Eyes of Teenage Runaway
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
WARNING! I cried while writing a part of this. I won't say which part because that'll give away the story.
A/N: Sorry about the dividing issues with the first chapter! Honestly, I wrote this on Word and the stupid dividing line didn't show up on Fanfic. THANKS FOR THE REVIEWS!! R&R PLEASE!
Flashback or thinking
Summary: Looking into those eyes, they seem so familiar. To close for comfort, familiar, he didn't like it; he didn't like staring into the eyes of a teenage runaway, his teenage runaway. Hit with déjà vu like a bright yellow school bus by looking into those eyes, he felt nauseous.
Casey's tensed muscles relaxed immediately and she was washed over with relief.
"Hello! The very first thing I should've noticed was the fact it's in a neat pile! Derek Venturi doesn't leave things in neat piles." She said to herself. Lizzie eyes her oddly.
"Um…okay…what is that?" She asked. And Casey looked at Lizzie, remembering the reason to why she was there.
"Kaylie's birth certificate." Casey said deadpanned.
"Can I see?" Lizzie asked, pretending to be curious.
"Why? To see what I put down as the father's name?" Casey asked; Lizzie looked taken aback. "Don't lie, Liz. That's exactly what you were going to say. But you don't need to see, because you already know who the father is." Casey said knowingly and Lizzie looked at her, guilt in her features.
"Yeah…I do." She said quietly. Casey grasped her shoulders lightly.
"Liz…please tell me that nobody knows." Casey eyes were pleading. And Lizzie gulped.
"I-I told Edwin that you and Derek dated…but not that you were pregnant with his child." Lizzie explained and Casey blew out slowly. "But Casey! You should really tell him. Don't you think he deserves to know?" She asked and Casey's eyes welled up.
"No." She answered then swiftly left the house.
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"I can't believe this!" Derek whisper yelled to himself as he sat on his sofa. "Seven years." He spoke regularly. "Seven years, God damn it!" He yelled in aggravation. "She's my fucking daughter…and I find out seven years later?!" He continued to yell as he ran his fingers through his hair painfully.
The memory of his actions from earlier ran through his mind and he shut his eyes tightly, more tears falling.
"I can't believe this is happening. I fucking thought I was over her…I can't fucking believe still love her and she's got my daughter…" He whispered to himself.
The first time since she left that he admitted to still loving her; and it was painful as hell.
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"This is crazy. I can't believe I let you talk me into this." Casey muttered and Derek rolled his eyes, smiling.
"You're doing it 'cause you're a really good friend. Okay?" She sighed and nodded.
"Fine; but I still don't see why I agreed to helping you with a dinner set for a coach." She said, following him into the kitchen.
"A coach?!" He asked, and whipped around to face her. "Casey, this guy isn't a coach; he's a scout for Centennial! Do you know how badly I want to get into that college?! If I make it…it…it could be my chance to play in the NHL!" Derek cried out and she looked at him blankly.
"You don't need to go to Centennial to do that." She stated and he rolled his eyes.
"Casey, my dream, my all time wish, is to play for the Leafs. With these guys…I've got a fighting chance. Hell, I've got a fighting chance to go to the Olympics!" He said and Casey sighed.
"Whatever…I still don't see the importance of me cooking a feast for some fat guy, scouting people to play a game on ice with sticks and a black circular thingy that isn't even a ball." She muttered as she trudged into the kitchen. Derek watched her go, a small smile playing at his lips as he shook his head at his friend's clueless ways.
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"My God, Casey. You don't know how much this means to me." Derek said as he and Casey finished setting the table. Casey sighed and nodded.
"No problem, Derek. I'll just go upstairs; when the doorbell rings I'll come down and serve the food. You don't have to worry about it. I'll go back upstairs after the food is on the table and won't bother you." She smiled and bound up the stairs.
"Thanks, Case." He said and she smiled at him.
About ten minutes later the doorbell rang and Casey was in the kitchen before Derek even opened the door.
"Hello, Derek." The man said, and as Casey presumed, he was quite plump.
"Hello, Mr. Walker; come on in." Derek moved aside and let the man in, he was followed by a woman by his side.
"Hello, I'm Helen Walker." She extended a hand which Derek shook and nodded to her.
"Nice to meet you." They all took their seats and Casey came out with platters. She stood beside Derek and put the large platters down, trying to stop her tongue from sticking out from the side of her mouth but failing miserably as she concentrated on not letting anything fall.
