A/N: So, this is a bit rushed, but I actually like this one. It's just so unexpected and I like it! I hope you guys like it too! Please let me know! I love hearing from you all, so keep me in touch with what you think of how the story is going. R&R, please:D

-Jacki :)

Chapter Six: They Reunite… Maybe

The plan seemed foolproof. Or so Derek thought. His mom came into his room after he woke up the next morning. He was grinning, but his face fell when he saw the look on his mom's face.

"Derek, I'm really sorry, but Dennis just won't change his mind. And even if he did agree he just can't get off of work."

Derek's head ducked and he spoke with a low voice, "Are you sure?"

Abby nodded, "I'm sorry, sweetie."

Derek shook his head, "Is there anyway we can go to New York?"

"Honey, do you know how much of a hassle it is to go into the States from Canada? And it's quite a while a way, and you have no idea where in New York they live." Abby sounded defeated.

Derek put his face in his hands, "I thought this would work. I thought we would be able to meet up and go back to Toronto. I thought we had a chance to be together."

Abby put her hand on his shoulder and squeezed, "I know. I'm so sorry."

Derek groaned and got up off the bed, "I'm going to go eat my weight in sugary cereals." He said, and slumped off.

Abby smiled sadly after him, not liking how sad this situation was making him. She pulled out a cell phone and quickly dialed a number.

"I told him. Alright. Good. This better work." Abby spoke in hushed tones and kept her eyes on the door just in case Derek came back.

Derek poured a very large bowl of cereal and sloppily poured milk into it. He grabbed an overly large spoon and began to shovel the sugar coated pieces into his mouth. He pulled up a bar stool and sat hunched over the bowl. He heard his mom talking on the phone and figured it was her date from the night before. He rolled his eyes, his mom gets her boyfriend, but he doesn't get his girlfriend? It just wasn't fair. Derek looked up and grinned; he had just gotten a brilliant idea. He wolfed down the rest of his cereal and hurried back into his room, his mom getting off her cell phone when he walked in. She excused herself from the room, saying she had errands to run, and being very discreet.

Derek smiled and grabbed his half-packed duffle bag. He didn't have the heart to unpack it fully, because then it would be like he lived there. He ran around the room, grabbing all the stuff he had chosen to unpack. Then he grabbed his wallet where George had given him money for London. Well, more like snuck it into his wallet when he wasn't looking. Derek flipped through it and grinned once more, he would be seeing Casey soon. He grabbed his duffel bag and hurried out of the house, after scribbling down a note for his mom.

He grabbed a bus and sat the long ride to the nearest airport. It took quite a few hours, but he finally got a ticket to New York, thankful he had his passport from when his junior class had gone on an overnight trip to New York City. When he finally got on the airplane it was after noon and he was starting to feel nervous. He knew his mom would be furious when she found out, but he was really freaked out about was that she had been right; he had no idea where the MacDonalds lived in New York.

He didn't care though, he was going to see Casey, and he didn't care about anything else. He had no idea how long he would be staying, he had bought a one-way ticket. He had no clue what he would do when the plane landed, but he knew when it did he'd be one step closer to Casey. He fell asleep listening to his headphones, dreaming of his reunion with Casey.

Abby was at the airport, anxiously awaiting a plane arrival. On the board it said it was supposed to be unloading, so she was looking around anxiously, a large smile on her face. Finally she ran towards the two people she had been waiting for when she spotted them. She grabbed Casey MacDonald in a hug and smiled up at Dennis.

"Oh, I thought your flight would take too long and Derek would get suspicious, but he hasn't called once, so this is good. He's still at home, and we can surprise him.

Casey smiled brightly, she had done nothing but smile on the whole flight there. She had convinced her dad to let her be with Derek last night, and right after Abby had called. That was when they came up with the plan. It was supposed to be a surprise for her and Derek both, but Casey had overheard and had been so overjoyed, that her father filled her in completely. She had been so excited to surprise Derek.

The three got into Abby's car and they drove back to Abby's small house. When they walked in, Dennis and Casey kept very quiet and Abby called out for Derek.

"Derek! Come here! I got you something! It might just cheer you up!" she said smiling. She started looking for him, the two MacDonalds following her.

She saw the piece of paper on the bar in the kitchen and hurried over to it. She picked it up and read it. She dropped it instantly and gasped. Casey picked it up before it hit the ground, and crouching down, read it.

Dear Mom,

I know you care about me and Casey, and I know you're going to be so mad when you read this, but you'll understand… someday, I hope. I just had to get back to Casey. So, I'm using the money Dad gave me to get an airplane ticket to New York. I'm not sure where I'll go after that, I just have to find her mom. I'm really sorry, and don't waste your money to come over here. When I find her, I'm going to bring her back. Or I'll stay there, I don't know. But I will let you know. I just couldn't take it anymore, Mom. I hope you understand.

