain with time. If she didn't know better she would've been worried. But she was Amanda Waylon, and it would take a whole lot more than a few disagreements and arguments to stop her from getting what she wanted. And she wanted him. Besides Derek wanted a family and she was his best bet at getting what he wanted. He wouldn't risk breaking up with her, if anything he'd propose.

Derek rummaged through his fridge for something delectable. Right when he found something edible a slight vibration in his jean pocket caught his attention. He fetched for his ringing cell phone and picked up after he failed to recognize the number.

"Derek speaking."

"Derek?" A familiar voice answered. It was a voice he hadn't heard in years and he felt his heart jump to his throat. "It's me…"

A/N; Okay so I'm not sure if you guys liked this. I wasn't sure if I wanted to make Amanda good or bad, or make Derek happy or miserable and after a few playful scenes I had written down between Amanda and Derek(that I might incorporate later on) I found that I was disgusted with myself for making him happy and Amanda good. So instead I chose a path that is a little undecided. He's not miserable(just confused) and Amanda is… well Amanda Waylon.. She knows what she wants and gets what she wants. Make sense? She's a lot like Derek in some ways. Next chapter you'll get to know more about what the heck is happening here.