Chapter 3
"Vancouver! Vancouver British Columbia? Vancouver! I can't believe they moved you all the way to freakin Vancouver!" It was clear that Derek was outraged and Casey, though her reaction at the time was just as outraged and incredulous, couldn't help but giggle at how upset he was.
It made her feel happy and warm inside whenever Derek said how unfair it was that they took her away from him.
"I mean, they didn't want us anywhere near each other for some reason so they cut all contact. Sure, okay, but why take you across the country to keep us away. It's so unfair. Not to mention stupid." he finished muttering as he shook his head and let out an angry breath.
The two of them were sitting in a booth at a quiet Italian place on campus and having the best time ever. Either would happily admit that they had missed the easy playful banter and flirtatious arguments between them. They had been sitting there for a little over three hours now talking about anything and everything that came to mind. They had managed to come to the topic of the divorce and their separation, how insane it was that the girls were moved across an entire country.
"Yah. Liz and I freaked out and like refused to talk to my mum for a week after we left. It's so far away."
Casey could see realization spread across Derek's face as she spoke and just looked at him curiously.
"Lizz! How is she?" is sounded so much more concerned and protective coming from Derek than she would have guessed. Derek reasoned that his little sister was across the country and two years without her had been upsetting too. No matter the divorce that took place, Lizzie would always be a little sister to him. Casey though would and was never considered a sister to him. Ever.
His heart held a special place for Casey and no brother would ever feel the way he did about her.
"Liz is doing great. She really misses all of you though. It's funny cause she started high school and the first thing she said on the phone was, "I wish Edwin was here with me!" she finished with a chuckle.
Derek leaned forward and smiled at her as he replied. "Ed said the exact same thing when I talked to him too. He misses you guys. Marti is not the same!" he paused noticing the tears beginning to gather at the corner of Casey's eyes.
"Princess?" he whispered gently as he covered her hands with his own on the table top. Casey shook her head sadly and shrugged one shoulder slightly.
"Marti and Edwin. I've missed them so much. They will always be my little brother and sister D, you know? And I've lost them and missed out on so much of their lives already" another helpless shrug as the tears fell and Derek could no longer help himself, so he rose from his seat and sat next to her. Without a moment's hesitation he had his arms wrapped around her and was murmuring soft assurances in her ear.
"Case, they missed you too. I mean they're always talking about you and how much they love you and Liz. Now that we have found each other, we can get them together for a visit. So don't worry alright. Please Spacey…you know I don't do tears but yours brake me." He whispered softly as he looked into her shining eyes. Casey wound her arms around his neck snugly and buried her face into his neck as she spoke and he gave an involuntary shiver.
"I missed you a lot you know D. I mean I missed everyone a lot but you, I missed you most of all" she admitted quietly. Derek felt his heart clench and his stomach flutter; at his awestruck expression, Casey pulled back and wiped her eyes as she gave a small sniffle.
"I'm sorry" she chuckled sadly, "I know you don't do tears or feelings, or unnecessary physical contact. Oh my gosh! I am so sorry. I'm going to go, I didn't mean to go crazy Casey on you, I swear!" All the while she was speaking she had managed to extract herself completely form her arms, pull on her jacket, and begin making her way out of the restaurant.
Derek, as confused as ever, threw some money on the table and rushed after her. He found her about three hundred feet away and ran up beside her, catching her arm to stop her in her tracks. Puzzled, Derek examined her face and was even more confused to find embarrassment, fear and an expression he couldn't define written in her eyes.
"Case?" he questioned softy, but she kept her gaze on the ground. He had a flashback to their high school suddenly seeing an embarrassed, upset Casey after Max had broken up with her and Derek had actually seen her break down. She had been embarrassed that she had shown such emotion around Derek and that she had made him kind of uncomfortable with the way she had clung to him for comfort. Even now Derek could kill Max for cheating on his Casey; didn't he know how precious he was? What he was missing by letting her go?
Derek shook his head and looked up to the star filled sky for a moment before taking a hand and cupping her cheek to bring her eyes up to his face. When she looked up at him he spoke gently but kept a firm tone so that she knew he was serious.