Derek

Casey let out a pained cry, "He's in New York? He's never been in the States alone! Dad, we have to go back and get him!"

"Casey, do you know how much it just cost for us to fly here? We can't keep going back and forth, honey."

"Then I'll go. He went looking for me. I need to find him and bring him back."

Dennis looked down at his daughter, "Casey, I am not sending you to New York all by yourself…"

"I won't be alone. I'll be with Derek… when I find him." She spoke as if it were the simplest thing in the world.

"And what are we supposed to tell Nora and George if they call looking for either of you." Dennis asked, sighing.

"I don't know, you two are parents, you can come up with creative lies."

Dennis and Abby had to hold back laughter. Dennis sighed and looked down at his daughter, "Ok, Casey. I'm going to give you money for a round-trip ticket, and money for Derek a one-way ticket for your way back here. Please call me and keep me updated."

Casey nodded and took the money out her dad's hand, "Thank you, Dad."

"Here, Casey, use my car to drive to the airport," Casey smiled gratefully and took the keys Abby had extended toward her. She gave both the adults grateful hugs and took off out the door.

Dennis turned to Abby, "Do you have any tea, by chance? All this Derek and Casey business has stressed me out."

Abby laughed and went to the refrigerator, "I know what you mean."

They poured two large glasses of tea and sat down, talking and drinking.

Casey wasn't speeding. But she wasn't going the legal speed either. She needed to hurry to the airport, she knew it would be hours before she could get the ticket anyway, and she wanted to hurry and get to Derek as soon as possible.

When she finally got to the airport she rushed to the ticket desk, looking frazzled and digging around her purse for the money. She finally got the money and paid the woman behind the desk for a round-trip to New York and back. She hurried and sat down to wait for her plane to be called. She let out a cry of joy and hurried to the gate to board the plane.

She spent the majority of the flight, picking at a loose string in her shirt and praying that Derek wouldn't be too hard to find.

Meanwhile, a lonely and lost Derek Venturi wandered his way around the streets of New York in a rental car. He had used up almost all of his dad's money, but he still had no clue where to look for Casey and her father.

After quite a while of driving, he felt like calling it a night and finding a hotel when his phone rang. He picked up, almost not wanting to answer it. But then he looked at the screen; it was Casey!

"Casey!" he said excitedly as he answered.

"Derek!" she sounded frazzled and stressed out.

"Great news, beautiful! I'm in New York. I just need to know where you live, and then I'll be there!"

Casey sighed, "Derek, where are you?" he heard her taking long, deep breaths.

"I am now entering a city called Syracuse…" he said looking at the sign as he drove into the city.

"Pull over at a gas station and get directions to the Syracuse Airport."

"Airport? Case, why am I going to an airport? You're not making me go back are you?"

"Derek, no! I was just in London with your mom!"

"What?!"

"My dad and I got a flight to London early this morning and your mom picked us up at the airport. We were going to surprise you…"

"You guy must have been in the airport right as the same time I was. If only I had waited a little bit longer, I would be seeing you right now."

He heard her sigh and heard loud voices in the background, "Derek, please just hurry and come to the airport. I really want to see you and go home."

"One problem, I don't have enough money to get another ticket."

"I have enough money for you. My dad gave it to me. I got a round-trip and enough to get you a ticket. I just need you to hurry. We're already going to be home later tonight."

"Case, calm down, I'm going into the gas station right now, and I'll be there in a little bit. I love you, and I'll call you when I'm there."

She sighed, "I love you, too. Be safe."

He hung up the phone and walked into the gas station. He was immediately welcomed with something cold and circular pressed up against his temple and warm, foul breath on his neck.

"Now, give us the money, or this customer's life will be on your hands!" a loud, raspy voice said, right in Derek's ear.

He gulped and looked up at the man behind the counter. The mad was in his forties and balding. He looked Hispanic, but he spoke to the man behind Derek in English.

"Please, don't involve him. He had nothing to do with this. He is just a customer coming in." a very large man walked around the corner of the desk, cracking his knuckles and glaring dangerously at the Hispanic man.

Derek was shoved forward by the man behind him and the object by his temple was pressed harder against him. He figured it was a gun and his heart beat faster. If only he could call Casey and tell her to call the police. Or if he could just call the police. But he had a feeling if he made any sudden movements the guy holding a gun to his head would shoot him as fast as he could.

Derek gulped and looked around; today was just not his day. He was just ending up in the wrong place at the wrong time all day.