Authors Note: Okay once again thank you to the people who actually reviewed, it means a lot and I dedicate this chapter and its slight daseyness to you guys, if there was a way I could send you guys private updates everyday I would since you review and are very worth it!! Enjoy!

Warning: Something big and unexpected is going to come out, it will be something that happened in the past that I haven't mentioned before because I wanted complete surprise to you guys! It will be something Derek didn't know and also why him cheating on her, and her finding out the way she did hurt her so bad! You have been warned!

The Pact

(A Dasey Fanfiction)

By: SimplyShelbySJL

Chapter Nine: Peyton Andrea Venturi

Casey's POV

Derek came up behind me in the movie rental place tapping me from behind, I turned around and he smirked holding up Princess Diaries One and Two, "So remind me again why I agreed to this?"

I laughed taking them from him and then smiling, "hey it was your idea I mean I would have even gone for Texas Chain Saw Massacre, but I guess you have a thing for chick flicks." He smiled sarcastically, "Oh you know it." He then smiled holding up the kettle corn popcorn, sweet popcorn, making a disgusted face, "but seriously are you going to make me eat this?"

I smiled taking it from him, "yes, now stop whining," I laughed lightly tapping him on his head. He squinted his eyes in pain, "Owe head remember." I dropped my stuff, "Oh my gosh I'm so sorry here let me…" I reached my hand up behind his head feeling for his wound and then I noticed he started laughing, but before I could react I heard a guy laughing. I turned around and he was smirking at us, "Wow Casey McDonald and Derek Venturi I can honestly say I never thought I'd see you two again."

I looked at Derek confused and he shrugged. I then smiled at the man, who looked familiar, but I couldn't figure out who he was, "Um excuse me do I know you from somewhere you look really familiar?"

He laughed, "Try adding the eyeliner, all black clothes, and choker around my neck." Derek suddenly laughed, "Oh my gosh you're the punk dude Casey and I made a bet over." And then it clicked, it was Trevor, wow this was weird I really hadn't seen him since the bet, since we ran in different circles and all. I smiled, "Wow it really is you Trevor, wow you look different… I mean great."

He smiled, "Thanks, I think, but what are you two doing here anyways?" Derek looked confused, "You mean together?" Trevor laughed, "No that ones definitely not a shocker I mean you two were the people in high school everyone knew would always be together, but I mean what are you doing back here in town, last I checked Casey was a big singer from New York and Derek played hockey star somewhere else."

Derek and I looked at each other both thinking the exact same thing probably about what Trevor said how we would be together forever, yeah that one definitely was over, right? I smiled about to explain everything when I saw Derek get this smirk on his face, one he got when he was about to make up a huge lie and really enjoy laughing about it later, the look scared me especially when he cut me off wrapping his arm around me, "Us oh we're engaged you know, came home to tell the family and everything."

My eyes got huge and I smiled nervously at Trevor, this is not funny Derek! Trevor smiled not suspecting anything, "Oh wow, I mean I guess I saw that coming, but uh you coming to the reunion then? I'm sure everyone will want to know." I rolled my eyes, this was not funny, okay not to me and I was going to straighten things out right now.

I smiled moving away from Derek, "Yes we're coming, separate well I'm going with Max and Derek has…" Derek gasped in fake shock, oh my gosh why is he doing this, "Casey your cheating on me? And you made me find out like this and with Max?" Trevor looked at us strangely and I rolled my eyes at Derek smiling politely and embarrassed at Trevor who looked awkward, "Um do you two need a moment or something I mean…"

I laughed, "No we're fine, Derek is just being an idiot as usual, right Derek?" Derek shook his head in fake disbelief then looked at Trevor, "Hey Trevor man I'm just as confused as you are I guess now I know who really hit me in the back of my head in that dark ally last night." Derek I'm going to kill you when no one can see! Honestly this is not funny, okay maybe for him, but for me, yeah so not! Trevor looked at me shocked, "Casey did you?" I started to shake my head and Derek turned around, "The evidence is right here I mean look at the wound in my head, you know when you think you know a person."

