LA Kings

Disclaimer: I don't own LwD

AN: Its been a while… 3 years? I would start writing, then lose the chapter, start over and lose it again.
BUT! Here we go. Lets try to finish this thing! Cause I've been ITCHING at the idea that I had uncompleted work. I hate uncompleted work! Might want to reread chapter 1 since it's been a while!

LA Kings:

Chapter 2

He booked her a flight to California. He didn't ask if she was free, he knew she was. Or well, he assumed she was, based on the vacancy on her calendar and the note stating that the office would be closed. He figured that the long uneventful weekend gave him enough of a reason to go for it. And so he went for it. He didn't ask, and well maybe he should have. But that just wasn't his style.

Hours later she sent him a text. So, LA for the weekend? was all it read.

She must have received the confirmation email. He bit his lip unsure of her tone. I mean...Why not? He replied.

And that was that.

The days between booking her flight and her arrival were brutal. It was nice to have a smaller countdown. He had been expecting to see her in late October when his entire family was flying out to watch him play against the Leafs. But even so, the countdown was hard. The days dragged on slowly and he couldn't hide the anticipation very well. Who would have known that Derek would be so excited to see Casey? Certainly not teenager Derek that's for sure.

When the day finally arrived, it killed him that he couldn't be there to pick her up at the airport because he was stuck at practice at the time her plane landed. But that was ok. He sent a car to pick her up and drop her off at his place.

He knew she'd love his apartment. She had said so when he gave her the grand tour when he had just moved in. Derek didn't care for it. It was big and lonely. But Casey appreciates the details of his new home.

It was hard to keep his head in the right place when all he wanted to do was run home. His coach called him out a few times when he missed the puck or got slammed into the board. "Sorry," he muttered, not sorry at all.

When practice got dismissed Derek was the first one off the ice and into the locker room. He almost debated not showering for the sake of time. He just wanted to get to her. But Casey did not deserve a sweaty post-practice, Derek. Reluctantly he quickly showered.

When he reached his locker his phone was in his hands in seconds. He had to make sure that she had landed and was finally there.

Landed!

Honey, I'm home! The second text read, attached with a picture of her in his living room.

Derek could not hide the smile and the warmth that spread over him. Quickly he dressed and ran out.

He was a wreck driving home knowing she'd be there this time. He'd fly home if he could. His heart was racing. see, before California, he never had to experienced missing Casey. She was always there. A wall away. A dorm away. Always so close. But this was different.

He never really considered the moment when they would finally reunite. He kind of froze when he walked in and saw her, her back facing him as she stirred a pot on the stove.

The smell of garlic and oregano greeted him right after. What was she cooking? He wasn't sure but it smelled amazing. She must not have heard him because her back was to him when he walked in. He tipped toed into the kitchen, leaning back onto the counter behind him.

"Hey," he breathed out.

Watching her jump out of her skin with fear- well it just took him back to their high school/college days that felt so long ago.

Quickly her fear was replaced by a smile stretching across her face. Who knew her stepbrother could cause that kind of smile. "Der," she squealed, jumping into his arms. He smirked, catching her easily, lifting her feet off the ground, and she followed suit by wrapping her legs around him easily.

They stayed that way for a while, Casey's face hidden in the nook of his neck. Suddenly he was very thankful he had showered. He rubbed her back for a while, swaying them back and forth. He didn't want to move an inch, but at some point, he felt her tears against his skin. He sighed, spinning them around, placing her on the counter now in front of him.

"Princess?" He cooed, trying to get him to look at him.

Reluctantly she pulled away, looking up at him with sad teary eyes. "Sorry," she muttered whipping her tears away embarrassed.

"It's fine," he whispered, whipping her eyes as well. She was beautiful. So fucking beautiful it hurt. How had he taken so long to see it?

They stared at each other for what felt like hours. Finally, when she seemed calmer he cupped her face and slowly leaned in, giving her the space to pull away. But she didn't. Her eyes fluttered closed and she met him halfway.

It wasn't their first kiss, but it sure felt special. Their first kiss had been at Queens their freshman year. And soon after they experienced many firsts together. But nothing concrete ever came from it.

She pulled away first. "Hey," she spoke softly.

"Hey."

"Hungry?" she asked looking towards the forgotten pot on the stove.

"Starving."

After dinner, they took a bottle of wine into the living room. Casey wanted to watch The Bachelor. He didn't mind at all because he got to lay his head on her lap while she played with his hair. It was a thing they did often, so he didn't care what on tv knowing he'd fallen sleep on top of her.

Caseys phone chimed, waking Derek from his limbo state of relaxation. Instinctively he reached his arm out to pick it up off of the coffee table in front of him.

"Leave it," she said, brushing it off as unimportant.

