Chapter 6-A Real Present, A Real Love

Hands and legs intertwined, soft music playing, and thw ind blowing the curtains gently set the perfect mood for Derek and Casey's 'afterwards' cuddling. It was her first time, not his this she knew. But it'd been the best sweet sixteen present he could've given her. It'd been so slow, so sweet and loving, so raw and real. Neither of them were aware of anything around them. George had long ago bought Casey a doorknob with a lock, whether or not she and Derek did anything behind that locked door he chose not to find out. However he also knew that would preven the younger three from scarring themselves, as if.

Casey snuggled her head into Derek's shoulder, his hand protectivly around her shoulder. He smiled down at her, her hair in her face and her eyes closed were set against the moonlight outside her window. Brushing a hair from her cheek he kissed it. It'd been real this time...not just a nightly stand or something to do out of boredom. In his mind, as corny and cliche as it sounded, they had brought a meaning to the phrase 'make-love.' He smiled again, nothing at this moment could be more perfect. Her birthday hadn't quite been planned this way but what can you do? They'd ditched school and gone to the beach, she'd had so much fun at taht beach. Making friends with some little kids and him smiling proudly that she was his girl as other guys looked at her. There was no other girl like Casey, with that thought Derek smiled once more before placing a kiss right above Casey's ear, moving his hand to her waist and pulling her as close to him as possible. For the first time in his life he was realizing that in The Notebook, Allie and Noah must have had this...because for Derek that's exactly what it felt like.

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"George this isn't right...It's not," Nora said through biting her nail. Living with the Venturi's and swamping herself in work Nora had become Blinkquite a wreck herself. Her hair was worse for the wear, her figure was bulkier than before, and she was much gittier. She seemed to have lost her edge, her nerve. Although she could instill fear in her children she had lost that fire that George had fallen in love with, and he was beginning to see it. Her work was making her snappy and ornery most days, and the days she wasn't working she was wringing her hands, wearing oversized clothes, and muttering complete nonsense about Derek and Casey.

"Nora, sweetheart, please let it go. Let them be. Casey and Derek love each other...although I may have doubts about this myself," George frowned at himself in the mirror as he combed his thinning hair at his last statement. Was he serious? He was livid beyond belief, but more understanding. George set the comb down and went to sit down next to his wife.

"No George...no no no!" She crieed, rage in her eyes. "This is wrong, morally, physically, mentally! Everything. Derek and Casey shoud not, cannot be together! Sam and Emily agree with me." At the mention of the teenager's friends George's ears finally began to pick up all of what Nora was saying. George shook his head, picked up his pillow and headed for the door. "Where are you going?" Nora asked, dropping her hands lifelessly to her sides.

"I think we need some time apart, you're beginning to lose it." He smiled with nothing but a twitch of the lip, opened the bedroom door and exited it, shutting the door behind him. What was happening to his wife? George hated the thought of losing Nora, he had to stop those kids from being together. They were sixteen. Couldn't they just wait til they were eighteen? That way Nora couldn't get a word in edgewise, what could she say? For they would be legal adults capable of whatever they pleased.

Downheartened and sick to his stomach George threw his pillow on the couch. Laying his head down he stared at the ceiling. He couldn't believe all that had happened in such a short span of time. His heart was being ripped out by his increasingly psychotic and obsessive wife, Marti was beginning to pick up odd habits, like obsessive compulsive habits, Edwin and Lizzie...well atleast they were normal. He hoped so atleast...he didn't think he could handle his other two children old enough to know what crushes were getting together. Shutting his eyes and rubbing his temples George fell into a fitful sleep. Waking up countless times in the night. What was he going to do?

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Blinking her eyes open Casey stared into the sleeping face of Derek Venturi, the love of her life. Looking about her for a moment she realized they were in her bed, no clothing and her stereo was still repeating her soft mix. Sighing with a smile she put her hand on Derek's chest. Feeling his heart beat and his chest rise and fall with each breath, guaranteeing he was indeed alive. Casey at this moment wondered...what would have happened if they hadn't met and kissed at that movie theater? Would they be here in her bed together? She couldn't help but wonder...just where would they be. Casey twirled the ring on her finger a b CD, so perfect. Corny and Sweet. Funny and Sentimental. It was perfect for their up and down relationship, their fights rocked the house but their love moved the foundation to it's knees, she knew tthis.

"Derek?" She whispered quietly, only hoping slightly that he'd wake up, she just wanted to lay there and watch him sleep. She didn't want to miss one moment of him. Who knew when something would ruin it, she knew her family didn't approve. It was only a matter of time before they took drastic actions against the couple. Fighting tears at the thought Casey thought back to the night before.

Their parents and the other three children were about an hour away, deciding to take the children somewhere nice since Derek had chosen Casey's birthday dinner plans. Not that Casey was complaining. Italian was in her blood and it was definitly on her see-food diet.

They had a fantastic time. Casey and Derek enjoyed each other's company no matter what and tonight was no exception, unless you counted Derek's extremeties on being extra sweet. He knew what her mother's reaction towards them did to her, so he was adding a sweet little spice to everything that night. From the 'special' cake they brought her for her birthday to having a special song written down on a napkin and sliding it to her through dinner, itwas a 'magical' night. Nothing could have gone wrong...nothing did.