I put my head in my hands, stupid, stupid, stupid Derek. I then looked up, you know what if Derek wants to play this game then oh am I going to play. I looked at Trevor trying to look serious, "The thing is Trevor, I did hit him in the head, but not because I wanted to leave him for Max, it's because," I moved my head so he couldn't see as I faked a sob; "this is so hard for me to say." Derek looked at me confused and I tried my hardest to keep from laughing continuing on with the act, "Derek well him and Sam, I… I… I found them in the same bed together," I broke down in to fake tears. I heard Trevor nervously say, "Okay see you guys at the reunion I have to um go wash my dog now, bye," as soon as I was sure he was away I jerked up smacking Derek in the arm, "what is wrong with you!"

He laughed, "Come on that was funny, did you see how freaked he was… but saying I was gay, so not cool!" I laughed sarcastically, "Oh yeah at least I didn't say you put a hit out on me and how could you let him think we were engaged!" I screamed in a whisper while Derek just laughed, "Come on Case it doesn't matter, I mean when are we going to see him again." I smiled angrily, "Oh I don't know… the reunion where he could tell everyone else what complete psycho's you turned us into in your little joke, honestly this is my reputation you're playing with Derek!"

He smirked, "hey as opposed to being seen with Max, I'd say that's a pretty good deal." I rolled my eyes, "Derek… try and comprehend what I'm saying to you… I agreed to be friends with you despite the fact that when we were "engaged for real" you cheated on me, and the fact you constantly get under my skin and on my nerves, but Max is not that bad, why do you hate him so much?"

Derek sighed thinking to himself for a while before looking at me and answering, but something wasn't right in the way he said it still, "look I'm just trying to look out for you Casey okay, I mean I know I hurt you, but that's why I want to make sure nobody else does and I just don't trust him."

For a moment I almost let Derek Venturi's bull fool me, I mean don't get me wrong I had or was trying to let him back in as a friend, but don't think every time I see him the pain in my heart that's been there for almost five years now, still doesn't come back, because it does. So it's hard to trust a person when they betrayed it in the worst way before, but then with Derek Venturi he's just so dam convincing you lose yourself I guess, oh I don't know. I quickly rolled my eyes to play off every emotion in my face I didn't want him to see, "I know that loser I just don't know why you don't trust him." The seriousness of this conversation was gone now, and it was because of me, but I was almost relieved and missing it at the same time, if that makes any sense at all.

He rolled his eyes, "Never mind Case, but…" he lost seriousness then too breaking into a laughter, "you have to admit the look on Trevor's face when he saw my head after what I told him was priceless." I tried my best not to smile because yes Trevor's expression was a little funny, but it was also at my expense. I smirked then, "You're right and hey our little skit will certainly make the reunion more interesting with everyone thinking I'm a psycho who tried to kill her "boyfriend" and you and Sam are having hot gay sex every night," I smiled patting him, "it will be fun for sure now, thanks Derek." I then laughed getting the movies and popcorn and walking up to the counter hearing Derek behind me stuttering, "hey come on he probably thought you were kidding right, I mean me and Sam?" I laughed walking up to the counter and feeling Derek behind me.

A girl was standing behind a counter, probably about sixteen and had her eyes looking down on the computer screen, not noticing us. Derek nudged me and I could tell he was getting impatient seriously he was like a five year old; I rolled my eyes then smiled politely, "excuse me."

She didn't look up, "Hi welcome to Movie Gallery did you find what you were looking for today?" Derek laughed, "Well yeah I mean that's sort of why we came up to the check out counter." I elbowed him in the stomach, he was so rude sometimes the girl looked up annoyed and then her eyes got huge, and here it comes in five, four, three, two and… "Oh my gosh it's you!" I smiled politely trying to duck down a little when a place full of teenagers all started looking over at us. Derek noticed to and then looking a little scared at the teenagers who were all pulling out their cell phones and searching for things in their purse he smiled at the girl, "yep it's her now can we check out our movies?"

I smiled politely handing them to her, "yes please we really need to get home." She smiled, "Oh sure just one sec I have to call my best friend Jennifer and tell her, she literally is like in love with your music, honestly, one second." She then pulled out her phone and held it up to her ear I looked around as people were slowly making their way closer. I looked at Derek who looked very annoyed at the movie girl screaming and running her mouth in the phone. He sighed, "Excuse me! Excuse me; please can we get some help from someone?"

