Thanks everyone for the great reviews and I agree it is great to bash Max… I am so not a fan of him… wish I done more now that I know people would have loved it more, lol

Enjoy!!


Casey stared at him.

He frowned a little. "Case, you okay?"

She was spitting mad but she so beyond tired that she couldn't think properly. "I'm not going home with you," she snarled. "You stupid jerk!"

He sighed. "I figured but I refused to let Max try and take you home."

She rolled her eyes and looked at the sky as though she were cursing someone. "I'm sure I could have handled it."

He opened his mouth to say something but she lifted a hand to silence him.

"Don't say anything. Look, I'm tired and I just want to go home. You are to go to your own place and I will go home to my own bed. You've caused enough problems."

"Let me drive you," he said quietly. "Please," he said. "I want to make sure you get home safe."

"Fine," she finally said after careful consideration.

He fought hard to keep his feelings in check as he took her to her apartment. He so badly wanted her. She had been smoking hot in sparkling purple halter top that accentuated what he could have sworn were slightly larger breasts. She wore a flared layered skirt that showed off her dancer curves.

She was hot and he wanted her—he always wanted her. But he had to check his libido at the door. He wouldn't win her back by only sleeping with her. She demanded more and deserved so much more.

He pulled up to the apartment building. She tried to ditch him there but she looked so tired he wanted to be sure she got in safe and sound and into bed.

He took her upstairs and then tucked her into bed once she had changed. She snuggled down into her blankets and pillows and closed her eyes with a small contented sigh.

The sight of her like that, so innocent, tore at his heart and he vowed at that moment he would do whatever it took to win her for good. He wanted to be there for her and the baby—their baby. He leaned down, brushed her hair from her face and kissed her on the forehead.

"Sweet dreams," he murmured.

She managed to sleep through the night with peaceful dreams and awoke disappointed that she really was alone.

She had spent most of the day sleeping or getting up and feeling uncomfortably sick finally it was time for her to head home with Lizzie.

She had been fighting nausea all day but once she had come into the house and smelt a wet jacket on the coat rack, she couldn't fight it and was running for the bathroom.

She wiped her mouth and gargled some mouthwash. She then wet a face cloth and wiped her neck, hoping that would fight off the nausea.

She left the upstairs bathroom to join her sister and Marti on the couch.

"Are you feeling any better Casey?" Lizzie asked her.

Casey shrugged. "It comes and goes. I think a week of good sleep and no reading whatsoever and I'll be good."

Lizzie frowned a little bit.

Marti was busy flipping through the channels, trying to find a show for them all to watch.

Derek was the next to arrive. He dumped his jacket on the rack and dropped into the old recliner just like the old days.

He looked over Marti's head at her as though to see how she was.

She turned back to look at the TV.

"How's it going Smarti?" Derek asked his sister.

She smiled. "Same old, same old. You know, I've been studying hard for my midterms. Dance class is going great and so are my acting classes. Jake's taking me to the spring dance," she said.

Derek turned with a shocked expression to look at his baby sister. "A boy is taking you to a spring dance?"

Derek, I'm sixteen! There's nothing wrong with me having a date for a spring dance."

Lizzie and Casey frowned at Derek to back her up.

He scowled but threw his hands up in surrender. Three against one, he knew better, especially since he was already in the dog house with Casey.

Nora swept into the house, holding a desert box from the bakery.

"Hey kids," she said, coming over to kiss each of them on the cheek.

When she got to Casey, she gave her a speculative look. "Are you alright?" she asked her eldest daughter.

Casey gave a shrug. "Run down from all my exams I guess."

Nora pat her on the cheek. "Okay, but you need to take care of yourself."

"Mom," Casey chided.

Nora smiled. "Well, I'm just going to help George finish up with dinner. Where's Edwin?"

Lizzie looked at her watch. "He should be in soon I'd imagine. He was flying in from the States with Wilson."

"I guess he will be in real soon then," Marti said, changing the channel again.

They were setting the table when Edwin came banging into the house with all of his bags.

"Hey Ed," Derek said, coming over to bang fists.

"Hey D," Edwin said, "How's it going?"

