Sweet Home Ontario
Disclaimer: I don't own LwD or SHA
AN: Inspired by Sweet Home Alabama (2002). Enjoy! Spoilers for the movie ahead!
Saturday, August 18th, 2018…
DPOV
Derek was up bright and early the next morning. He had a lot on his mind and couldn't sleep. More importantly, he had to find his wife and inquire about his beloved couch and flat screen TV.
"What did you do to my house, McDonald ?" He yelled, storming into his family home early that morning. The front door slamming behind him adding to the dramatic effect.
It was strange how even after they were married he still called her McDonald. Sometimes when she was being cute she'd flash a smile and correct him. "That's Mrs. Venturi to you, asshole!" Yeah, she had a lot gotten quite the dirty mouth after marrying him.
Their parents, Casey, and Marti who were in the kitchen in the midst of breakfast all froze and looked up shocked and confused by his sudden outburst. Oddly enough the scene felt like a flashback to their teenage years. Sans the unresolved sexual tension from those angsty times.
Casey, in particular, was looking a little worse for wear, nursing a black coffee an obvious hangover. "What?" She asked, her voice almost a whisper. She must have really been feeling it. Derek did not pity her.
"Where's all my stuff, Casey?" He asked again, now standing across the counter from her aggravated, arms crossed over his chest.
"Derek-" George started, clearly trying to bring the early morning hostility down.
Arguing between the pair was far from new to the family. George and Nora were use to Derek and Casey's antics. Normally they just ignored the pair till they figured it out on their own- which they normally did. But this time… the first time Casey was back since she left for New York; this time was different. The air was tense. There was no humor or pranks lingering in the background. Derek was angry. And Casey wasn't laughing.
Derek glared at his father who didn't understand the situation. George seemed to get the message putting his hands up in surrender. "Alright alright," he mumbled.
It took a second for the pin to drop but eventually, Casey understood what Derek was going on about. "Oh. That." Casey finally said. "In hindsight, not my best decision," she admitted with a lopsided smile as if that would make it all better. After years of being married to Derek, she had clearly picked up a thing or two.
Normally Derek would feel proud of being on the receiving end of one of Casey's GOOD pranks. But with their new dynamic- not so much. "Gee, you think?" he asked rolling his eyes.
"Guys... what's going on?" Nora finally asked the pair gently.
"Casey, would you like the share with the class?" Derek asked sarcastically.
"Well. I thought our house needed a little makeover, " she shrugged like it was no big deal. "I redecorated."
"Our house? You mean MY house?" The nerve of her! First, she wants a divorce, then she wants the house. Who could keep up?
"Our house. My names still on it, right? Just like my name is still on our bank account." she smiled all matter of fact like taking a sip of her coffee letting her comment marinate in the air.
"Casey…" he trailed off, pinching the bridge of his nose. He finally understood. She had gone to the bank and taken out all his money out of their joint banking account… sounded exactly like something his wife would do.
"Where did all that money come from Derek?" she asked with a pointed look.
He knew she was suggesting something dirty and illegal, but he didn't give in. Derek looked around the room, making sure no one answered that question even though everyone but Casey seemed to know. "Why do you even care?" he breathed out annoyed. He was deflated. Nothing left. She had always been a little off but New York had sent her over the edge. She was full on mental now.
"I-I don't." she stumbled with her words, straightening up in her seat. "I just want you to sign the papers Der," she admitted.
"I wish you would have stayed in New York," was the last thing he said before storming out to clear his head. Unfortunately, he meant it.
Later on that day...
CPOV
Casey hated being home. She hated the fact that she had to come so far to get Derek to do a simple task. Sign his name on a piece of paper. How hard was it? It's not like he wanted to be married to her any longer. He was only doing it out of spite.
The silver lining of the whole thing was going home and seeing her family. They have always been a wild bunch but she had missed them. That much she knew. But being home brought back too many memories. Memories she didn't need anymore.
Derek had left her car at the bar when he had taken her home, so she didn't have much of an option but to hang out with her family or stay home. Honestly, she didn't want to go out. She wasn't sure what she had said or done at the bar the night before. But she knew she couldn't just stay at home all day thinking about it.
On that particular Saturday afternoon, there wasn't much to do in Ontario besides go to the end of summer carnival near her old high school. Her whole family was going; sans Derek of course. Apparently, he had to work but she knew he was really avoiding her.
Casey watched as Ed stepped in for Derek and won Marti some prize at the carnival game. Marti may have been a cool teenager now but still loved the prizes just the same. She carried around that massive panda the whole afternoon with pride. Although it was supposed to be a feel-good family day, Casey felt wrong. She had been gone for a while and missed a lot. Ed had really grown and was beginning to look like a man. Her sister has been chasing her passion which fueled her every move. Even Marti was a little different. Her siblings had started to become a different version of themselves and she was missing most of it.