And right after that is when I saw the first flash go off followed by many more and some phones. I looked up uncomfortably, now don't get me wrong I've gotten pretty used to this, but it felt weird with Derek here. And the first person came up a girl smiling at me, "hi I was wondering if you could sign this for me, honestly I am like your biggest fan ever!" I smiled taking it and signing it before another one was practically thrown in my face. I thought Derek would bail at this point, but I noticed he was still right behind me still trying to get movie girl's attention, "Look all we want to do is check out a movie! Hello, hello, seriously are you deaf!" I couldn't help, but laugh a little as I signed more and more things and got blinded by more and more cameras.

I saw a car pull up outside, well a few of them and now knew, that was the real paparazzi, the ones you had to worry about I mean they could turn something like this into a complete scandal, with only one picture! I tugged at Derek, "Can we go now?" He sighed pulling out his wallet and throwing a one fifty on the counter, "here we'll keep the dam movies!" he then grabbed the stuff and grabbed my hand away from the snatch and shoving teenagers pulling me safely out of the place, we were now running to the taxi which was across the parking lot.

And to be honest, yes he was still holding onto my arm, but I was only letting him because he was faster, right? Of course I am… flash from behind a car, "Casey, Casey McDonald is it true you left your ex boyfriend for this mystery guy?" Some guy shoved a microphone at me and I tried to shrug it away still running with Derek.

The man shoved it back with another question, "Well then is it true that since you were last spotted with football star Max Miller you are cheating on him with this man?" I shoved it away again, "No! Now please go away!" I felt Derek look over at me, but I kept my gaze forward to the stupid taxi that seemed to be getting farther. The man shoved it at me again, "Are you trying to keep your whereabouts unknown for a reason? Is it true you came down here to hide from the allegations made of a possible pregnancy with your last boyfriend?"

Okay Derek was definitely staring at me now, but that rumor was not true! However when I looked at Derek by the look on his face I was sure it meant he had enough, might of even believed what he had just heard and was about to leave me with this psycho reporter, oh was I wrong. Derek stopped dead in his tracks pulling me back and so did the man. The man went to shove the microphone in my face again, but the next thing I knew Derek grabbed it along with the man's camera and chucked it across the parking lot, the man looked at him and Derek smirked, "better go make sure it's not broken." He then grabbed my hand pulling me into the taxi and telling him where to go and make it fast.

Once we were in the car I finally let go of his hand and looked out the window, feeling his eyes on me. Finally I turned to him, "I'm sorry." He smiled confused, "About what?" I sighed, "Oh come on that was awful, I mean I'm used to it, but you shouldn't have had to deal with it too." He laughed, "That, that was not your fault and it's kind of cool seeing how many people love you."

I smiled sarcastically, "yeah and how many of them want to make up more faults then I already have." He was quiet for a moment and then I turned to him, "I'm not pregnant and I never was, with him." He nodded, "I didn't think you were." And then the taxi stopped in front of Sam's house we both ran inside locking the door. I sighed frustrated, "Their going to find out where I am and then they'll stalk Sam's house waiting for me to come out, this could ruin every ones trip! Maybe I should get a hotel room I mean…" Derek cut me off laughing, "Casey calm down, for one as long as they don't break in we're good, second Sam would never let you get a hotel room, and third this does not ruin the trip, you aren't ruining the trip, okay?" I looked up at him, "Why are you being so nice?" He smirked rolling his eyes, "I don't know, but you put the first movie in I'll go pop this disgusting sweet popcorn," he said walking out of the room.

I sighed, I was glad Derek overlooked something I said in the taxi and I hoped it would stay that way. I mean I didn't even want to say where he could catch onto anything, but this thing eats me up inside every single day and now seeing him in person, well it makes it ten times worse. I tried to erase it all from my mind as I put in Princess Diaries, the first one and turned off the lights plopping down on the couch, with a blanket since Sam's house was freezing.