"Here you are." She said and stood straight. "Enjoy." She smiled in pride at the neatly placed platters on the table.
"Thanks, Casey." Derek said smiling; she smiled at him then turned to the stairs.
"You're welcome." She said.
"Oh, wait, dear. Why don't you join us?" Mrs. Walker asked. Casey shook her head in protest.
"Oh, no; it's quite alright-" She began.
"No, I insist. Derek, please tell your girlfriend to join us." Mrs. Walker said. Derek and Casey didn't bother to protest to not dating. Too many people had already made that mistake.
It didn't really help that they both secretly wanted to be dating one another.
"Mrs. Walker's right, Case. You made this dinner; you deserve to enjoy it too." He smirked and she smiled, suppressing an eye-roll.
"Well…alright." She sat at the table beside Derek and Mrs. Walker smiled in pride. Casey extended a hand to Helen and smiled. "Casey McDonald." She shook Helen's hand then shook Mr. Walker's.
"Pleased to meet you, dear." Mrs. Walker said kindly.
"This dinner is marvellous." Mr. Walker said and Casey smiled.
"Thank you." She said humbly.
"I've been scouting Derek for some time now; he seems to be…shall I say, rough around the edges? Well, no matter…how did someone like him, get such a kind young lady as yourself?" He asked amused and Derek blushed slightly. Casey laughed.
"I don't know. Must've been something he did. I guess I was drawn to his hockey ability." Casey said, naturally mingling.
"He is a prized player isn't he?" Mr. Walker asked.
"Thank you, Sir." Derek said and Mr. Walker laughed.
"No need to practice manners because young Ms. McDonald is obviously advanced in educates, Derek. Call me Paul." He said casually and Helen hit his arm lightly.
"Pay no matter to him; Paul, stop degrading the boy." She scolded while amused at the same time.
"No, no. It's alright. I happen to have one that's out of my league." Derek said, putting an arm around Casey's shoulder.
Honestly, neither really knew why they hadn't stopped this whole thing as soon as it started. But Derek wasn't opposed to touching Casey intimately and Casey wasn't complaining about the shivers he sent down her spine whenever he touched her skin.
"So cute." Helen muttered.
"Helen, stop gushing." Paul said and she rolled her eyes. "So Casey, tell me; what do you think about Derek's hockey abilities?" Casey smiled and Derek glanced at her nervously.
As far as he knew; she'd never even seen him play.
"He's fantastic! I love watching him play, the crowd loves him and he feeds off their applause. The more they cheer, the better he plays, the better he plays, the more they cheer! It's like a never ending cycle." Casey said with a smile. "I remember one game; Thompson won, 6-3, Derek scored four of those goals on his own. It was remarkable!" She said happily, Derek was shocked but Mr. Walker seemed pleased.
"So you like to watch him play?" He asked. Casey nodded without hesitation.
"Definitely. He's basically what makes our school what it is." She looked over at him and smiled. He gave her a smirk and raised an unknowing eyebrow at the new information.
"So, Derek, why Centennial?" Derek removed his arm from Casey's shoulder and set his hand on the table. Casey ignored the feeling of cold from where his arm was previously placed.
"Ever since I was young, all I could ever dream about was playing for the Leafs then going to Olympics. I know there are a lot of good schools out there but Centennial can open a lot more doors and can give so many more opportunities. Hockey is my passion; it's all I've ever wanted to do. I love the sport and my life would be perfect if the two things in life I've ever wanted were mine." Derek explained.
"Two?" Helen and Paul asked simultaneously.
Oops…shit, what the hell do I say now? 'Yeah, hockey and Casey; the girl who's posing as my girlfriend but who is actually my stepsister'? He thought, raking his brain for something.
"He's told me this so many times over," Casey began, catching Derek's difficulty, "the two things in life he's only ever wanted and needed were hockey and family; he's always dreamed of a little girl in his future." She smirked unnoticeably to Mr. and Mrs. Walker but not to Derek.
"That is incredibly sweet." Mrs. Walker said with a smile. Derek blushed lightly.
"Well…" He trailed, his eyes thanking Casey for covering him. She smiled lightly and turned her attention back to the guests.
The night went well and somehow ended with two teenagers and two adults sitting on the floor in the Venturi/McDonald household's living room; playing The Game of Life.
"Oh yeah! Pay up; ah…I love being a cop." Helen said and they laughed as Derek forked over his play money.
