Well I apologize for the wait, but I have a good reason.

I had been out of work for the past couple of months. I started applying at each and every place I could find, and unfortunately nothing happened. Long story short, my mom happened to find out they were hiring at her job at Johnson & Johnson.

I applied, went for an interview, and signed some paperwork. Now, they hired me for the job and I'm back in all my glory. I've started working again and I love my new job.

So, just bear with me as I draw up the final stretch of this story and juggle work.


Disclaimer: I don't own Life With Derek

Chapter 7: Girls Night Out

Casey sees a red flashing light from the side table next to the couch. She looks down and sees the answering machine flashing for 1 new message. She hits the button and listens for someone to start talking.

"Hi, Casey. It's mom. We are running a little late. Marti and Allie got in a fight over the last of the grape juice and the rest of the afternoon has been Lizzie and myself cleaning grape juice out of the girls' hair, and finding another outfit for each girl. We'll see you at 7:30. Love you." The machine says and then beeps.

Casey sighs and lets out a short laugh. She imagines the fight between Marti and Allie and shakes her head. She takes a sip of the tea she made a while ago, sits down and turns on the TV. The sound of footsteps and shouting can be heard from the second floor and Casey sighs.

"Izzy, honey. Please, you have to get out of your princess outfit." Derek pleads with Izzy to get her out of the outfit and into normal clothes.

"NO!" Izzy shouts and waves the plastic wand in her hand at Derek. "I banish you to the ice kingdom."

"If you don't get ready, then I guess the ice monsters will get you." Derek smirks as he starts to growl like a monster.

Izzy screams and runs away as Derek chases her upstairs. Casey turns around and has a double take. She is sent back to the time when that same conversation was between George and Marti, and now, years later, Derek and their daughter are having that playful conversation.

"DEREK, when you are done getting Izzy changed, could you come down?" Casey shouts up the stairs.

"Sure....." Derek yells down. A minute passes and the sound of something crashing and Derek yelling in pain echoes from the second floor. "No, Izzy. Stop fighting."

Casey laughs as Derek continues to shout and try to get Izzy to wear her normal clothes. Derek emerges at the stairs slowly dragging his feet down to where Casey is sitting. He looks at her and shaking his head. He sits down in his chair and runs his hand through his hair.

"What did you need?" Derek asks.

"Mom, is taking the girls out tonight." Casey announces.

"Okay, and what do you need me to do?" Derek asks again.

"Take care of the kids." Casey says. "That means no junk food, no dangerous roughhousing, and pranks. I just got the house clean to the way I like it and I don't need to come back to the remnants of an atomic bomb blowing up in our house."

"I knew the old Casey was still in there. You just couldn't wait to suck the fun out of everything, can you?" Derek laughs.

"I do not suck the fun out of everything. I just want to look out for my kids." Casey defends.

"OUR kids or is the prospect of us breeding disgust you that much." Derek smirks and wiggles his eyebrows suggestively.

"You have no idea." Casey mumbles. "I still have trouble trying to find the reason why we would ever start dating. If it wasn't for....."

"What? If it wasn't for...." Derek begins to say before a car horn sounds, interrupting him.

"Nothing." Casey says shaking her head in opposition. "There's my mom. I'll see you later."

"KIDS! Come down and say goodbye to you mom!" Derek yells upstairs while staring down at Casey. He then says to Casey, "Tell Nora, and Smarti I said hi."

Derek and Casey glare at each other before he walks into the kitchen. Casey turns her attention to the stairs and the kids running down. They run up to her and hug and kiss her. She smiles at them, telling them to behave and have fun. She opens the door and sees her mom waving her forward.

.........

Derek is sitting down in living room, watching a hockey game. He sees that there is no time left and the game is over. He sighs and walks up to the TV. He notices the cabinet door underneath the TV is ajar. He opens it and finds a bunch of DVD cases, labeled as a certain home movie. He notices the one that says "Venturi Wedding" and puts it into the DVD player. The DVD begins to play.


The Wedding of Casey McDonald and Derek Venturi:

Part One: Preparations

October 21, 2013: The day the world changes.....Well for the McDonald-Venturi family. Let the chaos begin...........

"Is this thing on?" George questions as the camera is pointed at himself.

"Dad, look at the button and tell me if the red light is flashing." Edwin explains.

"Okay, I got it, son." George says happily. "Ed, you said you wanted to be in charge of videotaping Derek's wedding. Well here's your chance."

"Just one minute." Derek groans.

Derek runs off screen and into the adjacent room. George and Edwin wince as they hear Derek retching. They hear the toilet flushing and water running, as Derek tries to collect his nerves. George lets out a nervous laugh as he knocks on the door.

"I guess that's what they mean by pre marital jitters." Edwin jabs. "Is he going to be okay?"

"Remember how Derek would act on the days he had a big hockey game. Well, this is one of those days, only ten times worse." George says. "He should be fine."