After a few kiddy commercials the main menu rolled across the screen just as Derek jumped over on the back of the couch next to me. I laughed, "Way to make an entrance," He smirked handing me the popcorn and snatching at my blanket, "thanks now share your blanket. Okay so the blanket was small so you can probably guess we were extremely close. He pushed play and I took a bit of popcorn watching as the movie started, when it was silent I felt Derek's eyes on me, but every time I looked at him, he would look away.

And then I went to reach my hand into the popcorn bowl only to find it grabbing something that was definitely not popcorn. I smiled at him as our hands traced on each others in the bowl of popcorn, that's when I realized how wrong this was. We both jerked our hands up and the popcorn went everywhere. Derek started laughing and I smiled blushing, "I thought you hated my popcorn?"

He smiled, "I'm a guy what can I saw if it's in the junk food family, I eat it." I laughed a little and then he just stared at me, not even really smiling. I just bent down to start to pick up the popcorn when I heard the movie pause and his voice come out of the silence, "Why did you really come to see me that day?"

I slowly got up, "I told you I wanted to see you, but that day doesn't matter anymore Derek just drop it." He pulled me back down so he could look directly at me, "No we can't. Now you were on tour and you couldn't have dropped that unless it was really important, so what was the real reason Casey?"

I turned away from him, "the real reason doesn't matter anymore Derek plus you pretty much proved that day it was something you weren't ready for… you weren't even ready for me…" I stopped realizing what I had just let out and looked at him to see if he was putting it all together and I got my answer when he looked down and then up, "back in the taxi you said something, about how you were never pregnant with him, but that day you were coming to tell me…"

I cut him off, getting up, "It doesn't matter Derek now drop it, now!" He stood up, "No because I'm right that was it, wasn't it? You were pregnant and that's why you came to see me?"

I turned around the tears starting to pour down my cheeks, "Yes, okay yes! There you know now can we please just stop it doesn't matter anymore, okay I found out that day it would have never worked okay you proved that to me!"

His expression turned cold now and he came closer, "So you got rid of it? Casey it was my decision too, okay I should have had a say how could you…" I cut him off; I couldn't believe what he was implying I slapped him across the cheek, "How dare you! How dare you think I could ever or that I ever did something like that! Don't you dare say it was your decision because you gave up the right to any decision with me when you slept with Paige Derek!"

He looked up at my holding his red cheek, "Fine if you didn't get rid of it then where is it?" I backed away from him the tears streaming down my face, "First off, she wasn't an it Derek, she was a beautiful baby girl and her name was Peyton Andrea Venturi. If you don't believe me go check on her tombstone," my tears were uncontrollable now so I turned around to leave, only to finding Derek stop me, "Casey…"

I turned around hysterically crying now, "No! No Derek stop it you don't get to do this okay! Do you have any idea how it feels to hide something from everyone, to be scared and alone? What about giving birth to a beautiful baby girl who's perfect in every way and feeling right when you hold her that you're going to keep her, you have too keep her? Or have you ever then had her look up at you and her eyes tell you that you're the one she's depending on the one who's supposed to protect her! And then you can't because you gave birth to her too early, she wasn't ready! They pulled her away from me, because she couldn't breathe on her own, and it was because I gave birth to her to early, it was my fault! Do you have any idea how it feels to sit there and wait… and wait… and wait only to see them come in without your little girl and tell you she didn't make it! Huh, no you don't have a fucking idea Derek, and you never will, because I'm the one who has it all playing throughout my mind every single day, every single time I see you Derek! She looked just like you, and she was so tiny, she was so helpless and I let her down, I couldn't save her! So don't you dare do whatever or say whatever you were going to because you don't understand any of it, you weren't ready for it, okay so just forget about it… forget about… forget abo…" I couldn't take it anymore I broke down crying and I would have fallen except he caught me and I didn't care I cried and cried into his chest, uncontrollably.

He rubbed the back of my back trying to calm me for what felt like forever, but it was so hard he knew now and I couldn't take it back. Even worse I was admitting it, out loud and not like to some stupid therapist who didn't matter no this was someone who was a part of her, and didn't even know she had existed before now. And you know that saying about when you admit something it hits you like a ton of bricks, this was way worse. Finally I could breathe through silent sobs and I pulled away from Derek, "I'm sorry Derek." I had waited and wondered forever to see what would happen next, if he would blame me for not telling me or hate me, anything, but what he did next.