"Ooh! Look! I got twenty thousand dollars!" Casey cried out and did a little dance while sitting; Derek watched and smiled amused while Helen and Paul Walker laughed. "Okay next." She said, completely forgetting to take her money from the bank. Derek smirked and shook his head.
"Hey, Case, you might wanna take that money you were just doing a happy-dance for." She turned crimson and smiled.
"Oh yeah…" Derek laughed along with the two guests.
"God, I love you." He muttered with laughter and Casey stopped, dead in her tracks then looked over at him. He turned pale and looked away. Her eyes grew wide and she tried to get his attention. Helen and Paul stopped what they were doing and watched the two.
"We should get going." Mrs. Walker said before standing up and walking towards the door, followed shortly by her husband and Derek.
"I'll be in touch about that scholarship, Derek." Paul said before Derek bid them goodbye and opened the door and shut it behind them.
His gaze averted to Casey who half-mindedly put away the board game.
"I'm sorry." He whispered and she stopped what she was doing for a minute then shook her head and continued. "I didn't mean to say it. You weren't meant to hear that." He said to her put she acted as though she hadn't heard him. "Case?" He asked, walking to her.
"No." She said. "No; you said it didn't mean anything." She explained. "You can't possibly think…no." she protested, arguing with herself. "No, Derek! You…you told me that it didn't mean anything!" She said then stood up and looked up into his eyes.
"Case…"
"Y-you told me that it was an accident, it wasn't meant to happen. I thought about those words, Derek. I thought you were honestly repulsed with the fact you kissed me. But you turn around a few days later and blurt out you love me. Make up your God damn mind, Derek!" She yelled and he pleaded with her with his eyes.
"I…"
"No. Answer me. I'm sick of these mind-games you've been playing with me." She fumed angrily and an angry tear fell from her eye and she wiped it away fiercely. When he didn't answer she rolled her eyes and grabbed the back of his neck, crashing his lips to hers.
He pressed his lips firmly against hers and ran his tongue along her bottom lip. But just as he was about to enter her mouth she pulled away.
"That was an accident. I love you, but you were never supposed to know." She said then walked away from him. Leaving him confused, lost and completely and utterly happy.
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"So it's all cleared up?" Sam asked as Casey walked through the door. She nodded.
"Yeah…Liz knew. She knew before anybody else." Casey explained.
"Did she…?"
"No. She didn't tell anybody."
"Look…I know Derek may not have…well, he was completely moronic…but don't you think he deserves to know?" Sam asked and Casey sighed.
"Honestly Sam…I was thinking about telling him; that's why I brought Kaylie's birth certificates…but then he…" She trailed, the events from earlier that day replaying painfully in her mind.
"It's okay, Casey…you don't have to say anything about it." He said and she nodded, tear slipping from her eye and rolling down her cheek.
"He really hurt me…he did, Sam. He doesn't know how much he hurt me. How much he put me through." She cried harder and Sam hugged her and rubbed her back soothingly.
"Sh…it's okay…it's okay…" He whispered softly, trying his best to sooth her.
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"I gotta make this better, Liz." Derek explained over the phone. Lizzie exhaled deeply.
"Yeah; you do. You are an idiot, Derek. God…I don't know how you can fix this. I mean…you can try and do something romantic; but that wouldn't work because you've got fucking vultures following your every move." Lizzie said and Derek sighed, feeling annoyed with his life.
"Damn paparazzi." He muttered. "Look, Liz…I know I screwed up and right now I feel like the biggest ass alive." He explained, tugging on his hair painfully. "But I need to talk to her. I need her in my life, Liz." He pleaded with her and she sighed. "Look; all this time she was gone, seven years, I thought I had gotten over her. All the time spent apart and she never called or sent anything. I haven't heard or spoken to her in seven years…and that kills me. I really thought that it wouldn't matter if she showed up seven years later. But, damn it, I was so fucking wrong; it matters so much more. If anything…I think I love her more." He said, tears burning his eyes and threatening to fall.
"Derek…" Lizzie said sympathetically.
"God…I'm a fucking idiot. I don't deserve a fucking second chance. I don't deserve her or Kay. I don't deserve any of it. But I want more than anything to fight for it; I'm willing to risk everything for one more shot. It was hard enough trying to forget all of our past, or at least trying to forget about loving her, but now it's worse…now I know I've got a daughter. Casey and Kay live one hell of a fucking life. I was way out of line to say anything about it…and when I…shit. I'll never be able to make up for everything I did to her…to them." He said.
"You really love her, don't you?" Lizzie asked.