But it was too late. "Matt misses you," he spoke, reading the text off the screen instantly. He heard the words come out of his mouth and his heart dropped when he realized what he had said.

Silence washed over them as for a beat.

"It's nothing Der," she tried to reason with him.

He nodded, putting the phone back where it came from. He didn't like the feeling of jealousy. It's not something he felt often. But deep down he knew it would happen at some point. Casey was beautiful, of course, she had men after her. "I didn't know you were dating," was all he said after a minute.

"I'm not." She sighed "He's just a guy Der." she explained again. "As if I had time to date anyone when I spend every waking moment talking to you!" She teased pulling his hair just a little bit to make him look up at her.

"Yeah yeah," he grumbled but knew it had to be true. "Rubs" he demanded getting comfortable in his position again.

Casey rolled her eyes but obliged.

Another thing Derek didn't consider was the sleeping arrangements. He was so excited about Casey's arrival he didn't think about anything else. He didn't plan anything for them to do or what they would eat. He didn't think of where she'd sleep. But it was time for bed, and he was in a predicament. See, he didn't want to make it seem like he flew her out to LA for a booty call because no, that's not what that was. In fact, the thought hadn't crossed his mind at all. It wouldn't be the first time between the pair, but still, it was not an expectation. He could offer the guest bedroom. That's what it was there for after all, for his guests. Or he could offer up his own bed, which he had tested and known was unbelievably comfortable.

Essentially he didn't want to make Casey uncomfortable.

But when Casey headed into the shower, and he strolled into his bedroom he noticed her things in there. He figured he would give her some options before assuming they were sleeping together.

When she finally strolled back into his bedroom she wore one of his t-shirts. It hit high on her thigh, and he didn't allow himself to consider what laid beneath it because that was not on the agenda.

"Whatcha doing?" she asked, towel drying her damp hair, climbing up into bed next to him.

She smelled like him; she must have used his body wash, even though he had purposely gotten her some of her favorite options.

"Keeping my social media 'active.'" he frowned with air quotes. It was something his manager had him do to keep up engagement and earn some brownie points with fans. He was still a rookie so didn't have many "fans" but most on Ontario did follow his every move. He always made sure to reply to the familiar faces.

"Hey," he started, changing the subject. "Did you want to take my room? Or the guest room? Or…" He trailed off, unsure what other option he could give her that didn't include sleeping with him.

She was looking at him like he was crazy. "What are you talking about?"

"I just-" he started, but closed his mouth. Since when was he nervous or tongue-tied around Casey? "I just don't want you to be uncomfortable," he finished.

"I'm very comfortable right here, thanks!" she assures him with a smile.

"Case I-I don't want you to think-" he tried to explain to the beautiful women next to him. But suddenly he felt defeated.

"I don't." she finished, guessing where he was going with the statement.

He sighed, tired. "Alright," he agreed, plugging his phone into the charger and turning off the lamp beside him.

"Get some rest princess, I'm sure you're tired." He said with a smile and a kiss on her forehead.

"I'm not tired," she pouted as if she wasn't already 3 hours behind her normal sleep schedule, and jet-lagged.

He didn't believe her for a second. "Oh yeah? Well, I'm exhausted. What do you suggest we do?" he asked innocently.

"Oh, I have some ideas," she smirked, swinging a leg over his hip, suddenly straddling the hockey player.

"Case," he warned her.

"I haven't seen you in months Der," she pouted, taking his hand and putting them on her bare hips underneath the shirt. He easily confirmed that she wore nothing else. He groaned unsure how long he could keep rejecting her. His hands felt at home touching her skin. His thumb brushing against the soft skin easily, memories flooding his mind.

"Besides, who knows how long it's been since we-"

"Three months," he supplied, far too quickly. Not that he was counting or anything! But yes it had been three months for them. He coughed, embarrassed. "It's been three months," he repeated.

Casey looked down at him with a smile, nails drawing circles across his bare chest. She must have loved his reaction. But something must have dawned on her because quickly she pulled her hands away from his chest.

"Whats wrong?" He asked, almost panicking.

"Is there a girl? Is that why you don't want me in here?" she asked softly, feeling rejected.

"Yeah," he replied instantly, flipping them over with ease. He had already given into her gravitational pull. "There is definitely a girl. With legs you couldn't believe," he smirked, running his fingertips over her dancer's legs. She felt like silk to him.

She tried her best not to giggle but it tickled. She threw her arms around his neck.

"What a woman," she replied, the familiar twinkle returning to her eye.

"You have no idea," was the last thing he said before his lips meet her neck, and she melted beneath him.

He may have still been in California but suddenly he was home again.

The following morning he woke up tangled up around a beautiful naked woman. He had no intentions of waking her, but since he was skipping his workout with his trainer to spend more time with her, the least he could do was go on his morning run. But getting out of bed without waking her was impossible.