He came closer to me shaking his head, "No, don't Casey, don't apologize to me because I… I… I don't deserve it," I watched as his voice broke a little and he tried his best to hide the tears begging to escape from his eyes. I looked up at him, "Derek don't, don't do that okay you can't let this eat you up inside, okay? Please I know how that feels and it takes more and more from you everyday, but you don't have to let it okay? I'm the one who let her down, I'm the one who must have done something for her to come early, it was…" He cut me off and he was crying now, "No, no it wasn't your fault okay Casey she came early, but it wasn't because of you it happens all the time, but you, you did everything you could, you were there for her for the little time she was here and I couldn't even do that," he started to walk away. That's when I knew if I let him go now Derek would let this control his life, and I couldn't let that happen to someone else. I grabbed him and looked up at him, "Derek you didn't know I didn't tell you, but I wanted to okay? You have no idea how many times I picked up the phone late at night and dialed your number, but could never push the call button, I wanted to tell you so bad Derek. But after what happened with everything how could I tell you now? You didn't want me anymore so why bother telling you about…"

He stopped me shaking his head, "Casey you're wrong, you could have told me, and I wish so badly you would have, but what you're even more wrong about is that you said I didn't want you anymore." I backed away a little, "but you…" He cut me off stepping closer, "I messed up, how many times do I have to tell you I messed up so, so badly, but I never stopped wanting you and I never stop wanting you, don't you understand that Casey?"

Derek's POV

Casey looked up at me with tear filled eyes, I couldn't believe what was happening what had just happened. That day Casey came to tell me something I should have known, but instead she never could because of what I did. And worse she was going to have the baby our baby girl alone and then for some reason Casey hadn't been through enough and had her taken away from her, just like that and I wasn't even there to see or know about any of it because I was too fucking selfish and gave it all up, but I shouldn't have been allowed to do that.

She looked at me shaking her head and I knew what I said was being dismissed, and I would have rejected and made her answer, but she stopped me by what she said next, "Derek so much has come out tonight and so many things have been said, but all I can do right now is show you something, if you want to see it?"

I nodded slowly, "what is it?" She looked away and then started up the stairs so I followed her into her room, closing the door behind us. I sat down on the bed and she walked over to her suitcase taking out a small box when she came closer and set in her lap I made out what it said on the top, Peyton Andrea Venturi.

She placed her hands on the top of it and then looked up at me fighting back the tears. Then in almost a whisper she said, "This is all I have left of my… of our daughter now, but it's time you saw it, even if it isn't much." She placed it in my lap and I looked down at it, then I slowly lifted the lid, revealing the contents. On top was a small light pink blanket I lifted it up feeling the material and turning towards Casey she smiled a little as if she could see her wrapped up in the blanket almost, "That was hers at the hospital, the pink meant she was a girl, but there's more keep looking."

I nodded slowly placing the blanket in my lap and reaching down in the box finding two small pieces of paper, a birth certificate and a death certificate. I stared at the first one reading over it…

Certification of Birth

Name: Peyton Andrea Venturi Sex: Female

Date of Birth: February 6, 2004 Weight: 4 ½ pounds, 2 ounces

Place of Birth: New York City Height: 12 ½ inches

Name of Father: Derek Michael Venturi

Birthplace of Father: Toronto, Canada

Name of Mother: Casey Ashley McDonald

Birthplace of Mother: Montreal, Canada

I was then hesitant when I moved onto the second certificate and I felt Casey watching me as I read trying to hold in my tears, she was real, I had a daughter who I could never meet now. How is that possible? I read even slower, trying to understand it all.

Certification of Death

Name: Peyton Andrea Venturi Sex: Female

Date of Death: February 6, 2004 Age of deceased: 6 hrs

Place of Death: New York Cause of Death: Premature Birth

Name of Father: Derek Michael Venturi

Name of Mother: Casey Ashley McDonald

I looked up feeling the tears now coming down my cheeks, I breathed in heavily, but it was still unbelievable all of it, until now the facts were staring me straight in the face. It was like reality just kept hitting more and more. I turned to Casey afraid to look back down at the papers, "Is there anything else?" She nodded slowly and then I watched as she took the box lifting open the bottom and pulling out an envelope.