"I really do." He said. Lizzie sighed.
"How'd you find out about Kay?" Lizzie asked, feeling confident.
"Her birth certificates; Casey left them in her room." He explained; confused about Lizzie's sudden change in mood.
"Bingo. Case thinks you don't know. We gotta play this right…perfectly. If we don't…we're screwed." Lizzie said and Derek was even more confused.
"Okay…explain this wonderful play of yours to me…'cause I'm completely lost."
"All we gotta do is get her to accept…"
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"Did you mean it?" He asked as he leaned against her door frame. Her back was facing him as she occupied herself with her computer somehow. He sighed when she remained silent and advanced into the room. He closed the door behind him then sat at the foot of her bed. "Case?" He asked and he heard her intake a sharp breath. "Casey." He urged her to answer and she swivelled around in her chair.
"Did you?" She threw back impatiently. He was taken aback for a moment before letting out a deep breath he had, unknown to him, been holding. He looked into her eyes and couldn't stop the small smile that tugged at his lips from curling into a soft smile.
"I didn't say it because being mushy would benefit for a scholarship." He said, his smile slowly going lopsided to form a half-smirk, half-smile. She bit her lip to stop the large grin that was begging to be formed.
"Well, I didn't say it because I wanted to see you get mushy. I see enough of it when you're with Marti." She said, a smile playing at her lips. He stood up and leaned in close to her.
"Good," he whispered before kissing her softly, "because we're going on a date tomorrow night." He said as he straightened up with a smirk on his features. She sighed, feigning annoyance.
"Fine." She stopped the charade and smiled up at him largely. "Only you could make something so awkward into something so romantic…somehow." She said and he shrugged as he leaned over to kiss her again.
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"Can I just ask you something?" Sam asked quietly as they looked at a random show that was currently on the television. She looked at him and nodded.
"Of course." She whispered and he inhaled deeply.
"You have to answer honestly." He said and she nodded. "Do you think you could ever be with Derek again?" She looked at the floor but her eyes were dazed over, as though she wasn't actually there. She chewed on her bottom lip as she lost herself in deep thoughts.
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"Understand?" Lizzie asked.
"Yeah, but what if she finds out I already know? Then she'll just be angry again. And that's only considering if she accepts." Derek said and Lizzie scoffed on the other end.
"Oh, she'll accept." Lizzie said confidently.
"Well…how do I ask her?" He asked, Lizzie was so confident about this plan but he wasn't so sure.
"Hmm…I don't know." She admitted quietly. "Take her out as a friend and it should develop on its own, I guess. I know my sister, Derek. I know she could never reject you. Just please, Derek, please promise me you won't hurt her again. Last time I didn't know…but if she gets hurt again then it'll be my entire fault and though I'll feel utterly guilty you won't go unpunished." She said.
"I know, Liz. The last time…I was going to her in he morning, to try and make up for what I had said…but I found you and that box instead of her. I know I've had my share of being a moron, in fact I've had more than my share, but I know I won't hurt her again. I just wouldn't." He said and Lizzie let out a breath she wasn't aware that she had been holding.
"Good." She said. "Ask her tomorrow. I'm gonna go. Good luck, Derek." Lizzie said before hanging up. Derek hung up and sunk into his sofa.
"Yeah, good luck." He grumbled to himself. "You're gonna need it." He said before falling asleep himself.
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A tear slipped down her face slowly. It rolled and touched her skin with its warmth then left a cold trail behind it. Like Derek's touches. They made her feel warm but once they were gone she was cold and alone. She looked back up and into the eyes of Sam as she continued to chew on her lip.
"Please tell me it's okay to say 'yes'." She whispered to him as more tears slowly fell. He gathered her in his arms and rocked her slowly. She pulled away from him slowly. "I still love him. And even knowing he hurt me…I'd do it again. I wouldn't change any of it. He may have hurt me but I got Kaylie from it. Even knowing that…I think, no, I know I still want to be with him. I haven't dated, haven't seen anyone romantically in seven years. I've had no time.
"I'm either busy with Kay, busy with work, busy with work, busy with work or helping Sarah." She whispered. "He's probably slept with more girls than he can count. Not that they care. The only thing they care about is being able to say they slept with Derek Venturi. And all that matters to him is his picture on the cover of Sports Illustrated and the status of the number one sexy male celebrity." She whispered harshly and, once again, Sam's jaw clenched.
