A/N: I really didn't expect as many reviews as I got for this. But because of them, I searched my brain all day looking for an idea to continue this story. Hope you like it.

But I still don't know where this is heading. I will gladly take suggestions.

Enjoy and review

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Chapter 2: Not willing to live without you

I'm really scared. Since we left the house she has not said a single word. She's just leaning on the window staring at the scenery. And let me tell you, there's nothing special about the trip back to our apartment. I know she's angry, but she's never this closed mouthed, especially around me. I wish I knew what to say to break her out of this silence.

When we pulled in front of our apartment building about a half hour after the huge blow out, I didn't think she even realized we were home. But, as I grabbed our things from the trunk, I saw that Casey made her way out of the car and towards the building. Following her, I felt like a lost puppy with my tail between my legs. I wanted to say something, to apologize for my father's and her mother's actions, but I didn't know what to say. I just wish she was acting like herself.

I didn't even lock the door to the apartment before Casey pounced on me. I knew what she was doing. She was taking out her stress and anger on me. And although I didn't mind during finals, I wasn't going to let her avoid the matter at hand like it was some stupid test. I was going to make her talk to me no matter how much my body wanted to give in.

Reluctantly pulling my lips away from hers, I tried to look in her eyes, but she attached her mouth to my neck. She knew what I was doing and I knew she wasn't going down without a fight.

Trying to suppress the moans that were building in the back of my throat, I said "Casey, as much as I would love for you to take out your frustrations on me, you know we have to talk about this." All I got as a response was teeth grazing the flesh of my neck.

"What is angry sex going to solve Casey?" She bit me harder. "Do you plan on calling your mom while we do it? Is that what you want, you want to make her even more mad at us?"

My eyes closed as her mouth started to move higher. I tried to push her towards the couch, but she grabbed me and I fell with her. Straddling me, she moved her lips to my ear. I hate how she knows my weakness. I didn't want to resort to this, but I had to get her to feel, not in the way she was trying to.

"I think they were right Case, maybe this is wrong." Casey stilled in my lap. It was a low blow and I'm not happy I had to take it. But Casey scares me when she doesn't show emotion. I fell in love with such a lively spirit that whenever she bottles herself up I die a little inside.

I honestly didn't mean to do what I did. I knew she wanted to keep us a secret, but I couldn't help myself. That jerk placed an arm around her in the hallway today. Did she honestly expect me to keep my cool? So, being the person I am, I beat the crap out of him. When asked why by the principal, in front of the growing crowd, I said the first thing that came to my mind, 'Because he put his hands on my woman!' I never said I was a quick thinker.

If the school day wasn't already over, I'm pretty sure that Casey would have ditched for the first time in her life. She became extremely red and ran out of the school doors. If I wasn't being hauled off towards the principal's office for my punishment, I would have run after her.

So when I finally got home, I went straight to my room to find a very angry Casey sitting on my bed. Making her way over to me, she got right up in my face.

"How could you?"

"I wasn't thinking."

Moving closer, I could see that she was crying earlier. I wanted to hold her, but I knew she would have only gotten angrier. "That's the understatement of the year Derek!"

"What do you want me to do? I can't exactly take it back. Did you want me to just stand by when you are groped by some guy? Do you want me to not care? What the hell is your problem?"

"You are my problem. I can't believe you would do something like that. I hate you!" Casey screamed, merely inches away from my face.

"Yeah, well I'm not too fond of you either princess." I knew she hated that nickname, but come on, she said she hated me. It wasn't like I wasn't going to respond.

The next thing I knew I was laying on the floor with Casey straddling my waist. She was pounding her fists against my chest and I would be lying if I said it wasn't hurting. I tried to grab her wrists, but she was moving too fast, flailing all over the place. I couldn't remember her tackling me to the ground.

I finally gained control, flipped her over and held her hands above her head. She tried to squirm her way out from under me, but it was a losing battle. Finally giving up, she glared at me while her chest was heaving, trying to regain her breath. I was glad our parents weren't home, because it was a very compromising position for us to be in.

"Why do you do this to me?" she gritted between her teeth.

"I only give you what you ask for." She really didn't ask for anything, it was my own fault and I knew it.