Derek emerges from the bathroom, glaring at his brother and father. He wipes his mouth and tosses the tissue in the trash. Edwin continues to film as Derek walks up to him.

"Go bother Casey for a while. I need to finish getting ready and you are getting on my nerves." Derek says annoyed. He pushes Edwin out the door.

Edwin walks out and downstairs, showing the wedding decorations around the house. He walks into the basement and sees Lizzie sitting at the bottom of the steps with her head in her hands.

"Lizzie, don't you need to start getting ready?" Edwin asks.

"Ed, get out of here." Lizzie says sharply. "Trust me, Casey doesn't want anyone to see her."

"Oh, good. More outtakes." Edwin says excitedly.

"Edwin, I can hear you. If you want to have children when get older, you'll walk back upstairs and help Derek get ready." Casey shouts from the other room.

"Man, how am I going to make a rockin' wedding video now." Edwin moans.

"I'm sure you'll manage. Now..." Lizzie pushes Edwin up the stairs. "GET OUT!"

Edwin runs back upstairs to the sound of Derek vomiting again. George is running his hands through his hair and waving off Edwin. He walks back into the bathroom and talks. Edwin just listens from the outside.

"Okay, we ready to get to the church." Derek coughes out. "Lets's go."

"Dad, should I be worried." Edwin asks nervously.

"Only if Casey backs out at the church." George replies. "I'm going to tell Nora we will meet her at the church."

//////////////

"Ed, I'm serious get the F)#(!# camera out of my face before I pound you into next week." Derek says angrily as Edwin keeps pushing the camera in his face.

"Ed, back off on the camera." Sam says sternly.

"You nervous?" Ralph asks.

"What do you think?" Derek asks sarcastically.

"D, it will be okay. Casey's going to be here." Sam says confidently.

"Let's hope within the next hour before Father has a coronary." Ralph says looking at the the front of the alter and the older man wiping his brow.

"Ten bucks, Derek has a coronary when Casey has his first kid." Sam challenges.

"Deal!" Ralph says as he shakes Sam's hand.

"Come you two, grow up. We're in a church but that won't stop me from knocking your front teeth in." Derek growls

//////////////////

Part Two: The Ceremony

The music begins to play as Allie walks down the aisle. The rest of the bridesmaids follow, then Emily appears. As she reaches her spot at the front of the bridesmaid, Derek begins to sweat, visibly. The wedding march begins and Sam takes out his handkerchief and hands it to Derek. Derek wipes his brow as Casey and Dennis meet at the end of the aisle.

Casey is absolutely breathtaking. A beautiful white dress with small frills down the sides and ends of the dress. The dress is cut down to midway on her back and past a couple inches of her neck. A white veil is hanging off her head and there is a small flower on the edge of the veil. Her hair is running wavy down the sides of her face settling on her shoulders, and just enough make up to hide the tears that had fallen down her face before. Of course, not mentioning the tears flowing down her face now.

Dennis and Casey continue to walk down the aisle until they reach the second pew. Derek is nudged by Sam to walk over and take Casey's hand. Derek walks up to Dennis and looks into his tear filled eyes. They shake hands and Dennis passes Casey's hand to Derek. Derek takes a moment to look at Casey. Behind the veil he can see the tears falling down her face. He whispers something to her and proceeds to the alter.

"WE ARE GATHERED HERE TODAY TO JOIN IN HOLY MATRIMONY DEREK GEORGE VENTURI AND CASSANDRA M. McDONALD. LET US BEGIN!" The pastor announces.

///////////////

"DEREK, DO YOU TAKE THIS WOMAN TO BE YOUR LAWFULLY WEDDED BRIDE. TO HAVE AND TO HOLD, FOR RICHER OR POORER, IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH, SO LONG AS YOU BOTH SHALL LIVE." The pastor says.

"I DO!" Derek says happily.

"CASEY, DO YOU TAKE THIS MAN TO BE YOUR LAWFULLY WEDDED HUSBAND. TO HAVE AND TO HOLD, FOR RICHER OR POORER, IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH, SO LONG AS YOU BOTH SHALL LIVE." The pastor repeats.

"I..... DO!" Casey says through her sobs.

"BY THE POWER VESTED IN MY AND IN FRONT OF THIS CHURCH I NOW PRONOUNCE YOU, HUSBAND AND WIFE. YOU MAY PULL UP THE VEIL." The pastor announces. "AND YOU MAY KISS THE BRIDE!"

Thunderous applause erupts from the crowd. The sound of cheers and tears echo throughout the church as Derek and Casey kiss. Derek and Casey turn towards the audience and process down the aisle. They wave as they pass by their family and friends. Once the exit the church, they give everyone a final wave before entering the limo to proceed to the reception with the wedding party behind in another limo.

/////////////////

Part Three: The Reception

"GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE! ARE WE GOING TO PARTY TONIGHT?!" The DJ yells into his microphone. "GREAT! GREAT!"