"Princess, don't run away from me to start with okay? Now you have to stop making assumptions about me and how you are supposed to act around me. I hate your tears because it breaks me to see you upset. I actually do feelings now ever since these two insanely amazing girls came into my life and showed me that feelings were a good thing before they got taken away from me. I may have before, but with you no physical contact is unnecessary. I missed you more than you'll ever know and yes I am aware how cheesy I actually sound!" he chuckled as he trailed off and was rewarded with a small chuckle and a brilliant smile from her.
That exact moment would forever live in his memory. Casey McDonald held hard against him in his arms with hers linked behind his neck, her eyes dancing with amusement and happiness, a faint blush making its way across her cheeks, and a heart stopping smile on her face.
That exact moment he wanted nothing more than to kiss her senseless and let her see exactly how much he had missed her. Being with her again was confirming what Derek had thought before the divorce. He had felt like he was falling in love with her and now after being in her presence, even if only for a mere six hours, he felt those feelings coming stronger than ever.
Catching the curious look Casey was sending him, Derek shook his thoughts away and took one arm slinging it over her shoulder while the other had reached for hers and laced their fingers together. He began leading them towards his dorm and only as they passed an all-girls dorm building did Casey actually speak up.
"Derek, my dorm is in that building" she pointed out as he led her past it to the next building.
"Good to know princess", pointing to the dorm building they were about to enter he chuckled, "this is my building. We are neighbors!" His expression showed that he was clearly pleased to find they were so close to one another that Casey couldn't help but laugh at his giddiness.
They made their way to Derek's dorm and settled down on the couch to a movie. By the time half of the movie had passed, Casey's head had found its way to Derek's shoulder.
Half an hour later the light was out and Derek was laying against the back of the couch with Casey curled up in front of him, her back to his chest and his arms snugly around her waist.
By the time the credits began to roll, the two were in a similar position where Casey had turned around and pressed her cheek to his heart. His hands had slid to the warm skin on the small of her back below her tank top where they sat as he held her. The only difference now was that both of them were fast asleep and dead to the world.
This position is also how Sam found them about two hours later when he went in to get his books with the spare key. At the sight he smiled and let out an inaudible laugh.
"His woman is back" he whispered happily as he slipped outside and locked the door. Call it best friend intuition but he knew those two were meant to be together. He knew it.
The Next Day
Morning found the two lying in exactly the same position. When Derek woke to find her in his arms he placed a tender kiss on her forehead with a smile. Casey raised her eyes to his shyly and grinned back at him pleased when he shivered at the kiss she placed on his adams apple.
Reluctantly, Derek let go of her when she tried to get up from the couch but watched her carefully as she walked to the washroom. Was it just him or did she add a little wiggle to that walk? Derek chuckled to himself and got up to make some breakfast.
Their morning went well with teasing and dare he say flirty banter in Derek's opinion. Blushing glances were exchanged as the two spend their time catching up together snuggled on the couch under a warm blanket contentedly.
They were just coming back through the door of Derek's dorm later that afternoon, laughing and joking when Derek's phone began to ring wildly. They had enjoyed lunch and a movie together, neither wanting the day to end.
Derek gestured for Casey to sit down and unhooked the wall phone pressing the talk button as he walked over and sat beside her. Without thought or pause, no hesitation, he brought her into his side with his arm so she was tucked snugly against him. Casey just leaned into his side with one hand resting on his knee and the other up to fiddle with the buttons of his shirt.
"Hello?" Derek asked, and as soon as he heard the other person reply he motioned for Casey to remain silent.
"Hey Smerek!" came Marti's enthusiastic reply. Just hearing that voice again brought tears to Casey's eyes as she sat there.
Her little sister sounded so grown up but her voice was unmistakable.
"Hey smarts, what's going on sweetie?" he asked gently. He could tell something wasn't right when he heard a muffled sob through the line.
"Smerek, I wish you were home" she mumbled quietly and miserably. Casey and Derek exchanged questioning glances before Derek replied.
"Why kiddo? I can always be there in about four hours remember?" there was a pause before Marti let out a small sniffle.
"I need Casey and Lizzie Derek. I can't live without my sisters anymore. I need them back!" Marti sobbed. Exchanging a knowing glance between the two of them, Casey and Derek smiled.
Looks like it's time for a family reunion.