He was halfway out of bed when she noticed him.

"Where you going?" she asked, her voice muffled by the pillow.

He couldn't help but smile. "Morning run. Get some rest. I'll be back before you know it," he promised kissing he temple and swung his legs off the bed.

"Five more minutes," she negotiated, pulling him back.

"Casey-" he tried to argue.

"Five minutes," she repeated, looking up at him with her sleepy eyes.

He sighed giving in. He always gave into her. He figured in five minutes she'd be asleep enough for him to sneak out. But when five minutes were up and he moved an inch away from her, she flung the covers off her body and swung her legs out of bed before Derek got a chance to say a word.

"Morning," she mumbled, stretching.

Derek didn't say a word. He couldn't help but stare. Seeing Casey ln the daylight, streaks of sunshine coating her naked body; it was something he could get used to.

"Coming?" She asked confused making her way towards the door.

"Yeah," he finally replied, shaking her head clear.

"Come on. Morning run!" she cheered, headed into the bathroom.

It was beautiful out, especially for it to be October. Derek's apartment wasn't far from the boardwalk. If we weren't going to have snow he was going to have sand. He loved his morning run along the boardwalk. It was still early. Barely 8 by the time they started running so it was mostly empty. He soaked in the sunshine but he couldn't concentrate on anything but Casey. He knew she had her own physical abilities. Pilates, yoga, and cardio. But watched her keep up with his stride was impressive. He couldn't help but smile at his own thoughts.

At the end of their run back Derek got them healthy green smoothies from his favorite place. "You're so LA!" Casey teased

He shrugged, taking the insult. "Whatever it takes to get me home again," he shrugged. And he meant it.

She sighed turning to towards the beautiful beach in front of them that was slowly starting to fill up. "I don't get it Der...I know you want to play for the Leafs…. But you have a really good thing here. Why would you want to leave this? Why be in the neverending Canadian snow? Is it a pride thing?" she asked, clearly confused.

He smirked. She had no clue. Although it started with a hurt ego, he wanted to be home to be close to her. Clearly, the thought hadn't crossed her mind and he wasn't going to bring it up. Although his feelings for Casey and evolved throughout the years, hers may not have and he wasn't ready to face that. "I have my reasons," was all he said. "Come on, last one home makes pancakes!"

She rolled her eyes be followed close behind.

The weekend flew by quickly. He is surprised to hear that she didn't want to explore LA. Instead, she spent her days relaxing while Derek was at work. She got her nails done and finished a book, that kinda thing. And every day when he'd come home from work he'd find dinner ready and smiling Casey. He had no complaints.

Keeping his hands off her was out of the question. She broke the seal that first night, there was no way he could go back. Not after getting a taste.

And Casey didn't hold back either. The team was interested in counting just how many scratches Venturi actually had on him. Then there were the bit marks and the hickies. Yeah, Casey did a number on him. And he didn't dare stop her. He'd take the teasing from his team any day.

"Who knew," Johnson spoke in the locker after looking at Derek's battle wounds.

"Why are you guys so surprised?!" He huffed annoyed.

"Because you've been a saint ever since you got here. Cant even get you out the gym long enough to get a drink. And then suddenly you come to practice looking like… that!" Smith argued.

Derek rolled his eyes, pulling his shirt on. "I told you, there's a girl. I'm not trying to mess anything up."

"Yeah yeah. Must be one hell of women."

Derek smirked pulling up his shirt to expose the scratches again. "I'd say so," was all he said before flying out of the locker room to find the women in question.

"You sure you don't want to go out to dinner or something?" Derek asked the women laying on his chest.

"Nah, I'm tired," she mumbled against his skin, sleepily.

"I feel like you didn't get to do much cause I've been at practice. " he sighed, feeling guilty. It was her last night after all.

Her head popped up. "It's fine! I'll be back in 2 weeks! Well, explore the city with the family for your big game."

"And you know, I have a game in New York next month... its a shorter flight. If you wanted to spend the weekend in the city."

Casey smiled down at him. "I haven't even left yet and your lining up our next two visits?"

Derek flushed. Maybe he was being a little too eager. "Just an idea, " he replied with a shrug.

"I'll be there," she said before kissing him again.

AN: I'm a terrible human being. Im sorry. This story hasn't been updated since June 2015, and yet you're still reading this?! HOW?! Anyway, here we go. I'm hoping to finish this thing. It's been haunting me. I'm a terrible writing now a day, but I felt like I owed it to this story to finish it the way its been in my head for so many years.

PS. Not sure if you saw but Mike/Ash teased possibly doing a podcast where they read Dasey fanfiction and my heart CANNOT COPE!