Casey was feeding Steven. She was sitting propped up on the sofa, the baby lying on a cushion across her lap. Derek was trying very hard not to stare.

It had nothing to do with sexuality and everything to do with wonder. He could not believe that Casey's body was providing their son with exactly the correct nutrients for his development. He didn't blame his son for the quiet look of contentment currently on his face.

He caught Casey's eye.

"Sorry. I'm not a voyeur, honestly."

She smiled and looked down at her son, then winced. Looking at her baby caused a wave of love for him and that in turn made her milk increase. Sometimes, that hurt.

Derek switched the hockey on. Casey closed her eyes. She found the hockey quite soporific. Since Derek had been on paternity leave she had fallen asleep to the commentary of many games.

Derek glanced across at her. If it wasn't for the fact he knew this would all go to pieces one day, his life right now was perfect.

"I need you to take me somewhere." Casey said, a few days later.

Derek looked up from his breakfast. "Sure. Where?"

"I need to register Steven's birth."

Silence.

"Okay. Tomorrow?"

"Please."

Derek didn't sleep that night and it wasn't because his infant son wasn't sleeping. He just couldn't stop thinking about tomorrow and wondering whether or not Casey would put those two important words on the birth certificate.

Under 'Father's Name':

Derek Venturi.

He wanted it. Derek wanted it so much it hurt. But he knew that he couldn't ask it of her. So if she wanted to register Steven McDonald's father as a blank, Derek would have to accept it.

He was groggy the next day, but he got them to the office in one piece.

"Ms McDonald." The registrar greeted her. "And this is Steven?"

Casey had nodded, and Derek realised he was just a spare part.

Then she had spoken, pointed at Derek.

"And this is Steven's father, Derek."

The registrar had nodded. "Is his name going on the birth certificate?"

Derek felt his heart in his mouth. His hands grew clammy.

Casey nodded.

Was it wrong to kiss the mother of your child in a registry office? He didn't care. He pecked her on the cheek, caught her hand and squeezed it.

Amused, the registrar motioned to the chairs and they took a seat in front of the man in the suit. Derek was holding Steven now.

"Okay. Let's get started." The Registrar said.

"Baby's Name?"

"Steven George Venturi." Casey announced.

Derek stared at her.

"Do you mind?" she asked afterwards.

"Are you insane?" he asked. "Casey, of course I don't mind! You just made my day, my year, my f'ing life!"

"It's going to take some hiding." She said.

He nodded. "Yeah. Hiding your baby's father is one thing. Hiding the fact you registered him with your step-brother's surname…" He looked at her, shifting the baby on his shoulder. "Thank you."

"He's your son, Derek. I don't want to deny that."

"Let's just hope Dad and Nora never see his passport."

They smiled.

"Want to go celebrate?" Casey asked. Derek nodded.

"The ice cream is on me."

Derek was thoughtful. Casey could sense his distraction. It was a relief when he finally spoke up.

"Can you manage on your own tomorrow night?" he asked.

Casey braced herself, convinced that he was off to see her. The girl from the phone that night. So far, Casey knew he hadn't been to see her. He was spending all his time at home with Casey and their baby. It couldn't be long though. She wasn't going to stand in his way, however much she wanted to.

"Sure." Casey said.

"Good. Sam's asked me over for a beer. I haven't seen him in ages."
And Casey was as confused as ever.

"So. Have you thought about it?" Sam asked.

"Thought about what?" Derek answered. He'd only been in the house five minutes.

"Are you going to share my apartment with me? It's perfect D. Chicks will love it. It's close to the centre of Toronto. There are two large bedrooms. The décor is minimalist, masculine. Come on. If you don't I'm saddled with Ralph."

"Sorry Sam. I have somewhere."

"But this is so much better."
Derek shook his head. "I need the second bedroom for Casey and Steven."

"Derek. Casey is a big girl. She can go and live at home with your parents. She was the one that got pregnant by some lame college kid."

"Do you realise how much of an ass-hole you sound right now?"

Sam shook himself. "Sorry. I've been hanging around sports jocks too long."

"Sam. I need to be there for her okay?"

Sam looked at him. "Why don't you sound like an 'obnoxious jerk' anymore?" he asked, thinking of all the times he had listened to his ex-girlfriend go on about her annoying step brother.

"I'll never give up on 'obnoxious jerk' status." Derek said, smiling.

"I want to see a picture of Steven…Now! This kid must be outstanding if he holds your attention like this."

"Because?" Derek asked, handing Sam the picture.

"I don't know what is more frightening. The fact you have a picture to hand or..." Sam paused and glanced down at the picture in front of him.

"Or the fact he looks so much like you." He said in surprised.

There was a long pause.

"Fucking hell, Derek!"

And his friend knew his cover was blown.

When Casey realised Derek was going to be out, she picked up the phone and called Emily.

"Casey! How are you? God I've missed you! How's life? Have you graduated yet?"