"Maybe you two aren't so different from each other after all." He said before he stood up. "I'm going to bed. Call me if you need something." He said as he shuffled away. Casey sighed and lay down before falling into a deep sleep herself.
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"It's going to be really hard, though." She whispered as she blinked back her tears. He ran his index finger across her cheek soothingly and repeatedly he smiled weakly. He didn't know what to tell her. What could he possibly say? He had no words that could make her stronger than she already was.
"I know, Baby." He whispered back. "And I wish I could tell everything's going to be okay, but I can't. I know it'll be hard, I know it is hard. But you're strong, and right now you're everyone's rock. Even me, sometimes. I know." The tears fell and she peered into his eyes.
"I'm sorry." She whispered. "I'm supposed to be strong; I'm not supposed to cry." More tears fell and he hugged her tight.
"It's okay, Case. Let it out. You can't be strong for everyone all the time. I know you try, but she's your mother. You're allowed to cry because she's sick. It's okay, Baby." He whispered soothingly and she let out a choked sob.
"Derek, please tell she's going to be okay. Please." She begged as she clung to him. He felt the tears burning his eyes and blinked them back.
"I can't, Casey. I don't want to tell you then have something bad happen to her. Believe me, Casey; I want her to be okay. I need her to be okay. But I don't want to say she'll be fine, she'll survive the surgery knowing that…that it may not be true." He said, his voice cracking considerably. He swallowed a large lump in his throat. She sobbed and held him tighter.
"I need her, Derek. I can't go without her." She whispered hoarsely and squeezed his eyes shut tightly. He opened his eyes in time to see the man dressed in white with a surgical mask on come out. Derek loosened his gip on Casey enough for her to turn to the man.
"Well?" George asked impatiently, his voice cracking as he stood from his place on the hospital chair. The man smiled brightly, relieving Casey, Derek and George.
"The tumour was successfully removed. Consider yourselves lucky you got her here in time. The hallucinations and mood swings were significant signs of her brain tumour. I can only allow one of you in there at a time." He finished sympathetically and they nodded before he walked away. George was about to advance into the room when Casey grabbed his sleeve.
"George…please." She said quietly. He opened his mouth and glanced between her and the door before nodding. He sat back down and she smiled at him gratefully before leaving into the hospital room. George looked over to Derek.
"You're really maturing, Derek. The way you helped Casey was a sure sign of it. You were there for your sister when she needed you." He smiled softly and Derek resisted the urge to cringe at the word 'sister' and smiled back softly.
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"Can we go back to Nonna and Nonno's house?" Kaylie asked from her seat at Sam's kitchen table. Casey's eyes were fixed on her bowl of cereal as she thought of what Sam had said the night before. "Mommy?" She asked and Casey's head snapped up.
"Huh? – Oh yeah. Sure. We'll head over as soon as you're done with your breakfast." Kaylie nodded and took a large bite of her cereal then looked down. She shifted the contents of bowl around with her spoon as she chewed slowly.
"Mommy?" Casey looked up and nodded. "Will Un – I mean, will Derek be there?" She asked sheepishly and Casey sighed inwardly.
"Probably, Kay." Casey said and saw Kaylie's eyes light up as the young girl held in her excitement. Kaylie looked back into her bowl, taking another large bite, and Casey saw the small smile that was quirking up and down as Kaylie tried to hide it. Casey smiled softly at it then took a bite of her own cereal.
"What about Aunt Marti? And Uncle Edwin and Aunt Lizzie?" She asked and Casey smiled largely.
"They'll be there. You'll love Aunt Marti. She's got a wild imagination, just like you, kiddo." Casey said as her mind wandered to Marti and her ways.
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"…And Uncle Edwin's really funny. He said he was gonna beat the 'pretty boys' who wanted a piece of me, 'cause I'm so cute, with the 'pretty stick' then Aunt Lizzie said he was over-protective. But he said it 'cause Aunt Lizzie said I was really cute, or something like that." Kaylie explained as Sam dropped them off at the McDonald-Venturi household. Casey laughed.
"Yeah, that sounds like Ed, all right." Sam said as he pulled up to the house. Casey smiled at him and she and Kaylie said goodbye before getting out and walking into the house. They were greeted by the usual familial chaos.
"Oh my God! Edwin, you ate a brownie! I specifically told you not to eat a brownie!"
"I didn't! I ate two!"
"Marti, please get off the phone."
"Ugh! I have no privacy in this house!"
"Edwin! Give. Me. The batter!"
"Why? You already made, like, fifty brownies, fifty-five cookies and ten pies!"
