Not Just a Dark Lord

Chapter Two

Derek smiled as he looked around his apartment. Tali was cooking in the kitchen with Julia and the two were laughing and smiling. Tom and Sam were sitting on one of the couches talking which just left Karen who was sitting to his right at the breakfast bar.

"Darling, would like an actual tour of this fine establishment?" Derek asked with a smile. Karen turned to look at him and smiled.

"That would be great," Karen said with a smile as she followed Derek down the hallway opposite the stairs. Derek opened a door which had its own little hallway.

"So that room there is my office and then we have the laundry and we have a bathroom in this little hallway," Derek said pointing to each room. Karen smiled with a nod of her head. Derek then lead her back towards the living area and then up the stairs.

Karen stopped when she saw pictures on the wall all varying in time. They were mainly of Tali and Derek together or just Tali but Karen stopped when she saw the one on the end. It was a picture of a young Derek, a very young Tali and a women who Karen assumed was Isobel.

"She was beautiful," Karen said as she turned to look at Derek who was standing behind her. Derek looked at the photo and nodded his head.

"That was taken on Tali's fourth birthday. Three weeks before she was diagnosed with the brain tumour," Derek said as he reached out to straighten the photo.

"I can't imagine how hard it must have been for you going through all of that Derek," Karen said as she placed a hand on his arm. Derek gave her a small smile.

"It was harder than anything I have ever had to do but it also helped me to move on with my life. I had to think about Tali and do what was best for her so I guess in a way, it also helped me to grow up," Derek said with a sigh. The two started to walk down the hallway again slowly.

"From what I have seen of Tali, she seems like a really incredible girl. You've done something right there," Karen said with a smile. Derek smiled in return.

"She's a great kid but I have Julia and Tom to thank for most of that. They've gotten rid of all the bad habits I gave her," Derek said with a smile. "So anyway, that is my room down the end of the corridor and then we have the guest bedroom and guest bathroom. Then the lounge area and then another guest bedroom and bathroom and down the end there, is Tali's room as you could probably tell by the purple letters that spell out MATALIA," Derek said with a smile.

"Oh really? I thought it may have been your room," Karen said with a smirk. Derek smiled before chuckling. Derek looked at Karen and couldn't but think about just how beautiful she was. Looking at Derek, Karen couldn't help but think about just how different Derek was when he was with his daughter. They both began to lean in until…

"DINNER IS READY!"

"We should probably go," Karen said as she signed to where Tali's shout had come from. Derek looked down before nodding his head and the pair headed downstairs.

SMASH

By 10pm everyone had eaten and said their goodbyes leaving just Tali and Derek. Tali was lying on the couch as Derek put all the plates into the dishwasher. After he was done he walked into the lounge before lifting Tali's head and sitting down so it was resting in his lap.

"So Karen huh?" Tali asked with a crooked grin. Derek smiled before laughing slightly. Trust Tali to see through everything he thought he had put in place.

"Tali," Derek said with a sigh looking down at his daughter.

"Dad, I know you like her!" Tali said with a smile.

"I do but there is nothing I can do about it because she has a boyfriend," Derek said with a sigh. Tali rolled her eyes.

"Dad, don't take this the wrong way but, that's never stopped you before," Tali said as she turned so she could look at her dad better.

"Yeah but Karen is different. She's not like the rest," Derek said with a smile. "She's different."

"You really are smitten with her dad!" Tali said with an excited smile. Derek rolled his eyes with a smile.

"So anyway, how was London?" Derek asked before smiling at the grin that spread across Tali's face.

"London was AMAZING! The dancers that were there and the chorographers, they were all amazing and they said that I had amazing talent and that I still had a bright future!" Tali said with a smile as she was remembering everything that they had said to her in London. "And, I got to see Aunt Grace and Elise, who still refuses to be called grandma!" Tali said with a smile. "They want us to visit more."

"Well, they can visit us as well!" Derek said with a small smile. Tali nodded her head.

"I told them that. They're going to come soon. See the new musical and they wanna see me dance so, they're gonna come soon," Tali said with a yawn. Derek smiled before stroking her hair as she fell asleep. Derek smiled before kissing the top of her head and carrying her up the stairs and tucking her in. Without this girl in his life, he would not be the man he was today.

SMASH

Boston was here and he was leaving his little girl again and it wasn't something that Derek wanted to do. He loved Tali to the moon and back and having already been away from her for the 12wk long summer camp, Derek didn't want to add another 4 wks to that. But he had to and Tali understood that.

