Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters in this story. Well except Carrianne.

Sorry it took me so long to update but this week has been crazy. Don't worry I won't make you wait this long again. Hope you enjoy

Casey twitched and turned not being able to stand still

Casey twitched and turned not feeling comfortable in here own skin.

"Casey McDonald if you do not stand still I swear I will poke you with this pin and I'm not talking by accident. " Carrianne said around the pins in her mouth as she walked around Casey fixing her dress.

"I'm sorry Carri but I'm itchy…this dress is itchy." She started to scratch herself over the material.

"Casey your insane. Silk is not itchy. What is wrong with you?"

Casey sighed and stopped scratching and then looked at herself in the mirror for what seemed like the hundredth time. She was in a floor length white gown. The top of the dress was a halter that just skimmed under her arms that just seemed to sparkle. The skirt flowed down slightly away from her body. It was truly the most beautiful thing she had ever worn and yet she was itchy.

Carrianne finished with the pins and stepped away from the dress and looked at her work. "Aside from the fact that you're obviously crazy you will make an amazing bride."

Casey looked at her friend and smiled. "Thank you and it's probably just nerves with the wedding just 4 days away and you know how my brain works, worry…worry…worry."

"Casey you don't have anything to be worried about ok you guys are so happy and you love each other what more could you ask for?"

Casey shook herself and then went and hugged her obviously pregnant friend. "Your right Carri everything will be perfect."

"So to change the subject a little how is that soon to be husband of yours. How's he holding up with the stress and all?"

Casey smiled at that. "He's doing great actually. He is just so calm about everything."

She again moved in front of the mirror and smoothed her hands down her dress looking at herself and smiling. This had always been her dream. To wear the most beautiful dress that was made just for her, to walk down the aisle to the man that she loved and spend the rest of her life in wedded bliss. Nerves or no nerves nothing would ruin that.

Derek came in the door of his apartment and threw his camera case and laptop down on the couch. The shoot today had been a success as far as he was concerned. He couldn't wait to look at the negatives.

He made his way to the refrigerator and took out a bottle of water; uncapping it he took a drink as he pressed play on the answer machine. He hadn't checked it in a while and there seemed to be 13 messages waiting for him. The first nine messages were in and out he couldn't really tell who was calling let alone what the message was. Damn answering machine he kept meaning to get a new one. The next message was from Jack ranting about how he wasn't his personal secretary and for people to stop calling him at work and how if he had a cell phone he should keep it on or its useless. Derek smiled at that and listened to the next of the messages.

The next message 2 messages were from clients requesting sittings to see the work he had done for them. He made a note to call them back.

The last message started with static and then he heard his father's voice through the crackles. He wasn't sure exactly what he was saying he couldn't really pick up all of it.

"Derek…need to be…left messages…call back…something…need to be here…important…answer."

Derek looked at the clock and noticed that it wasn't that late. The message had him a little worried so he called home right away. The phone rang and rang until the answer machine came on and said it was full. He hung up and tried his father's cell phone but it said it was turned off.

What was going on? He chugged the rest of his water telling himself everything was ok and he would just call back later. He sat down and started to watch some TV but it just couldn't seem to hold his attention. What if something really horrible had happened?

He had to find out.

He grabbed his laptop and camera case along with his turned off cell phone and his car keys and headed out for the McDonald-Venturi house.

Madness was the only way to describe the situation that he found himself in when he arrived at the house. He had knocked on the door but no one answered although he could hear noise from within. He turned the knob finding it unlocked and walked in laying down his stuff.

The living room was crowded with women; they seemed to be coming out of the wood works. They were all talking at once and no one even seemed to notice his presence.

Derek made his way to the kitchen in search of his family. He spotted Lizzie making punch or more like she spotted him as he entered.

"Derek what are you doing here, you can't be here now, no guys allowed." He looked at his stepsister a little strangely and then looked around the kitchen space that was covered in food. All the table and counter space had trays of finger foods on them.

"Umm…where's Dad or Nora?"

Lizzie looked up from the punch long enough to respond. "Mom is upstairs with Marti and Casey and no you can't go up there. As for George, him and Edwin hightailed it out of here when the guests started to arrive."

Derek looked back into the living room again and noticed the balloons and the ribbons hung everywhere. It hadn't been that noticeable when he walked in to all the girls but now he saw it.

"Pretty big party." He commented.

Lizzie just laughed softly and then picked up the punch bowl and made her way past Derek. "Well it is important." With that she was gone into the living room.