After they'd finished dinner and left the restaraunt Derek sat Casey on a bench a held her hand in his, the one with the ring.

"Case," He said slowly, peaking her curiousity, could this not be any better? "I love you," He breathed, pulling on his collar even though it wasn't tight. "With all my heart, I think...I think I wanna marry you..." He breathed, hoping to see happiness in her eyes. Instead her face was completely blank. Right as Derek was about to pull his hand away Casey squeezed his hand back before placing her hand on his cheek and pulling him into a kiss. A passionate full out, feelings everywhere kiss. Derek put his hand on her waist and pulled her closer to him.

"Good," She whispered in his ear, kissing it. "Because that's exactly what I'm feeling too," She whispered again. "Let's go home, no one's there yet." She smiled at him, recieving a confused-happy one.

They climbed into the car and drove home. After entering th ehouse, locking the doors and throwing any purses, wallets or anything on the table Derek wrapped his arms around Casey's waist and hoisted her up, she wrapping her legs around his waist and kissing his neck the entire way up.

"You know that drives me crazy right?" Derek smiled, shivering. She nodded and lay back on her bed, pulling him over her and their lips connected yet again, never parting through the removal of clothing, unless you count the moments where they kissed each other's necks.

"I can't have a hickey," She giggled to him as he kissed and nibbled her neck. He looked at her and smiled, rubbing his thumb across her cheek, she was crying tears of a happiness. He knew this so he kissed the tears away. Their hands roamed and explored the other in full loving caresses. Derek sighed and shuddered while Casey moaned and smiled. Both doing all the same things...both showing their love for each other in a new way.

"Derek are we going to...now?" She asked, hoping for it but hoping even more that her excitement wasn't showing too much.

"Only if you want to Case, this is your birthday present too..." He smiled at her. She nodded. Slowly Derek pushed himself above her and entered her, he heard her gasp. "You ok?" He asked worridly, pulling himself out again. She nodded and giggled at his concern, before placing her hands on his hips and guiding him to her and in her. With slow speed they picked up a rhythm they moved as one, panting and moaning. Casey didn't think you could feel too much pleasure from your first time...she'd been so wrong. Derek kissed Casey all over the chest, her neck her stomach, all while they were still one fluid motion together. As they mounted towards the climax Casey pulled Derek into the most passionate kiss she could,sending him over the edge. Casey felt liquid coming from them both and Derek stared into her eyes, sweaty and his arms shaking from holding him up he stared into her eyes still. She smiled and kissed his chest before he fell next to her, pulling her close.

"Wow Derek..." She said quietly, pressing her body up against his entirely, their arms wrapped around each other.

"Case...I've never had it feel that real before..." He said gently, hoping he didn't sound like a pervert or anything. She smiled at him before he kissed her forhead. "I love you Casey," He whispered and put his finger under her chin, lifting her head to him from his chest. "Will you marry me?" He asked before placing a soft kiss on her lips and pulling away very slowly. She smiled.

"You know I will..." She smiled wider before crashing her lips against his. "Ready for another round?" She asked smiling. Derek too had to smile for he was. Casey put herself on top and stradled him. They kissed, wondering what their future would hold, being for real engaged they didn't know how long that would last. But they were sure it'd last forever.

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Derek's eyes flickered open to find Casey MacDonald staring back at him. Smiling he ran his finger over her cheek before kissing her. "Morning beautiful," He whispered. Their parents had to be home and if they heard this talk they would freak out for sure. Casey smiled back at him. Her hands on his chest while his hands were on her waist they were as close together without 'being together.' This was how she wanted to wake up every morning. She was sure he felt the same.

'Derek, did you mean what you asked me last night?" She asked, positvie he wouldn't even remember.

"If you would marry me? Yes. Why are you having second thoughts?" He asked, knowning full well they couldn't get married for two years Derek wasn't sure if she'd want to keep it all going that long, deal with their parents and surviving school, and their friends. Derek was hoping that Casey hadn't seen the way Emily and Sam were looking at the them day before...that could ruin this. He knew he liked Emily but...well she was no Casey.

"Just checking," She smiled before kissing him again. "I'm hungry," She said loudly, sitting up, his hand resting the small of her back.

"Isn't the guy supposed to say that?" He asked, pulling her back down and kissing her hungrily.

"I dunno is he?" She taunted, running her fingers up and down his chest before kissing his neck again.

"Nah, he has the girl, who needs food." He laughed with her, her smile making him smile bigger. He was inlove with her.

"Let's go eat," She said. Stealing his boxers she put them on, along with her bra and a tank top she stood up.

"What do I wear?" He asked, scratching his head and holding her hand. Reaching into her closet she pulled out a pair of swim trunks he'd left in there once when they'd been sorting laundry. "Seriously?" He asked, standing stark naked in front of her holding them up.

"Put something on PLEASE," She begged, running her fingers up and down his body, everywhere.He shivered as she kissed his neck and chest again before pulling away, "You're too sexy to be wearing nothing when I'm wearing something." She smiled at him, tossing her hair into a ponytail and applying some lip balm.

"Then take yours off," He winked at her as she smirked before putting on the shorts and heading to his room for more proper attire. She headed downstairs to find Nora, George, and Sam on the couch, absorbed in deep conversation.

Nobody saw Emily peak out from Casey's closet, a look of naseau on her face but a smile none the less as she turned the video camera off.

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