And Casey felt very guilty.

"Life's good Em. I'm living in Toronto."

"TORONTO! You're right on my doorstep! We need to meet up!"

Casey smiled. "Are you free tomorrow night?"

"Tomorrow night sounds cool. Give me your address."

An explanation is necessary. Emily's parents had moved to Toronto a year after they all went to college. Emily knew nothing about Casey's pregnancy.

The doorbell rang and Casey went to answer it. On the doorstep was Emily, squealing and holding onto a bottle of white wine for dear life.

"Hi Em!" Casey greeted her.

"Hi Casey!" They hugged and Emily briefly noticed that Casey had put on a little weight. Most of it had gone on her hips and her bust though so she looked good on it. Oblivious to the mechanics of her friend's mind, Casey led Emily into Derek's living room.

"This place is cool!" Emily said, shrugging off her coat.

"Thanks. It isn't mine though."

Emily looked up from fingering the music collection. "Oh?"
"I'm just staying here for a bit."

Emily frowned. "Mysterious, much." She stated. Casey smiled.

"It's Derek's."

Her friend stopped. "Derek's?" She looked around quickly.

"He's out." Casey reassured Emily. She relaxed. "It wasn't that we had a bad break up, it's just…I feel embarrassed about the crush business."

Casey nodded. "He's fine with it Em."

Emily sat on the sofa.

"So why are you staying here?" she asked.

Casey sighed. "I needed some help." She replied. "With Steven."

Emily frowned, and then a wail on the monitor in the corner cut her off.

"That's Steven." Said Casey enigmatically and went to get her son.

She just sort of wished her best friend would say something. Something other than "Oh my god!"

In the end, Casey dumped her baby in her friend's arms.

"Meet your godson." She said. "When I eventually get around to having him christened."

Emily looked at the tiny man in her arms. "He's beautiful."

"Thank you. I think so."

"Where's his Dad?"

Casey smiled. "A one night stand." She said, putting it all in its most brutal form.

"I don't believe you."

Casey snorted. "Strange but true. I got seduced, Emily."

"What did Derek do to him?"

"I'm sorry?"

"There's no way Derek stood back and let someone screw you and dump you while pregnant."

"He handled it in his own way."

"How come it didn't make the news?"

Casey chuckled. "It's a long story. Maybe some other time."

They had a lovely evening catching up. Steven who was still not in a regular sleep pattern was cuddled and cooed over. They were chatting away nicely, when he developed the Venturi sense of hunger and began to wimper.

"Sorry Em. He's hungry." Casey said, and began to feed him.

Her friend watched her, fascinated.

"I always knew you were a born Mom, Case. I just never figured you for the unmarried sort. He must have been one hell of a guy."

"He was." Casey said, and watched her son's contented sucks.

They gossiped and giggled and Casey realised she should never have left it so long before telling Emily. She apologised.

"You don't owe me an apology, Casey. You had the world on your shoulders. It was me that should have wondered why you were so quiet."

"I guess we're both guilty." Casey agreed.

There was a click at the front door.

"That's Derek." Casey said, shifting Steven to the other side and re-attaching him. Emily looked panicked.

"Relax, Em."

Steven's father came through the living room door and stopped when he saw they had company.

"Em!" He grinned. His ex-girlfriend (the one he didn't get pregnant) smiled tentatively.

"What do you think?" he asked, motioning towards the baby in Casey's arms.

"She's done well. So how come you didn't kick the bastard to Timbuktu?"

Derek smiled. "Casey asked me not to."

"Wimp." Emily said. Casey laughed.

"Coffee?" he asked.

"Please." She followed him into the kitchen.

Derek smirked as he made the coffee. "Get it off your chest Emily."

"I thought you loved her. When you dumped me, you said you were going after Casey."

"I know."
"Derek…she's had a baby. Someone else's baby."

Derek turned around and looked at her. "Did Casey actually say that?" he asked.

Emily was thoughtful. Then the penny dropped.

"He's yours? But, she said a one night stand…so how come she's here?"

"I screwed up. We aren't together. But Casey is letting me be in Steven's life."

His ex-girlfriend sighed. "Derek. For the love of Mike, will you two just get your shit together, please… I don't think I can take much more of this. I won't have my godson's parents lying to each other. Tell her for heaven's sake. How hard is it to say Casey I love you?"

"Emily. I didn't know you cared." He smirked.

"Grow up Daddy."

"So. Emily is godmother?" Derek said later when Emily had gone and they were sitting together on the sofa. As had become his custom, Derek had an arm around Casey.

"For what it's worth. I can't have him christened. Then I have to either acknowledge you as his father or have him christened without you. Maybe later."

"Are you sore that I told Emily and Sam?"

She looked up at him. "No. They're our friends. They'd find out soon enough. You did swear them to secrecy didn't you?"

"Of course."

"Three down, the rest of the world to go."