"Are you sure that you will be okay?" Derek asked for what was the 500th time in the space of an hour. Tali rolled her eyes.

"Dad, Aunt Grace will be here within the hour. I will be fine and if anything does happen, I will call you! I promise!" Tali said as she shook her head at her dad. Derek sighed.

"I really wish I didn't have to go Talz," Derek said with a sigh as he pulled Tali in for a hug. Tali wrapped her arms around her dad and gave him a tight squeeze.

"I know. But, you have to Dad. I will be fine and I'll be there for the last preview," Tali said with plastering a smile on her face for her dad.

"I know but Tali, I just got you back," Derek said with a sigh as he kissed the top of her head. Tali chocked back a sob as she pulled her dad closer. There was a knock at the door and the pair broke apart before and Derek opened the door to reveal Tom standing at the door.

"Hi Derek. Hey Talz," Tom said with a smile as he walked in. Tali gave him a half hearted wave. Tom sighed. "Eileen has sent a car for us all."

Derek sighed as he turned to Tali. He had this feeling in the pit of his stomach that something was going to go wrong but he had to trust that Grace would look after Tali and that she'd be fine. Derek turned to Tali before giving her one last hug and kiss before pulling away.

"I love you Tali and I will talk to you every night," Derek said as he held her face between his palms. Tali nodded her head with tears sliding down her cheeks. Derek kissed her forehead before turning to collect his luggage and head towards the door.

"Dad! Promise me you'll tell her how you feel," Tali said as she stood in the doorway. Derek turned to look at his daughter before giving her a small smile before nodding his head.

"I promise," Derek said with a smile as the elevator doors closed. Tali sighed before walking back into the apartment and closing the door. She really was going to miss her dad.

SMASH

Derek walked into the theatre with a smile on his face. Tech for a show he knew was going to be a success. Bombshell had an amazing cast and as much as he didn't want to admit it, Tom and Julia's play was well written and it was amazing. Eileen had done an amazing job getting investors. He just knew that it was going to be an amazing show.

Derek sighed looking down at the notes in front of him when he could feel the presence of someone standing behind him. Derek turned to see Ivy standing behind him. Slowly Ivy snaked her arms around his neck and started to run them down his chest. Derek was about to say something when his phone rang.

Looking at the caller ID Derek smiled when he read that it was Tali. He didn't even have a chance to answer as Ivy took the phone out of his hand and looked at the caller ID before hitting the end button. Derek looked up at Ivy with angrily. She had just hung up on his daughter.

"Ivy!" Derek said as he took his phone back out of her hands.

"Who is Matalia?" Ivy asked. "Someone you're sleeping with?" she asked defensively.

"Tali is my daughter. And if you excuse me, I have to call her back now," Derek said as he stood and walked away from Ivy. Ivy sighed angrily before she stormed off. Derek rolled his eyes before walking into the foyer and dialling Tali's number.

"You hung up on me!" Tali said in an accusing tone.

"Hello to you to Tali Rose," Derek said with a small smile as he leant against the wall.

"Well, you did hang up on me," Tali said. Derek could hear the smile that was in her voice.

"Sorry. That was Ivy. She thinks I'm sleeping with you," Derek said.

"Sleeping with me? Ha! That would be illegal!" Tali said with a laugh. Derek chuckled.

"Yeah it would. How are you?" Derek asked.

"I'm good. I was just calling to let you know that I don't know what time I'll be finished rehearsals for the next week or so. Nationals are coming up so we're starting to practice," Tali said.

"That time of year again. Well, I'm not sure I'll end up finishing here but if you message me when you've finished your rehearsal I can call you whenever," Derek said.

"That sounds good. I love you dad," Tali said.

"I love you to princess. I'll talk to you again soon." Derek sighed as he ended the call with Tali before putting his phone back into his pocket and sighing. Nationals. The one time of year that Tali was focused on dance and nothing could drag her away from doing what she loved.

Hopefully this year he would be able to watch her compete and win. Last year she had been a little disappointed when she had won second with her solo. This year she wanted to win and he just hoped she did and that he would be there to see her win the gold.

SMASH

End Chapter Two :)

This one wasn't as long as the first and they will all vary in length but they are normally around this length. I hope you liked this one. It was more of a filler chapter I guess. The story line is not the same story line as the show but it's similar.

Hope you enjoyed it :)

Thanks to everyone who has already showed some interest :)

Emma ;)