This chapter is pretty much a filler. After this, the story will start moving at a faster pace.
Disclaimer: I don't own Life With Derek or Queens
Chapter 6: Photo Albums
Derek had left with the kids about an hour ago. He had taken them to the toy store and the movies while Casey begins to clean up from the holidays. The little kids were excited about going and spending time with their father considering he is always wrapped in his work.
Meanwhile, Casey starts her freak-out cleaning binge. Cleaning absolutely everything in sight until it is sparkling and looks almost new. She starts in one room making a furious path throughout the living room. She moves all of the kids' toys into one general area. She dusts, vacuums, and scrubs the entire room. When she reaches the bookcase, she reorganizes the book based on title. She reaches one book that says 'Family Photo Album Vol 1', written in script.
She takes out the album and sits down. She opens to the first page of pictures. The first picture is of the entire McDonald-Venturi family, it was from the days when Nora was pregnant, before Casey and Derek left for college.
The next picture is of Casey and Derek at Christmas. Derek is wearing his Queens University sweatshirt. Casey is in a pink hoodie. Their hands are intertwined and arms wrapped around each other. Nora is holding the smallest McDonald-Venturi in her arms. George has his arms wrapped around Nora. Edwin, Lizzie, and Marti are huddled in the middle smiling at the camera.
Casey flips through more pictures, finding random pictures of herself and Derek, pictures from birthdays and holidays, watching her entire life flash before her eyes. She stops when she reaches one particular picture. Derek's marriage proposal. Her eyes fill with tears as she concentrates on that picture.
Derek cleans up pretty good. He looks passably handsome. WHAT AM I THINKING?
In the picture Derek is dressed in a grey suit with a white button-up shirt. Casey is dressed in a blue dress. Derek is kneeling in front of Casey with a black box held out. She has tears in her eyes and is smiling widely. The diamond ring seems to shimmer brightly through the picture, but Casey realizes it is the sun's refraction off the ring on her finger.
The next picture that catches her eye is one of her sitting on the couch ready a book. It seems to be a simple picture, but the camera was pulled back far enough for someone to see the swell of Casey's belly and Casey realizes this was taken during her pregnancy. The picture smiles back at her and she closes her eyes, running a hand over the picture.
Casey goes back to the bookcase and grabs another album. She walks over and sits in the recliner. She looks inside and on the first page is a little note.
Case: This book marks the new beginning of our lives. We are welcoming two children into this world. The first album of pictures surrounded life up until the time you were admitted into the hospital for the birth of the twins. This will be pictures of our lives after their birth.
Above all else, I love you now and I'll always love you. Happy Birthday, Princess.
Derek gave this to me. What happened? When did he become this caring, loving man. More importantly when did he become caring and loving to me.
Casey begins to let the tears flow down her face. She continues to look at pictures in the album. The first picture is of her laying in a hospital bed with a hospital gown on and holding two small infants. She watches as memories of the children's early childhood pass in front of her. The tear begin to flow rapidly as she sees different moments of her life and the small family moments that only seemed possible in her dreams.
The door opens, revealing a laughing Derek, Jayson, and Izzy. Casey looks up as Derek carries in two bags full of toys. The three stop laughing when they hear the choked sobs coming from Casey. Izzy and Jayson run up to Casey and hug her.
Casey breaks down into more sobs and just holds her two children in hand. She falls to the ground and buries her head into the opening between the twins shoulders.
"Mommy, what's wrong?" Izzy and Jayson ask scared.
"Casey, are you all right?" Derek asks concerned.
"I'm just so happy that you two are in my life." Casey says to Izzy and Jayson. "I love you both so much."
"We love you, too." Izzy and Jayson whisper into Casey's ears.
Wow! I may just be a sucker, but I think this was perhaps the most emotional chapter I have ever written in a story. No, don't agree with me.....Oh, well. MOVING ON.
Next chapter: A girls night out, Derek finds a movie, and some Izzy and Jayson hijinks.
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