Derek moved to the counter and picked up a piece of ham on a toothpick. Nothing really seemed wrong here. Unless the invasion of the females was the problem his father was talking about. Derek smiled at that and then turned when he heard someone behind him thinking it was Lizzie about to bitch at him about the food he ate.

But when he turned it wasn't Lizzie standing there, no it was the most beautiful sight he had ever seen. "Casey."

Casey had walked in the kitchen with her eyes focused on the cups Lizzie had sent her after and didn't really look up until she heard her name. She knew that voice. She looked up into Derek's eyes.

She forgot to breathe for a minute with the shock of it all. She hadn't seen him in 9 months, he hadn't even come home for Christmas this year and now here he was right in front of her, close enough she could just reach out and touch him.

She shook that thought from her head and straightened up. "What…what are you doing here Derek?"

"Apparently I lost my invitation to this little party that you're throwing."

"It's not really a party." She looked in and saw that no one was looking in the kitchen they were all too preoccupied with the game Lizzie had started. She turned back to Derek. "It's a shower, which means females only and the last time I checked that didn't include you."

A smirk rose to his face at her comment. "You never really did check now did you?" He said low enough so no one but her could hear.

Her eyes almost popped out of her head. "Umm…I…I should…I should be…you know." She started to back up when he reached out and touched her arm before taking his hand back.

"Chill Case, it was a joke, sorry."

"That's fine…but I really should get back and all. I mean this is my…" Casey was cut off but a growl behind her. She turned just in time to see Sam enter the kitchen fast and grab Derek throwing him against the wall with his arm to Derek's throat.

"Sam what's your problem?" Derek was trying to push him off but not very hard and Sam didn't seem like he was letting go anytime soon.

"How dare you? How dare you come back here now?" Sam practically growled in return.

Casey had been standing there watching the events unfold and not really moving. Not really knowing what to do but when she saw Sam lean in and put more pressure on Derek's neck she rushed forward and grabbed Sam's arm trying to pull him off. "Sam…come on let him go."

Sam looked back at her and she could see the pure rage on his face. "Please Sam." He looked back at Derek and shoved him a little before moving back a few feet.

Derek almost fell forward when Sam let go. He rubbed his neck and looked up at the other two. "I didn't mean to crash the party I was just…"

"Coming to ruin my wedding?" Sam spat out as he crossed his arms.

"Wait…what…what are you talking about?"

"Well you didn't succeed the first time right so try, try again."

Then it all came crashing down on Derek. He looked from Sam's angry face to Casey's sad one and knew that his oldest friend knew how he had betrayed him. "Sam you got it all wrong I didn't mean…"

"You didn't mean what Derek. You didn't mean to kiss my fiancé is that it? Or how about you didn't mean to betray the one person that had always trusted you? Oh I know you didn't mean to be such a jackass that after almost ruining both of our lives you show up here now, 3 days before the wedding. Coincidence, I think not."

Derek had never really seen Sam this mad before and certainly not at him. If he had known about the wedding this was the last place he would be right now. He looked down and took a breath. "Listen I'm…"

"I'm warning you if sorry comes out of your mouth I will knock you unconscious."

Derek just closed his mouth and then looked at Casey who had been really quiet. She looked ashamed and about to tear up.

He wasn't sticking around for that. "I'll just go."

"You do that."

Derek was about to go get his stuff when his father and Nora came into the kitchen. They both had huge smiles on their faces.

"Derek." His father came forward and hugged him. "I'm so glad you're here. I've been calling you for weeks."

"Is everything ok?"

"Of course it is. I was just calling you to make sure you came to the wedding. But now that you're here…"

Derek looked at Sam who had dropped his arms and had a fake smile on his face. He knew that Sam would kill him if he stayed and he didn't know if he could sit through Casey's wedding anyway. It would kill him to see he marry Sam right before his eyes. It was bad enough it was happening but to be a witness. That he couldn't do.

"I thought there was an emergency. I have to get back to work."

"Oh that's a shame. Well you're here now so stay and we'll visit for the night."

"Dad I really can't…"

"Nonsense you can't drive all the way back now anyway. So it's settled."

Derek couldn't look at Sam or Casey. "Ok but I have to leave first thing tomorrow morning."

"Fine, fine now we should get out of here before they force us to stay for the party games. Come on Sam let's let the girls have their fun." George kissed Nora and went towards the front door. Sam shoved Derek as he passed him and sent him a death glare and then followed George out the door.

Derek groaned and went to follow. This would be a long night.

So there you have it. Sam did forgive her after all. I'll get in to that a little more soon after all there was a nine month gap.

The wedding is in 3 days but anything could happen.

Review please I love to hear what you think. Should Sam beat up Derek? Should Casey marry Sam?