"Marti, I need to call the caterer to check on everything."
"Well, I need to talk to Amber about Christy and Jake! Jake is hitting on Stephanie knowing very well that Kate likes him but her brother is dating Christy who is cousins with Amber's brother's best friend's little brother's babysitter's son! That means that Kate can't go out with him because Kevin is totally rivals with Jake. Anyways, Christy saw Jake and Kate together and she told Stephanie who told Kevin who said he was going to kick Jake's ass and now I need to know the rest!"
"…there's more?"
"And who is Kevin?" Casey asked and everyone looked to see, for the first time, Casey and Kaylie standing in the door. Kaylie rolled her eyes at her mother.
"Pay attention, Mommy! Kevin is Amber's brother's best friend's little brother's babysitter's son!" Kaylie explained and Casey arched an eyebrow.
"Wow, she did that in order with an amazing accuracy. You'll go far." Marti said impressed. "Uh…not to be rude…who are you?" Marti asked with a raised eyebrow. "And did you just call Casey 'Mommy'?" She asked and Kaylie nodded.
"I'm Kaylie, Casey's daughter." She said and Marti's eyes widened momentarily as they darted in between Casey and Kaylie. Kaylie smiled as Lizzie ran toward her from the kitchen with an apron on and flour smudged across her cheek.
"Hi, Kay!" She said excitedly as she swooped down and gathered Kaylie in a large hug. Nora was next and Kaylie laughed at the two women who were fighting for dominance over the jointed hug. Marti stood up from her place on the couch and hugged Casey tightly.
"Hi, Marti. Look at you, still as small as ever." Casey said as she looked down at the petite teenager. Marti laughed lightly and shrugged.
"Good things come in small packages." Casey chuckled as Marti motioned to herself.
"Just as long as the guys don't think that." Derek's voice came from the front door. Marti grinned and ran into his opened arms.
"Hey, Smerek!" She said as he lifted her up in the hug.
"It's so great to see you, Smarti." Derek said as he hugged her tightly and smiled.
"You guys still do the Smerek and Smarti thing?" Casey asked and Marti nodded vigorously. Casey gave her a questioning eyebrow. "Or do you just do it to embarrass him?" Marti shrugged.
"That's just a benefit. And it only happens in front of his team and other 'people of authority'." She said, using air quotes and imitating Derek.
"That was freakishly good." Casey said through laughter.
"It was; and back to the small package thing. I always liked a small girl." He said, shooting a vague wink to Casey. Her eyes widened momentarily as a small blush crept to her cheeks. She leaned over to Lizzie.
"Why did I like that?" She asked through her teeth and Lizzie shrugged, shooting Derek an approving smirk. He nodded and smirked back at her.
"I don't want any guy to have that same attraction to you. So hurry up and grow." He said and Marti rolled her eyes, wearing a smile nonetheless.
"Sure Derek." She said and averted her attention to Kaylie who was sitting on the recliner, looking very small in it. She was sitting in the middle of it with her legs spread out as she laughed at Lizzie and Edwin. "Look! She fits right in!" Marti exclaimed as she sat on the arm rest of the chair and talked to Kaylie. Derek's eyes snapped to Kaylie and he felt his heart swell.
My daughter.
He smiled softly but snapped back to reality when Edwin waved his hand in Derek's face.
"Dude; stop staring." He said with an eye-roll.
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"I'm particularly patient. Especially in this itchy suit Nora made me wear because it matched Emily's dress. Now give me the suit." Derek grumbled from his seat in the limo. Sam chuckled and handed over the suit he was keeping for Derek to change into.
"Chill, they're probably going to take forever anyways. It's senior prom, they wanted to look perfect…or something like that." Sam said. Derek finished off and climbed out of the limo.
"Tell me again: why didn't I change in the house?" Derek asked as he walked to Sam's front door.
"I don't know, they said something about the 'staircase moment'." Sam explained with as careless shrug. "Just don't freak out. You always seem to snap after five minutes of waiting."
"Snap? Five minutes? Dude, it took me a minute to change out of a monkey suit and into this thing in the back of a limo. They have floors, ceilings and are able to walk around and stand. And it's going to take longer than five minutes? They came here, started, you left and got me and they're still up there doing God-knows-what. They've had about forty-five minutes. I've reason to freak." Derek explained calmly as he slumped down into Sam's sofa.
"You'd make quite the lawyer." Sam said as he chuckled and sat on the other end of the sofa. Fifteen minutes later a throat cleared and the two of them bolted off the couch in time to see Emily walk down the stairs. Sam looked at her and smiled.
