Disclaimer: I do not own LwD and have no malicious intent in writing this chapter. All characters are property of …whoever they're the property of.
Chapter 10
I just don't understand why you have to rush it, Case," your mother is starting to fuss with your hair for the thousandth time and you reach up and take her hand gently. She looks at you, "Well? Honey, you both have another year, it's hard enough, college, when you're single…but married?"
You pull her hands into your lap and give her your best reassuring smile, "Mom, we've gone over this. I was gone an entire semester, we were apart long enough to, you know, figure things out."
She's looking down at her lap, you know she's fighting tears, "But figure out what honey?"
You let out a sigh, "Us, him and me. I was so… so ambivalent, you know? But being away… I guess I just finally saw things in the proper light. Him in the proper light."
She sighs heavily, "Exactly my point, Casey – it's not just that you haven't dated all that long, it's also the whole…well, situation." Her eyes are moist and she's going to make you cry, too. This really wasn't how you'd planned things to go…
"Oh.. yes, yes I know... Well, unexpected surprises happen all the time, mom – I mean, look at Nathaniel, you weren't planning him, right?"
Giving your hand a little squeeze, she straightens up her face into a smile. Getting up, she pulls you to your feet, "You're absolutely right," she gives you a little nudge on your hip, "Now turn around and let me look at all those yards of artfully arranged tulle!" Now you're the one who falters.
"Mom, you don't… I mean…" You're seized by a sinking feeling, and overwhelmed by the knot of tears in your throat. "I'm not making a mistake, am I? I mean, I know it's weird – it'll be weird for me too…" She squeezes your hands again and fusses with your veil a little more.
"Give him time. The men in our family are strong, Casey." She moves toward the door and watching her leave hits you with another attack of jitters.
"Mom!" She turns and you rush to the door. "Will you… will you go tell Derek I have to talk to him?"
She looks at you very sternly, "I don't… think that's a good idea, honey, I mean, he's-,"
"I know he doesn't really want to talk to me yet, but…" you bite your lip, "Just tell him I'll never bother him with this type of thing again, okay?" She studies you a moment, and then comes to a decision, shakes her head and mutters, 'oh, alright'. Then she's gone.
It's fine, Case, I promise," she's really cracking up, about to go into full on melt-down mode, "George won't mind – in fact, I'm sure he'll be happy to do it, okay?" You're a little extra careful with her feelings lately, because, well, the situation and how she's handled it so well… Well, how could you not be a little bit kinder to her? This was never in her plan. You know it, even though it kills you.
"Oh, thank you – thank you for …you know, asking for me and everything." She starts to lean over to, you don't know, kiss you or hug you or some such and you back away.
"Nah, now stop – you'll get make-up all over my rented tux and I'll lose my security deposit." It's a lame attempt at levity – you both know it, but you both still laugh and then after the laughing fades you stand there looking at each other a long time. "Well," you break the spell, "this hoe down is about to start, so I better go get in place." You turn to go, but she reaches out and pulls you back. "Case, you know you're not -,"
"Wait, please, Derek, just-," she bites her lip and fidgets a little and, god, but you want to muss her hair and smear her lipstick. Down boy. "Just, before you go join the rest of the family, tell me…" she swallows with difficulty, "just – am I making a mistake?"
You swallow too, a dry, desperate sound and force yourself to give the answer you dread, despite the obvious truth of it, "Yeah… yeah, Case, you probably are." You smile a little sad, "But that's okay, because you're gonna do it anyway." Her face crumbles as you start to shut the door, "Hey – stop that, woman – your make up!" You step back in quickly and snap the door shut. "Here, here, let me-," you pull your handkerchief out and start to wipe, then think better of it, "you better do it – I'll make you look like Alice Cooper."
"On purpose," she says and hiccups.
"Of course – come on." You watch her dab, fighting the urge to pull her into your arms, "You know," she looks up at you, "No one will ever care for you quite the way I do, Casey MacDonald."
She sniffles, "I know, Derek Venturi."
"Well…I better let you get on with it…" but you don't move.
"Yeah." Neither does she.
"I'll see you after, yeah?"
"Not if I see you first!" You both say it the same time and laugh a little, then you're out the door and down the corridor, wondering what the rest of your life will be like, after.