Casey was looking around when she spotted a familiar face that brought a smile to her lips. Sam. He always managed to make her nostalgic of simpler times.
"Hey, you!" He smiled pulling her into a bear hug she didn't know she needed. She relaxed into him suddenly feeling at ease. She hadn't felt that since the minute she left New York.
"Feeling alright? I heard you closed down the bar last night!" he teased with a big smile.
Everyone knew she couldn't hold her alcohol "I've seen better days," she admitted with a chuckle. The hangover was pretty bad. She hadn't been that drunk in a long time. Plus Derek was normally by her side, helping her recover the next day. But that was a thing of the past.
"Want to talk? Grab a table? I'll go get some beers?" He suggested.
She nodded, letting the kids know and made her way towards the picnic area where families sat to eat their delicious carnival food. Sam returned with two beers. They cheered. And even though she was already hungover- hair of the dog and all, she took a cautious sip.
"So, what's going on with you Case?" He asked, his tone shifting. She could always confide in Sam. He just made it so easy to talk. Unlike his best friend...
"Nothing," she lied. So many things were going on. So many things gone wrong. And every time she tried to fix one problem, she'd end up with two more. She just wanted to finalize the divorce and go back to New York. She had a life there now.
"Listen, I know Derek's giving you a hard time. But what else is new?" Even after marriage Derek and Casey stayed at each other's throats. The fights just ended better. Until she never came back of course.
"Yeah yeah, go ahead. Defend him like you always do!" Sams only flaw was his blind loyalty. Which really was one of his best traits. A double edged sword for Casey when it came to Derek
"I'm not defending him. I'm just saying… you never came back, Casey." He stopped for a second. Maybe Derek wasn't the only who she had hurt. "He went to New York you know," Sam admitted, taking a few gulps of the beer in front of him.
Somehow she knew it was something that was supposed to be a secret. Derek would kill Sam if he knew. "When?" She asked softly surprised to hear this new one had ever mentioned that.
When she went to New York, she'd call Derek every day. But then calls started getting shorter and far and few in between. She started ignoring his calls not to be reminded of home. But never in there did he mention coming to visit her.
"About 6 month in," Sam supplied running his hands through his hair. "You had stopped calling and he was worried." He stopped for a second "With good reason, clearly," he chuckled at the irony.
Casey frowned. "He didn't say anything. I didn't see him..." she wondered for a second if that would have changed anything. If that would have fixed them, saved their relationship... Made her bounce back to reality. Derek had a habit of stealing all the attention in the room. One look at him would have had her on the next flight home. She knew it.
Sam shook his head. "You didn't have to. He saw you. And came back home."
"Why?"
Sam was quiet for a while. Probably regretting how much he had shared. He sighed heavily. "He thought you deserved the stars. He's been working hard to get them for you. "
Casey found that very hard to believe. "No way. If Derek wanted me back he would have said something. Done something!" She argued. He was never the type to be placement. She thought staying had been the best option since Derek never asked her to come back. He made it easier to stay.
"He has Casey. He's done a lot. He just doesn't think you'd want him back. Not after New York."
Casey was so confused. "I don't get it Sam. What's the big deal? What did he do?"
Sam chuckled softly taking a sip of his beer. "I've been sworn to secrecy. Everyone has."
"Everyone?" She asked doubtfully.
He nodded. "Just google him." Was all he said with a smirk.
Casey huffed. "What am I gonna find?!" What could Derek possibly do to make headlines?
Sam shrugged, getting up from his seat. "See you around Case." And with that, he was gone into the sea of people at the carnival.
Casey fished her phone out her pocket immediately on the hunt for some new information.
Sunday, August 19th, 2018…CPOV
That following day Casey spent some much needed time with her family. They spent the day watching trash movies and eating Nora's food. And then, when Casey finally felt up for it, she drove the familiar road that led to her and Derek's home. She knew he didn't want to see her, but she had some things to talk to him about.
She found the information she assumed Sam wanted her to find. But it was hard to tell. She didn't care about Derek's job. Not in a bad way but in a "it doesn't make a difference to me what you do" kind of way. Yeah money was tight for most of their marriage, but it was mostly because they were young, college was expensive, and hey we're living on their own. She didn't care what he did as long as they were staying afloat. So was Derek's new job the big secret? Because she was clearly missing something.
"I know I'm public enemy number one, but I come in peace," she promised, waving an invisible white flag. She had found him shirtless sitting on the porch steps smoking a cigarette reading something. He was beautiful, always had been. It made it hard for her to look at him sometimes.
He cocked an eyebrow at her but said nothing, eyes returning to the words in front of him.
"I'm just here to apologize. Your stuff will be back tomorrow, I promise. All the money will return to your bank account," she swore.
He nodded once. "Thanks," was all he said.
Clearly, he wasn't in the mood, but Casey wanted to talk, so she lingered. "Your smoking again…" she noted gently as to not judge but simply observe. She couldn't say much because they both use to smoke.