"Hey guys." She said as she walked into Sam's awaiting arms.
"You look great." He said before kissing her chastely. Emily smiled and looked over at Derek.
"Thank you, but the main attraction is coming down soon." She said and Derek stood up.
"Good. Girls take way too long to get dressed." He complained as he ran his fingers through his hair. "How long does it take to put on a dress, serious…ly?" He trailed as Casey walked down the stairs. His eyes raked over her and he raised an eyebrow as she made her way over to him.
"Well?" She asked nervously as she bit her lip. Derek continued to go over every inch of her with his eyes and Sam hit the back of his head.
"Dude; stop staring." He said. Derek smirked and pulled her forward and crashed his lips down onto hers. He grabbed her hips and pulled her closer to him.
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"It's like we're all living here again. Minus Casey and Derek's incessant fighting. All though, I did hear a small quarrel about dinner." Nora said as they all ate. "And, of course, because George isn't here." She added and they all nodded. The seating had altered because Lizzie and Edwin wanted to sit beside each other instead of face to face. So now Edwin was in Derek's seat, Lizzie was in Edwin's seat, Nora was in her own seat, Kaylie was in George's seat, Marti in her own, Derek in Casey's seat and Casey in Lizzie's.
"Yeah, except I used to have the benefit of him being across the table instead of beside me." Casey said with a jerk of her thumb in Derek's direction.
"It was going so well, why'd you have to ruin it? Now there's bound to be an argument." Derek said with a roll of his eyes. Casey looked over to him and rolled her own eyes.
"Only because you find your two cents so valuable." She said and he sighed.
"It's better than your two cents worth one cent." He grumbled back and the rest of the family watched in amusement.
"Go find a blonde to go clubbing with." She spat back quietly.
"Go find a man to impregnate you." He hissed harshly. Everyone looked at him in astonishment and Casey with wide, tear-glazed eyes. Unlike last time, he didn't apologize. Lizzie stared at him intently. After a few moments of silence Casey kissed her teeth and stood up.
"I'm glad you find my daughter and my situation so amusing. You haven't changed a bit. At all. Since the day I met you ten years ago. You're still that immature, conceited, arrogant, fifteen-year-old jerk!" She yelled at him before throwing her napkin down and walking up the stairs and into the washroom.
"Derek. Kitchen. Now." Lizzie said as she calmly stood up and walked into the kitchen, closing the door behind Derek.
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She perched herself on toilet seat and breathed deeply. The tears were close to falling. She closed her eyes gently and willed them to go away. There was a soft knock on the door but she ignored it. When she didn't answer another knock was made. Thinking it was Lizzie or her mother, she ignored it.
Why does he do that? Does he enjoy seeing me in pain? Is that it? I left the night, or morning, he broke up with me and I show up seven years later with his daughter and he taunts me? He thinks he's the one who was hurt. He thinks he had it bad. He broke up with me. Not the other way around.
I was pregnant with his child and he dumped me. What did he expect? I would wait for him? Granted he didn't know I was pregnant and he still doesn't know it's his daughter; but it came as a huge shock, like I wasn't allowed to be with anyone meanwhile he can screw half the province and not have a mark on his conscience.
I have to live in a guilt trip because my daughter, our daughter, lives a hard life. The minute she's old enough she's going to have to start working because I can't provide and pay for college or university. She'll never have that father figure in her life and I'm always going to be the first at fault. Because of him.
Because he has a life of gold and rubs it in my face, because I don't have a lot of time and he does. One day he'll be telling me he's a better parent than I am. That'll hurt. It'll be wrong, but will hurt nonetheless. He could never be the parent I am. Not even half. I work three jobs, help Sarah, help Kaylie with her homework, maintain a good living space, nourish my daughter properly and still take her to her hockey practices, dance classes and vocal lessons.
I pay for the apartment, the food, the clothes, the hockey, the gear and whatever else my daughter needs. I do it because I have to, because I'm guilty and I refuse to give her anything less than I can. If I can get it for her, and she wants it, she's getting it. She may not have the most glamorous life but she has a mother that cares about her.
That'll do anything for her. Because I love her. But I will always be guilty.
I will always love him.
Another knock sounded and the tears fell as the voice reached her ears.
"Mommy? Mommy, are you okay?" Kaylie's small and worried voice echoed in Casey's ears. The tears slowly fell, one by one. She heard a sigh from outside and the foot steps becoming fainter. Once the sounds were gone, she let out a frustrated sob as the tears kept on flowing.
