This chapter will include a flashback to the night at Smelly Nelly's for all those who wanted it, especially you Frogster :)

As for this chapter, I hope JustMelody321, this answers your question!

Loving your reviews of course, thanks for all your ideas you guys are fabulous. And for those who have been following this story every chapter, it means SO much, and I appreciate you all.

I do not own Life With Derek.

Derek smirked underneath Casey's lips when he heard her stomach growl loudly. They were cuddled together on her bed, kissing leisurely, and it was obvious it had been a while since she'd eaten. In fact, Derek hadn't eaten since about six and it was the middle of the night. He was going to lose weight at this rate, he always ate before bed.

Pulling away, Derek couldn't help but chuckle. "Need me to get you something to eat?"

Casey propped herself up on her elbows. "No…but if you want to, you can." she said, grinning encouragingly. He rolled his eyes, still amused though he tried to hide it.

"Am I even allowed to feed you? What would your nurse say?" he teased.

"Well she might go on about how good a kisser you are…" Casey countered, throwing him off guard. Giggling, she kissed him lightly. "Oh please, I heard everything. I went to the bathroom to freshen up but then I saw you two. I thought you had feelings for her…" she trailed off, but Derek could detect the underlying hurt in her tone.

He tilted her chin up with his hand. "Case, I do not get… " he hesitated on the word. Despite her ability to bring out his softer, more vulnerable side, he still wasn't a big fan of serious talks. "…feelings… that easily. She kissed me, and I responded because I'm a guy. She's hot."

Casey avoided his eyes, shifting so her face was no longer in his hands.

He sighed. "Case…"

She sniffled quietly and Derek covered his face in his hands. He already made her cry and they weren't even officially dating yet.

"It's fine Derek. I get it. She's perfect. She is your blonde type, only she's smart like me. I knew I was only a toy to you…I knew it was too good to be true… you were just bored of waiting around and now you've found someone better so it's okay. Feel free to leave now and go to Sam's. Or better yet, her place, and then you can have mind blowing sex and play 'doctor'…" Casey said, her voice wobbling more now.

Derek could not believe she went from joking about Britney to imaging the worst. Girls were so complicated.

"Casey! Will you listen to me for a minute? Jeez, you said guys don't listen. You won't even let me get a word in!" he said exasperatedly, irritated. It didn't take much for her to get under his skin.

She glanced over at him. He took that as his cue to continue.

"You don't get it. Yes, I think she's hot. Just like you gush over Hayden Christiansen or some other attractive guy despite your feelings for someone… "

"Well I don't make out with them when I know I have someone infinitely better now do I?" Casey asked rhetorically, crossing her arms to match her grumpy tone.

"Casey. Listen!" he shouted, forgetting he was supposed to be quiet in his frustration. She looked back at him, glaring at his volume. He didn't care. "Sure we kissed, made out, whatever, but it didn't mean anything. She doesn't make me feel like you do." he confessed, blushing hardcore. "When I first saw her in here, she was the object of every male's fantasy, but I couldn't help but be blown away by scraggly you."

Casey huffed at his attempt of a compliment.

He smiled, he could see the pink flooding her cheeks. "You…you're the most beautiful girl I have ever met. Or…seen. You…" he trailed off.

He couldn't voice his feelings very well. It was already a stretch saying what he said. He couldn't tell her how flawlessly beautiful she was. And that it was such natural beauty. And that when he first saw her, he didn't hesitate to insult her because he knew if he even paused for a second it might slip out that he thought she was gorgeous. And that no girl could compare to her, because no one made him want to be better, at everything.

She challenged him without realizing, made him want to try harder at school, at hockey, at being a good brother or son. She didn't know that even though she cursed his name time and time again, she made him more self-confident than he ever had been when she expressed her feelings for him.

He had been feeling this way for so long, and he knew that Casey only deserved the best. It was like by saying that she was interested in him, he was the best. His cocky persona was always a mask, hiding his deep insecurity that he would never be loved, just a temporary toy.

That's why he dated around like he did. Sure experimenting and getting to know different types of people, but because he wanted to be making the decision of when they were done with him, not the other way around. With Casey, he knew that he couldn't do that, that he'd have to own up to the fact that he was terrified of commitment, and the fact that he couldn't control when it ended.

He would have to jump in head first into the unknown, and if she didn't choose him for the long term, he would simply fall. The scariest part was how much of him she had without trying. It was enough to break him.

But Casey knew him well and seemed to understand. She smiled, looking fully into his eyes. She ran a hand through his hair and crawled over, ducking her head under his chin. His arms encircled her, sighing thankfully. Everything felt better with her in his arms.

"I like this side of you. The side that cares how I feel and feels bad when you hurt me." she murmured conversationally.

"I've always cared. I just didn't want to show it. Sometimes a mask is better than reality." he admitted without thinking.

She looked up to his eyes. He really didn't want to get into it. She may want to be some type of doctor one day, but he wasn't about to convince her to go into psychiatry but talking about his deep rooted feelings. So he changed the subject.

"Still want food?" he teased, poking her stomach.

She giggled, ignoring their previous serious moment. "It's the middle of the night. I doubt you'll find anything good. But chocolate would be welcome. Hospital food isn't that great." she added, scrunching up her nose.

Derek smirked. "Well Britney will be visiting soon so I'll duck out now. See you in a few minutes, I'll try to be quick. But you know me and sneaking, I get a little carried away." he added amusedly, kissing her forehead before sliding off the bed.

"Derek?" her small voice came.

He turned back, raising an eyebrow.

She smiled nervously. "I'll miss you." she muttered, her face bright red. It seemed she had second thoughts about saying so as the words spilled out.

He really wanted to be his usual jerk self and scoff and make fun of her, but she was so vulnerable and sincere he didn't have the heart. "I'll miss you too Space-Case."

He squeezed her hand before slipping out of the door.