Part 4 continued…
The ceremony continued without incident and soon the bride and groom were kissing and marching back the aisle. Derek offered Casey his arm and bent to her ear. "If you thought this was bad, just wait 'till ours."
Casey's face turned red and she started to choke. Chuckling, Derek tapped her on the back and proudly led her back the aisle. He tried to behave in the receiving line but it wasn't until Blair cuffed him on the head that he kept his hands to himself.
As their family came through the line, Derek received good natured punches, smirks, and glares.
George's voice was low but stern. "You and I are going to have a long talk later, son."
However, Derek's good mood could not be diminished. He chuckled. "I already know about the birds and bees, Dad." He said in a stage whisper causing Casey to blush and elbow him.
George's eyes narrowed, "You are not going to charm your way out of this discussion. This," he said gesturing to Casey and Derek, "will affect the whole family's dynamics."
Derek winked at his dad and said cockily, "You should have thought of that when you married a woman with a hot daughter the same age as me. The 'dynamics' started the day they moved in."
"Der-ek!"
"What?" Derek said giving Casey an innocent look.
Casey tried to take control. "Mom, George, you really need to keep moving through the line, please."
George continued to glare at Derek, but allowed Marti to pull him away.
Part 5
The entire wedding party rode in a green and yellow trolley car to the reception, so Derek and Casey did not have a private moment to talk, and the reception afforded them no more privacy than the trolley ride; however, Blair and Rob did manage to corner their best friends for a moment.
Casey went with Blair into the bathroom to help her pee. As Casey was crouched on the floor under the fluffy white dress, Blair said causally, "So you and Derek, huh? 'Bout time. Several times I thought our apartment was going to catch on fire from the sparks of sexual tension you two gave off. I don't know how your parents and friends put up with it when you lived in the same house."
Casey was speechless at Blair's frankness and felt very awkward about having this conversation in their present position. Casey stayed silent as she helped Blair rearrange her dress, but Blair wasn't letting Casey leave the bathroom before she answered. "Casey, what are you going to do?"
Casey buried her face in her hands and spoke through her fingers. "I-I don't know Blair. I want to say that I had no clue about Derek's feelings, but I think I was just in denial. The truth is, I've been attracted to him for a long time. I-I just never thought he'd feel the same way. He's my best friend, and I don't want to screw that up."
"Casey," Blair said intently, facing her and pulling her hands from her face, "He loves you. You love him. You'll both screw up, but that's what being in a relationship is all about. Particularly in the case of one as dysfunctional as yours and Derek's."
"So I should just go for it?" Casey asked in a small voice.
"Yes," replied Blair decisively as she turned Casey around and hustled her out the door.
Meanwhile, Rob had pulled Derek over to a corner and handed him a drink. Rob's tone was smart. "So you finally decided to grow a pair and tell Casey how you feel. I'm proud. My little boy is growing up."
"Shut up dude." But Derek's inflection wasn't nasty.
"So what are you going to do?" Rob asked seriously.
Derek shrugged, but Rob could see his was nervous. "I've put myself out there. Now it's up to Casey to decide if she wants this."
Rob's voice was confident as he clapped him on the back. "She wants this D. Don't worry. I've watched you two for the last four years barely hold back from jumping each other right in front of every body. She wants this just as much as you do."
Derek ran his hand through his hair still unsure. "She may want it, but will she act on it?"
Rob smiled broadly, "I've got complete faith in Blair's persuasive abilities. She got me to the alter didn't she?"
Derek laughed and slapped him on back, thankful he had such a good friend. "If Blair could whip you then Casey doesn't have a chance."
"There they are now D, coming out of the bathroom. Go talk to her." Rob pointed and pushed Derek forward.
"Let's get this party started folks. Can I have the bride and groom come into the middle of the floor for their first dance as man and wife?" The DJ's voice boomed and cheering and clapping filled the room. Rob lead a blushing Blair out into the middle of the floor as Casey came to stand beside Derek. Derek was afraid to look at her, but knew Casey was looking up at him. She took his large sturdy hand in her small soft one and leaned her head on his arm. Elation burst through his body and he barely stopped himself from whooping. Instead he turned his head and tenderly kissed the top of her hair. Electricity jolted through her, and Casey wondered why she had waited so long to let this happen.
"Can we have the rest of the wedding party join the happy couple on the dance floor. I understand they've all been taking dance lessons and want to show us their moves."
"Where did they find this cheesy DJ," Derek murmured to Casey making her giggle.
They took their positions on the dance floor. Derek's eyebrows wiggled. "Ready to make Dad and Nora have a heart attack?"
"Der-ek!" But Casey was giggling and her eyes were shining. Derek felt like he was dancing on air as he spun Casey around the room. She had eyes only for him and he thought his chest would burst with joy. As the song ended, he led her back to their table and sat down.
"So I understand your looking for a roommate?" He said seductively.
Casey replied coolly, "Yeah, mine just got married. Heard you have a vacant room too."
"It would be a shame for us to pay for two apartments when we could share one." Persuasion thick in his voice.
"Why, Derek! Just what kind of girl do you think I am?" Casey was enjoying this game.
"The kind of girl that's been living with a guy on and off for about eight years. Don't you think you should make an honest man of him?"
"Der-ek! How could you say that?" Casey's face was red again.
He loved to tease her. Derek chuckled and wrap his arm around her. He leaned forward and kissed her head as he whispered in her ear, "Let's move in together Casey, and really give us a chance, please."
Casey looked into his warm rich brown eyes and couldn't resist his puppy dog face. "Well, since you asked so nicely, I guess we could give it a try." Casey said casually.
Derek had that goofy grin on his face again. Casey smiled and leaned toward him as Derek's hand cupped her face. He closed the gap and pressed his lips softly against hers. Casey closed her eyes and blocked everything else out as she enjoyed the kiss she had been waiting eight years for. In that moment, Derek forgot every other girl he had ever kissed and didn't mind one bit that he'd never kiss another girl again.
The End
AN: Thanks to those who reviewed, alerted/favorited: , LaFolie, kmr04, Lucas4everPeyton, Dark-Supernatural-Angel, wrestlingfan29, Hermione Double, , Kayseechan, SSJJ92
AN: So many visitors and so few reviews. C'mon and make my day. :)
AN: Has anyone ever been to Mexico? What are touristy things to do? I need research for a new story I'm working on.