The music dies down as the DJ clears his throat for the next part of his speech. The friends and family line up around the dance floor waiting for the wedding party to enter. They see a waiter walk up to the DJ and whisper in his ear.

"OKAY, PEOPLE, I'VE RECEIVED WORD THAT THE WEDDING PARTY HAS ARRIVED AND WILL BE ENTERING ON MY COUNT! SO, DRUM ROLL...." The DJ begins to introduce the wedding party.

"GOOD EVENING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT TO YOU THE RING-BEARER AND FLOWER GIRL, MARK RENOLDS AND ALLISON VENTURI. THE FIRST USHER AND BRIDESMAID, ROBERT HUGHES AND ASHLEY WINER. THE SECOND USHER AND BRIDESMAID, RALPH PAPADOPOLIS AND KATHLEEN IRONS. THE BEST MAN AND MAID OF HONOR, SAM RICHARDS AND EMILY DAVIS. AND NOW, FOR THE FIRST TIME, IT IS MY PLEASURE TO PRESENT THE BRIDE AND GROOM, CASEY MCDONALD AND DEREK VENTURI!"

"AND NOW LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE BRIDE AND GROOM'S FIRST DANCE!" The DJ announces as Derek and Casey take center stage.

Cheers and applause resonate throughout the ballroom as Derek and Casey move to the middle of the dance floor. They take each other's hand and begin to glide slowly across the dance floor, the look of love shining in their eyes. Derek twirls Casey around with grace and dips her causing everyone to cheer louder. Soon other couples take the floor and dance beside the bride and groom. Derek and Casey meet for a kiss as the shutters of cameras go off.

Dennis taps Derek's shoulder and Derek allows him to dance with his daughter. Derek walks off the dance floor and watches as Dennis holds Casey in his arms. Both have tears in their eyes as Dennis kisses Casey's forehead.


Derek is awestruck as the DVD continues. He watches as all the memories are seen again. Now, he wants to know what happened to cause him and Casey to fall in love with each other. He thinks back to everything that has happened between them trying to find one moment.

........

"WHOO! GO LIZZIE!" Casey shouts as Lizzie dances to the beat of the song playing in the club.

Lizzie's face is turning red and she laughs out nervously. Casey and Nora cheer her on as she moves in sync with the song playing. They raise their glasses to toast to Lizzie as she moves next to some guy.

"She seems happy." Casey says as she continues to watch her sister and some guy flirt.

"Well, it's been a while since Aaron broke up with her. She need this night out." Nora explains.

"What about Marti?" Casey asks.

"Huh?" Nora says as she raises her eyebrow and looks to where Casey is pointing.

"She seems to be getting close to that guy over by the bar." Casey says.

"Yeah!" Nora laughs out nervously. "Don't let your husband know otherwise we will never hear the end of it."

"Derek, isn't that bad, is he?" Casey asks, afraid of the answer.

"The last boyfriend Marti had..... the only boyfriend she ever had, could not go through more security than at an airport just for one date. It was scary." Nora says, reminiscing on the memory of Marti's first date.

"Derek took his big brother role to heart?" Casey asks, trying to hold back the giggles threatening to come out.

"Derek took the father role to heart." Nora says. "The boy probably wet himself as soon as he stepped in the door. Marti yelled at him after she found out he was tailing her the whole time."

"Izzy going to have it rough, huh?" Casey sighs.

"Please.... we had to beg him to let you go. Especially, after the incident." Nora blurts out.

.........

"Derek?" Casey shouts as she opens the door to the house.

Casey enters the living room and finds the TV on a static channel. The kids' toys are scattered on the floor and she sees a chair missing from the kitchen table. She tosses her coat on the coat rack and walks around the first floor to find Derek and the kids. She begins to sweat fearing something happened and runs upstairs.

She finds Derek tied down to a chair unable to move. She runs up to the chair and finds him asleep. She tries to wake him, while searching around for the kids.

"Derek, what happened to the children?" Casey asks panicked.

"I have no idea. I just woke up and tied to the chair." Derek says groggily. "Did you look in the basement?"

Both of them walk down to the basement. They notice the lights aren't turned on and try the light switch. When the lights don't go on, Derek grabs a flashlight before going downstairs. Derek looks around and doesn't see anything. Casey is standing by the stairs waiting for Derek to find the kids.

"Casey.... I don't see them." Derek says worried.

"Where can they be?" Casey asks frightened.

Derek points the light on Casey. He sees something move in the background. He points a finger to behind Casey and Casey turns around to see a shadow moving. She starts screaming as a sheet is lifting up and reveals Izzy and Jayson.

"That is not funny! Go to your room!" Casey screams. The kids become scared and hide behind Derek.

"CASEY!" Derek yells, shocked at Casey's behavior.


Oh, the drama! HAHAHAHA! It's going to get very interesting.

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