"I didn't ask for you to say anything. I didn't ask for you to tell the whole school. I didn't ask for you to make me feel like a piece of meat. You don't own me Derek." Although her voice still had traces of anger, I could see her eyes soften.

So, I did a very un-me like thing. "I know Case. I'm really sorry." And what surprised me was that I meant it. I didn't want to upset Casey. I didn't to jeopardize what we have by informing the world. I was truly sorry for probably messing up the best thing to ever happen to me.

I noticed her expression change. I guess my sudden apology surprised her as well. Her features softened and I saw the tears build up in her eyes. When the first one fell, I let go of her hand and wiped it away. My hand lingered, caressing her cheek while trying to stop the tears from falling.

"Please don't cry. I'll tell everyone I lied. I'll say I saw him with someone else. I don't want to lose you." Hearing the words leave my lips I realized that was my greatest fear.

Casey's wide eyes held so many questions, but only one left her lips. "Why do you think you would lose me?"

Sighing, I looked away. I didn't want to say it; I didn't want to chance her not feeling the same. Letting out the air from my lungs, I looked down into her eyes. I couldn't lie. "Because you're perfect and I'm a complete screw up. If I can keep all other guys away than you won't compare me to them and one day leave me." Gulping, I knew she was waiting for more. I bet she saw it in my eyes, because she looked like she wasn't going to say something until I continued. "I love you Casey MacDonald."

A small smile crept its way onto her face and I thought that she was about to laugh in my face. Closing my eyes, I prepared myself for heart break, but I felt something else entirely. I felt Casey kiss me. After the small kiss, she laid her head back on the floor and said "You are not a screw up . . . and I love you too." That was the first time we said it to each other, but it definitely wouldn't be the last.

I felt like she was moving in slow motion. It felt like it took her hours to pull away from me and look into my eyes. Seeing the look on her face, I winced. You know that saying, 'Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned,' well I think they were picturing Casey when that was uttered. I feared for my life.

I pulled her in to a tight hug. It was supposed to show that I didn't mean it, that I was sorry and I take it back; but in all honestly, I was afraid of what she would do if her arms were free to move.

Burying my head in the crook of her neck, I kissed her softly and murmured into her ear. "I didn't mean it. I love you, you know that. Please don't be mad at me. It's not wrong."

I felt her begin to shake, I really didn't want her to cry, but I knew she needed to get it out. I loosened the grip I had on her and began to rub her back, hoping the motion would soothe her.

"What if they were right though? What if it is wrong? We are stepsiblings."

I pulled her away from me so that I could look her in the eye. "Don't you dare say that. We agreed years ago that we could never be siblings. Don't just say it now like it is true. You are the love of my life, not my sister. It's not our fault that they married before we met."

Casey slumped against my chest, leaning her head on my chest. "Why don't they want us to be happy? No one else cares, why do they have to?"

My hand began to unconsciously play with her hair while my other hand still rubbed her back. I had no idea why my dad and Nora would be so angry. It wasn't like us getting together would affect their marriage. I am so happy with Casey, why couldn't they just let us be?

"I don't know Casey. I wish I did, but I don't." I know that I would be missing a piece of me if Casey was not in my life, but I know she wanted her mother's approval and support. "Do you want to stop? Do you just want to wait for them to come around?"

I couldn't breathe the entire time that Casey sat quiet. I would have thought she fell asleep if I didn't feel her fingers trace shapes on my chest. I finally felt her shake her head and I released the breath I was holding on to.

"No. I don't want to wait around forever for something that may never happen. And I can't live without you."

Wrapping my arms around her tightly again, I held her for a few minutes. Then it finally dawned on me what had happened before the argument that day. Casey MacDonald said yes to my marriage proposal. Actually, she said yes to a box, but it was still a yes.

"So . . . do you want to do something that will cheer you up?"

Pushing herself off to look at me she raised an eyebrow. "What, now you want to do that? Not before when I was throwing myself at you?"

Grabbing her left hand, I played with the ring on her finger. "Get your head out of the gutter MacDonald. I was going to ask if you wanted to discuss our wedding." Her eyebrow lowered and her lips curled into a big smile as she looked over at her ring. I couldn't help myself though, "But if you want to, I have no objections." I got a throw pillow thrown in my face for that.