The nerves hit right about the time you round the corner, not knowing, even at the last minute if he'll be out there once the music starts. Crazy, that you're going forward anyway, not like you. But then, you haven't been yourself since you decided to get engaged.
As you sweep into the foyer with Lizzy trailing behind holding your train, there he is. You look up and tears clog your throat and spill in big plops from your eyes. "Liz –," you look back at her desperately. She sees the tears and takes in your father, looking contrite and austere all at the same time. Lizzy's the one who calls out, "Daddy!" and starts to bolt toward him, but checks herself and hands you the tissue. Her eyes gleam as she whispers to you, "See? I told you he'd have a change of heart!" You hesitate a second, unsure. He looks at you a long moment, then crooks his arm out, an obvious invitation. You glide to him and place your hand in the hollow of his arm.
"I'm so glad, Daddy, really, I know it's not what-,"
He cuts you off, "Sweetheart, don't…" his voice is thick and you see the tears gathered in the corners of his eyes, "I should apologize to you… this is your decision, and, and…" he can't continue, both because he's choked up, and because –oh no – the music's started. You both look at Lizzy and she gives an encouraging nod. You look into his eyes. He says, "You ready?" You take a deep breath and say, "Yes." Then, you're off.
She's coming down the aisle, and you almost tear up, when you see she's on her father's arm and not George's. You feel a swell of pride for him, like you did when he cancelled his flight and came back after Casey's disastrous dinner party. She deserves it, she does. She's the best thing Dennis has ever done, and it's more than time the man realizes it. As she makes her way down the aisle, she turns and looks at you and your heart is in your chest. The next few moments are surreal as you watch her walk the last few steps and she's close enough for you to see the bouquet shaking in her hands. This is it, then. She's really going through with it. You're heart shoots up into your throat and stays there for the next few moments.
"We are gathered here," the minister's voice makes you jump and you glance around to see if anyone noticed, but they're all focused on Casey and hey, so are you. "…family and friends to join these two young people in the holy state of matrimony…" She sneaks another look at you and your breathing speeds up. You wink at her and she rolls her eyes. Like old times. "Who gives this woman to be wed?" Dennis jumps a little and says, badly, "I, her father, does, do…" The guests laugh a little and Nora covers her hand with her mouth and looks down. He turns and sits with George and Nora, an embarrassed smile on his face. Normally, this is the cue for the groom to step next to the bride. But nothing happens. You hold your breath and your chest tightens. You look at Lizzy, and then Edmond. There's an uncomfortable silence, everyone starts to fidget and you're absolutely frozen.
"Derek!" Casey whispers, her face a terrified mask. It breaks you out of the paralysis and you take the steps two at a time, breaking away from Sam and Ralph and Eli – your friend from Queens – and stumbling on the last step, you bump into her and grab her into a clumsy hug. Anything to keep her from losing it in front of all these people. You stop and look at her for a moment and she smiles and nods, then you turn and look up at the minister, smile, and say – loud enough for the first few rows to hear – "Sorry, Father, forgot my cue." The house breaks up, and during the laughter she turns to you quickly and says, "Thanks for not standing me up, Derek."
"I worked hard enough to get you here," you say, "I'm not about to let you go now."
The end of The Truce, ironically, signaled the end of the war. You know your life won't be easy, you'll be step-siblings and husband and wife. She's keeping her name – at least until you can muscle her into taking yours – so that'll be wierd. You both are blood related to Nate – so that's even wierder. And it was touch and go whether or not Dennis was going to kill you and hide your corpse. You really started to think Casey would be a widow before the honeymoon even started. You thought you'd almost lost her when you saw that damn envelope. You'll never stop thanking the gods that it wasn't what you thought it was. Although, a semester abroad for Casey meant a whole hell of a lot of separation… just when things were looking up. And Hallenbeck? Not even worth worrying about, as it turns out. Call him a dodged bullet and be done with it, shall we?
You look at her one more time and smile. She smiles back. She probably won't be when she finds out what you did to the car, but she'll get over it. She always does…
You both turn toward the priest, ready to face life, after.
AN: Well, that's it. I tried to make up for the broken promises, and not post until I was done. And so I did. The Truce ends almost exactly how I envisioned it. If you're still reading, drop me a line and tell me if it worked for you? I have appreciated every one of your comments and PM's, thank you so much! ~ Solard