"Happens when I'm stressed," he shrugged.
She knew she was the reason behind his stress. "I forgot how pretty it is at night…" she muttered to herself making her way towards him, taking a seat on the bottom steps as she admired the view in front of them. The stars poking out from behind the lingering clouds; sparkling against the trees. It was beautiful. They use to spend hours out there when it was warm enough. On the front porch drinking or dancing and most nights a combination of the two. Those were their glory days.
He said nothing and ignored her. It wasn't often that Derek gave her the silent treatment. That just wasn't their way. They would scream and fight like the best of them. And makeup even harder.
"Can I?" She asked hand reaching out towards the lit cigarette between his fingers.
DPOV
Derek raised an eyebrow but passed her the cigarette anyway. He sighed putting his script down, knowing she had won and they would talk. He watched as she put it against her lips, inhaling slowly. He could tell that it had been a while since she had smoked. He watched her savor the nicotine.
Music from his record player drifted out the open front door from the living room, adding background music to the chill summer night. Casey turned to him and they stared at each other for a while. At that moment he saw her the girl he fell in love with. The girl he would do anything for. She was there. Inside it all. She was still there. Suddenly a smile lit up her face and he swore that just for a minute they were back to the beginning.
"Dance with me," she said, putting the cigarette out on the floor, getting up and holding her hands out to him.
They used to that. Her love of dance never died. He always gave in. Why not dance with the love of your life underneath the moonlight? "Casey-" he started to argue with her. It wasn't a good idea. They were different people, no longer that couple who did things like that.
"Come on. A parting gift? For old time sake." She bargained swaying her hips to the rhythm. Always a dancer.
He sighed knowing she'd win. She always wins. Slowly he got up, going down the few steps, letting his bare feet touch the ground beneath him. He wanted to remind himself that he was awake... this wasn't a dream; that at the end of it she'd be leaving.
He reached out his hands towards her, easily pulling her into his bare chest. Fire followed her fingertips trailing up his naked arms and around his neck. He sighed feeling her chest pressed up against his. Her heartbeat was suddenly so close to him. He closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around her waist as they swayed under the stars. The universe had a cruel sense of humor. He hated himself for allowing her to be that close again. It would probably always feel that way…. Touching Casey. And It would probably always hurt. He didn't think the weekend would end like that.
"Der," she muttered into his neck.
He tried not to shiver, but her breath tickled against his skin. "Hmm?" He asked staring at the stars wishing for a better life. A different alternative. In a land far far away there's a Derek that never met Casey McDonald. And a Derek who lived happily ever after with her. And a Derek who moved on from the heartbreak that is Casey McDonalds. He wasn't sure which version he would become.
"Did you really go to New York?" She asked softly pulling away just enough to look into his eyes. She has learned to read him. Read his lies and his truth. And he hated her for it. He felt so vulnerable.
He sighed closing his eyes tightly. He knew he had to tell her "Who told you?"
"Doesn't matter. " she countered easily. "Answer the question."
"Yeah, I went."
She was quiet again, melting back into his embrace while they danced. "Would we have ever worked?" She asked after a while. Her voice so low he wasn't sure if she meant to say it out loud or not. Was the question meant for him or for her own thoughts?
He figured he would answer her anyway. "I'd fight the devil for you, Casey McDonald." He sighed, letting his arms fall from her body, once again needed space from her. "But you left me with nothing to fight for," he added, leaning against the porch railing.
"I never meant to hurt you Der." He believed her, but life would be so much easier if he hadn't. "I loved you. With my whole heart! But I needed to learn to love myself first. We got married so young. I didn't know who I was without you. And when the opportunity came up to dance to find me… I took it. I just didn't expect what came after," she explained for the first time.
He nodded, he didn't need to hear any more. He headed inside and half expected her to follow him, but she didn't. When he came back outside she was leaning on the side of her car, getting ready to leave. There was really nothing left to be said. He pushed the yellow envelope into her hand. He had already signed it, knowing there was no way out of the situation.
"Goodbye Princess," he said, pressing his lips to her forehead. "Maybe this time you'll find your happily ever after." He mumbled kicking himself for giving up. But it was the right thing to do. He knew it. He wanted to be the Derek that survived Casey McDonald. And letting her go was the first step.
"Thanks, Der," she whispered, tears filling her eyes.
Derek was confused. Why was she sad? She got what she wanted. And although goodbyes are sad, she had said goodbye to him two years ago. This was his goodbye, his moment. But he didn't say a word. He closed her car door behind her like a gentleman and watched as she pulled out his driveway.
And just like that, she was gone for good...
An: Quick thing: I wasn't ready for all the love. Thought the fandom had died? Hi, hello! Glad to see you all alive and thriving. This was meant to be a snap shot that became a short story. Hope I keep in the highlights from the movie that you enjoyed.