"Alright I guess," he said as he was walked back to the table with Edwin beside him.

"Hi Edwin," George smiled at his youngest son. "Dinner's ready, everybody sit," he smiled.

They all sat down and dug in.

"So you two," Nora said looking at both Casey and Derek, are you excited to be graduating from university now?"

Derek smirked. "I'm glad because now I will never have to go to school again. No more books or anything."

Nora laughed.

"I'm just so proud for you to not only graduate high school but university with a business degree no less," George beamed. "I never thought I would see the day," he laughed. "You hated school so much, and yet here you are, so accomplished."

Derek shrugged. "Maybe I wanted people to see that I could do something with myself," he said, looking carefully at Casey.

She was very interested in her dinner and didn't bother to look up at him.

"Well, I'm glad to hear it," Nora smiled.

"What are the hockey prospects?" George asked.

"I've had a lot of offers and with the new season open for next year and all that fun jazz—but I think I like my offer to join Toronto, New York, and Anaheim best."

"Anaheim?" Marti said with surprise. "That could be cool then I could come and visit you and you could totally take me to Disneyland."

Derek laughed.

"New York would be nice," Edwin grinned. "I would have some semblance of family then."

"You'd want me there because you'd want to meet my hockey groupies," Derek smirked.

Casey rolled her eyes. "Right," she muttered under her breath.

"So, what is everyone's news?" George asked them.

Lizzie grinned. "Oh me first. I got an internship with environment Canada."

"Oh my god Lizzie, that is so excellent," Nora said with a proud gleam in her eyes.

"I will work with them for three months, get a real sense of what the government is doing to help the environment," she said excitedly.

Casey pat her on the shoulder. "That is the perfect thing for you."

Lizzie grinned. "I know. It will be a great summer—some real hands on work."

"Me next, me next," Marti beamed.

"Alright Marti, tell everyone the great news," George smiled.

Marti practically glowed over the news she had been holding in. "I got a part in a movie being filmed in Toronto."

They all cheered for Marti over that one.

"What's the part?" Edwin asked.

"I play the lead's best friend who is secretly in love with the best friend's brother. It's a whole triangle love thing while the lead's mom is dying of cancer. It's supposed to be a great drama."

Derek gave her a bright smile. "Well, I will be there for your big opening day… as long as I am able," he grinned.

"What about you Ed?" Casey asked.

He shrugged. "Well, I just happened to get an internship at one of the greatest marketing firms in New York."

"Marketing!" Derek said with some surprise. "I thought you were going to be a lawyer or a spy or something."

Edwin laughed. "I do believe in throwing pitches more than the good old spy game—besides its really dangerous. Pitching is more to my style."

Casey snorted. "Understatement," she laughed, remembering when he pitched various games to her dad whenever he visited her and Lizzie.

Edwin smiled. "Yes, well, while studying at NYU I met a lot of great people and through your dad I have met some pretty powerful people and figured that I was better at throwing around new ideas. Hell, I still might even consider going onto an executive board with the broadcasters I met. I just want to try my hand at what suits me best."

"Well done Edwin," George said. "That's impressive. I wish you would be here, you know closer to home, but I'm glad you're doing what you want to do."

"With me in New York, you have a good excuse to come and check out the city. It's crazy but wonderful at the same time."

"We'll do our best," Nora smiled as she got up to get the dessert ready and Lizzie and Marti and Edwin helped to clear the dishes.

Derek wondered if Casey had her own news besides being pregnant. He figured she was bound to save that particular tidbit of news until she was in the safe zone and he hoped he would be there for the announcement.

They were enjoying the cinnamon buns that Nora had gotten from the bakery when Nora turned to look at her oldest daughter.

"What about you? Don't you have some news?"

Casey gave her mom a smile. "Yeah, I got hired into that agency I did then internship with. They practically begged me. It means I would be doing a lot of work in Ottawa with a lot of work in Toronto also. They really need interpreters and the money is really good."

"Oh that's great," Nora beamed.

"Where are you going to live then?" Lizzie asked.

"The agency is with the government so that means I should probably live in Ottawa for the most part. At least that way I am only a quick flight away from home or a five to six hour drive."