She ran her fingers over it and then looked up at me and then handed it to me. I slowly opened it and realized what it was, one single photo. I took it out, it was Casey, she looked weak, but she was holding a little girl, a tiny, beautiful little girl. I looked up at Casey, "That's?" She nodded looking down at it and then up at me, "she looked so much like you, she had your big brown eyes, they were the only thing on her that wasn't tiny, and she was so beautiful, so…" she looked away from the picture and I looked back down at it. I traced my fingers over the little, my little baby Peyton almost as if the picture would turn real and I could see and feel her soft skin.

I smiled a little through my tears, "she's so beautiful and so tiny, why was she that tiny?" I then quickly spoke again, "Sorry that was stupid to say I mean…" She nodded, "its okay I ask myself that everyday I mean why did she come early if she wasn't ready, what did I do?" I looked at her, "You were there for her for the small time she needed you, you did everything you could, and she knew you did too, she saw you, unlike me."

Then Casey hugged me, like she didn't want to let go, but I didn't want to either. I wanted to hold onto her forever, even more I wanted to go back so I never let go in the first place, so I was there when Peyton was born and who knows maybe then she would still be alive. Maybe if she was born into two people who were ready for her, who were there for her she might have been born normal, maybe then she would be four years old and I would get to read her bed time stories and watch her grow up, maybe… I stopped, I just couldn't do the maybes anymore instead I hugged Casey tighter.

She finally pulled away and smiled a little through light tears up at me, "I want you to know that being your friend again, and telling you this, I'll never regret." She said friend, and maybe that was all I could ever be with her, I had a choice. Do I except that? Hell no, but for right now, friend is enough, for now.

She stood up walking over and cleaning up her smeared make-up, "I can make you a copy, of the picture I mean." She wasn't at piece with it yet, I could tell, but I was beginning to wonder, now that I knew if you ever really could except something like that. I stood up, setting the box on the bed, "I'd like that."

She nodded and then lifted her head slowly looking up at me, "I wish you could have held her too." I looked down, "I guess that was my punishment for hurting you, maybe she only wanted you to know her." She stepped closer, "No, because she did know you, you were, you are a part of me, and a part of her Derek." I slowly looked up and she nodded, after that we went downstairs and sat down on the couch in the family room.

We got downstairs and picked up the popcorn after that she went to go to bed, but stopped turning to me, "I can't go to sleep right now, can we just stay down here?" I nodded quickly, "Sure do you want me to put in the other movie, or?" She nodded, it was so weird, but how would you act in a situation like this. We didn't really watch the movie, we just sat there in silence, after a while she fell asleep laying her head on my shoulder. I looked down at her and deep down I wished she had fallen asleep there on purpose. I looked at Casey a lot differently after tonight, but in a good way. I didn't understand why out of all the women who have babies why would hers be taken away from her? She would have been a perfect mother, if you knew Casey you would know that. And I had so much to ask her like how she kept it a secret, but I have even more questions she couldn't answer. Ones about Peyton, ones we could never learn, it didn't make sense none of this made sense.

Casey stirred in her sleep and that's when I noticed she was smiling, at least that meant whatever she was dreaming about was making her happy. I smiled a little at her, and then I carefully picked her up carrying her up the stairs. She moved in her sleep, clinging onto me. I set her down in her bed and then picked up the small box we were looking at before I put the birth and death certificate back into it first and then held the blanket up closer to my face. I then carefully folded it up and put it back as well. And then I picked up the picture, and found I couldn't put it down. I looked at the little girl again and how she was looking at Casey. It was almost as if she was smiling up at her, and she knew Casey was her mom.

I sat there for a long time looking at that picture and wondering about Peyton… my little girl. I wondered if she would be more like me or Casey or maybe even a combination of the two. If she would sing or be more of a little tomboy, I wanted to know what her first word would have been. Or if her face would scrunch up into that cute little expression like Casey's when she was mad or if her giggle and laugh would be the same too. I sat there for a long time, wondering.

Authors Note: All I can say is I personally was very satisfied with this chapter and I hope you guys are too! Remember please review so I can update soon, and you can stay in the contest and maybe win a shot as a character in the story!