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"What the hell is wrong with you?" Lizzie asked in a hushed tone. Her eyes flared with anger and rage. But above all, the guilt shone through. "Why would you say that? You know Kaylie is your daughter. Why would you say that?" Lizzie asked and he remained quiet. "Derek!" She nudged his shoulder and he looked up at her.
"I…I don't know." He answered quietly. "I didn't want to hurt her, not again. What the hell is wrong with me? That's my daughter out there. I'm the only one that ever got Casey pregnant. W-why would I refer to her as some sort of…of slut? I hurt her. She never did anything to me. What gives me the right to rub how good my life is compared to hers in her face?" Derek asked himself aloud.
"You don't." Lizzie spat out at him harshly. He looked at her and nodded.
"I know I don't. Maybe I really don't deserve a second chance. There are some things in life you only get once. I blew my chance, my one and only shot, to the perfect life. I had it. I could've been the luckiest man alive, the luckiest to ever live. And…and I willingly let it go. Actually, scratch that, I threw it away.
"The perfect girl was mine. She had the perfect daughter with her…and I got rid of her. Now…now I still have another chance and I just ruin it again. I pushed her into kissing me. I almost raped her. I criticized her life in front of a lot of people. I made her cry. A lot. I drove her out of my life. I got her pregnant…and then turned around and acted as if she had got knocked-up. I'm acting as though my daughter's a mistake.
"I love Casey. I never stopped. But I screwed up. And I keep hurting her. It'll never be the same. I'll never have her again. She'll never be mine. She'll never love me again. I'll never have that chance again. The moment's gone. I threw it away seven years ago and there's a little girl out there to prove it. I forced my life to be the way it is. And I lost Casey and Kaylie at the same time. I'm done. I'm not trying anymore. Every time I try I wind up hurting her." Derek shook his head and moved to leave the kitchen but Lizzie held his arm and kept him in place.
"Y-you can't. Derek…that's not true. You just…you've got to be more careful. It only happened because you moved to fast. Y-you don't have to – she still – and Kaylie – that little girl loves you – you can't just walk – and – you…you – this isn't happening. You can't!" She yelled at him and he furrowed his eyebrows before he shook his head and left. Lizzie leaned against the island and sunk to the floor. "You can't." She said. "I ruined my sister's life." She sobbed out to herself as she rocked herself back and forth and cried.
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Casey opened the door and picked up Kaylie.
"We're going home, Baby." She whispered hoarsely and Kaylie eyed her with worry and hope.
"Y-you mean, home to Sam's right?" She asked, her eyes pleading. Casey felt more tears well up in her eyes but forced them back.
"No. We're going back to the apartment in Toronto." Kaylie looked into her mother's eyes as her own tears fell.
"But I wanna stay. With Aunt Lizzie and Aunt Marti and Uncle Edwin and Nonna and I didn't get to meat Nonno yet! I wanna stay!" She cried and screamed out and Casey shook her head.
"Kaylie, you're acting like a baby. Stop it. We'll talk about it when we get back to Toronto." Casey explained calmly and more tears fell from Kaylie's eyes.
"What about Daddy?" She asked quietly and Casey bit down on her lip hard. She tasted the copper taste of blood and shook her head.
"What about him?" She asked as she put Kaylie's coat on. Kaylie looked into Casey's eyes and saw the same sadness she felt.
"I love him, Mommy. He's my daddy. I've never had one before." She whispered as her tears kept falling. Casey picked her up again and took her to their car. She set Kaylie down in the back seat and rubbed her cheek with her thumb.
"Just because he helped create you, don't make him a father. I know you love him, Kay. But he isn't going to there for you like a father should be. I love you, Baby. You'll understand one day. And you'll forgive me." Casey explained and Kaylie narrowed her sad eyes at Casey.
"I'll never forgive you for keeping me away from him." She whispered back and Casey closed the door calmly before leaning against the car and letting out a long sob as the tears fell. A minute or so later she climbed in. Her tears falling every once in a while as Kaylie ignored her and cried in the back seat.
I will always be guilty.
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A/N: PLEASE DON'T HURT ME! In case you're wondering. I cried at the end there. I know this chapter is WAY shorter than the first and before you hurt me for this ending just know I'm going to continue the story with a full length one after I'm done with 'GT', 'CC' and 'WTM?'. R&R PLEASE!!