"Wouldn't it be better to live in Toronto?" Marti asked. "That way I could stay with you when I'm there."

Derek grinned. "Well, I still have my apartment with Sam. Sam is going to Europe with Kendra and a few friends. A graduation gift to themselves I think," he grinned. "So you can stay at my apartment Smarti."

She frowned.

"Sam is moving in with Kendra when he gets back after their three weeks in Europe, and I will be in and out. I have to go to sports camp and I think I could be picked up fairly soon, so I wont be around all that much."

"Thanks Derek," George said. "That would save us a lot of money compared to staying at a hotel."

Derek shrugged. "Well, the lease is good until September. I might as well get some good use of the place."

Casey realized that while she had plans so she could take care of the baby, she had not let the reality of Derek's dream effect her. Now as she realized that he could end up anywhere, she let the dream of her being with him sink into the abyss of dark emotions.

Derek felt her eyes on him. When he looked up, she looked so sad, so distraught that he wanted to take her in his arms and assure her that they would make everything work out. He didn't know if they could but he would promise her anything to take that sad look out of her eyes.

"will you excuse me," Casey said getting up. "I have a headache and I think I've had all I can for the day."

Nora gave her a sympathetic smile. "Sure sweetie. Go and rest. I hope you feel better soon."

Casey gave a nod but as she started up the stairs. "Sure, if you consider seven and a half months soon," she muttered under her breath.

Derek sat there morosely on the couch watching the hockey game. Later when he had the chance he would go and talk to her but knew it would look a little fishy if he left them all right now. He wanted to play his cards right. He needed to make it right with Casey before they came clean to the family.

"George, I'm worried," Nora said looking at her husband as they started clearing up the table. "Do you think she pushed herself too hard?"

"Probably," Lizzie added. "It started about two weeks ago. She's been really tired and I've heard her throwing up a few times. I guess its stress. At least school is over and she can take better care of herself."

Nora seemed to frown. A motherly instinct was kicking in and she was wondering if there was more to her daughter feeling so ill. She went excused herself and went up to Casey's room and knocked on the door then entered the room.

Casey was laying on her bed, staring up at the ceiling, tears falling down her cheeks.

"Oh Casey, honey, are you alright?" Nora said, coming to sit down on the bed.

She sat up and shook her head. "No."

"what's wrong?"

"I'm just scared."

Nora knew then. Not only by her mother's instinct but by basic woman instinct, she knew that her daughter was pregnant.

"Oh honey, it will be okay. Its hard to go through but in the end the miracle of the life you created will make all of this worthwhile. You'll always have something that you will be scared about, but a baby will give you a whole new joy to life. They add so much more to your life."

Casey seemed to elapse into more tears. "Oh my god mom, this is just so horrible."

"you don't want it?"

Casey shook her head, "No, no, its just that well…"

"You weren't really dating the father?" she asked, trying to guess at what might be distressing her daughter besides being pregnant.

"Oh I've known him a long time its just that we're probably about to separate for good, you know he has his dreams and I cant hold him back with this baby. It wasn't his fault. It just happened."

"Casey, I'm sure the two of you can work it out somehow."

"But I love him and he doesn't even know it. I told him about the baby and he was a jerk and he said now he wants to make it up to me. But again I don't know where he's going to be in the next while."

"Can I ask who it is," she asked cautiously.

Casey took a deep breath. "You wont get mad?"

"Why would I get mad? I'm here for you no matter what."

She took another deep breath. "its ironic that in all the years we've known each other we didn't hook up until a month a half ago for the first time and my god its so crazy."

Nora brushed her hair from her face. "I'm sure its not that bad."

Casey took a deep breath. "I'm having a baby with Derek."

Nora's eyes widened. "Oh my," she said. "Now that is a surprise."


I had such a tough time with this chapter. I had a plan then it crashed and I had to rewrite the beginning. Have to love when it doesn't go your way. I don't think this is the best chapter, but I guess it will have to do. Give me 8 reviews and the next chapter's yours… I'm thinking some reconciling and parents overjoyed feelings at becoming grandparents… should be interesting right… yeah, we'll see