A/N: I hope you enjoy the end of this one. We worked hard on it! Keep an eye out for our new stories! :)
Remainders of a shooting star
Landed directly on our broke-down little car
Before that we had made a wish
That we would be missed
If one or the other just did not exist...
Walking into the private jet, Casey found Bobby Goren waiting for her. The large six foot three man looked worn. His gray hair and dark eyes only made him seem more intense.
"Casey," he said in his usual intense tone.
"Goren, I didn't expect you to come along for the ride," she huffed as she plopped herself in a seat across from him.
"I had to make sure you weren't sending us on a wild goose chase."
Frowning at the overly logical man, she wondered how full his passport was after trying to locate Alex. "How many places have you searched?"
"Actually, not that many," he answered as he leaned forward on his knees and the flight crew prepared for takeoff. "Your mother called me off after Italy was a failure. She thought you might do more good if left to your own devices..."
Hearing the last sentence drilled the knife in deeper. Closing her eyes she took calming breaths to keep herself from strangling the man before her. Waiting till they were in the air to calmly continue, "She knew about Alex?"
"I found you rather quickly, Casey Burton wasn't your best alias." He clarified. "I found you both in Rome. I have to admit I found it admirable when you left her for Naples. I really thought you were trying to do the right thing." He paused as he took a cup of coffee from an attendant. "Tell me, when she found you were you excited to see her?"
"Yes," she admitted even if she didn't know why.
"Is that why you whisked her away on the cruise when you saw me?"
"Fuck you."
"Why didn't you tell her then? Why take her away under your alias?"
"To shield her from you and my mother!" She spat as she turned away and looked out the window. Trying desperately to ignore him.
"You know what I think," he continued without her input, "I think you don't want to be Casey Novak. I think you despise Casey Novak. I believe you want to be something better than her, and I think you believe that person is Casey Burton..."
He didn't say anymore after that. He just let her play with those thoughts, letting her think about what she'd been trying to discover all along.
And as she did, she realized Bobby Goren was right...and now she knew exactly how to execute her plan.
"What have you done!" Ellis Novak screamed in fury at her daughter.
Lounging back into the leather chair, Casey looked coolly at her mother. She didn't care about the consequences, she'd done what was right. "You were using that family and destroying them in the process."
"I was trying to help you," Her mother bit back. "Don't you get that? I was trying to make you something far more extraordinary than me!"
"Are you fucking with me?"
"Watch your language," the elder Novak corrected.
"Fine, how do you perceive forcing me into marriage as making me better?"
"The name, child," Ellis stressed, "The people of this city don't want new money in their homes, they want old distinguished families. I was trying to tie you in with a real household name. Set you up for life. It wouldn't have helped you to grow up, but now you've thrown everything away! You spoiled lazy brat"
Staring at the woman that had brought her into this world, Casey shook her head, "No, all you did was hurt me. I actually fell in love with her, and because of your stupid antics I lost her in the end."
Ellis smirked at her child, "You lost her because you lied and got caught. What was your grand plan, Casey, to use your brothers name as an alias for the rest of your life? Don't you think she would have figured it out sooner or later?"
"I was only trying to protect her from you."
"Well you succeeded. The deal has been off for a long time now," Picking up her glass of bourbon, she turned to face her petulant child, "Anyway, what do you think will happen now that you sold all your stock options and have transferred your trust fund over to Cabot Investments. Do you think she will take you back? Are you hoping you two will live happily ever after?"
"No, she thinks I am a liar and hates me. I plan to leave her be." Casey admitted softly, "I am giving her what she wants, freedom from me."
"You fool. You've made yourself a penniless pauper and have nothing to show for it! You sold off a chunk of my company, which will cost me a fortune to reacquire and you aren't even going after the girl in the end. What are you thinking?"
"That I am better than this..." she muttered as she picked up her bag.
"You come from this," Ellis stated stretching her arms out to indicate the entirety of the Novak household.
"But, I don't have to be connected to it. I want nothing to do with you any longer. The version of you that was worthy of love died with Burton. I am just happy he never lived to see this version of you," she said with venom.
The hurt Casey's words caused was vividly evident on Ellis's face, "You have no idea what it is like to lose a child. Don't you ever speak to me like that again."
"Well, congratulations, now you've lost two," Casey said as she pulled a file from her bag and tossed it down in front of her mother. "Until you can change back to the woman I once admired don't call me." With that she turned and left.
Ellis watched her child leave before picking the paper up. Unfolding it, she felt her stomach drop, as she read over the document. Casey had legally changed her name. She was no longer Casey Novak...she was officially Casey Burton.
Casey hadn't been bluffing, Ellis had lost two children. She'd lost one to suicide and now one to her inability to be a human any longer. The sound of her sobs was enough to bring James running. Nothing could fix the heartache she felt.
"This is an awful deal," Vivian Cabot conveyed, as she poured two cups of coffee, "I don't think I can agree to your terms."
"You don't have to agree," Casey replied taking the warm cup of liquid, "I ordered the transfers yesterday afternoon, as of nine this morning your company will be back in the positives by a few billion."
"Why would you do this?"
"Because, it's the right thing to do. I only ask for one thing in return..." Casey took a deep breath, she felt as if she were about to jump off the Empire State Building.
"I will not give you Alexandra," Vivian snapped.
Casey broke eye contact at the elder blondes words, looking instantly to the end table next to her, where a picture of the blonde that haunted her dreams sat. "I would never ask such a thing. I need you to know that I never intended to hurt your daughter. I kept trying to shield her from my mother, I knew she deserved so much better," pausing to collect herself, she looked back to Vivian, "You have a breathtaking daughter. She is everything wonderful in this world, and as much as I tried to not fall for her, I did. I fell for her in so many ways, but like everything in my life, I ruined it. I am sorry I ever hurt her, and while I can't undo my wrongs, I can do this..."
The elder Cabot examined the redhead before her. The younger woman's eyes were filled with an enormous amount of pain, but a miraculous sense of selflessness. She could only pray that her daughter might one day realize that she was making a terrible mistake turning her back on this woman.
"I want to make my own name. It's time for me to do what's right, and this is it. It's time for me to grow up. I have saved your company, and I will only ask that in return you give me a job. I have a business degree from Harvard and an immense knowledge of stocks and investment banking. I'd be a solid asset to you. You don't need Ellis's help, you have mine. I'm not asking for a crazy salary or anything, I will start out at the bottom, I am just asking for a chance to do an amazing job for you."
"You are mighty selfless, Casey." Vivian sighed before taking a long sip of coffee.
"Well," the redhead smiled, "Not that selfless, I may have purchased a small apartment with a view of the Empire State Building and a gorgeous black 1967 Shelby Cobra before transferring all my wealth to you."
Vivian couldn't help but laugh at the young redhead. It was a deep full bodied laugh causing her to spill a small amount of coffee on her robe. Pulling herself together, she smiled at her, "I have the perfect spot for you in my company, and as far as I am concerned you deserved the car and apartment."
"I have only one more request ma'am," Casey blurted, instantly earning a frown from her new boss.
"What is it?"
"I don't want you to tell Alex any of this," she breathed, "I am not trying to hide things from her, I just don't want her to think it's some smarmy attempt to win her back. I am doing this because it's the right thing to do and I want to fix the damage I have caused, but I don't want her to see it as a bad thing."
"If she asks I will tell her, but I won't go out to my way to tell her, is that acceptable?"
"Yes ma'am." Casey replied. Casey could only pray for a miracle now. Maybe in time, Alex would see the real her, and forgive her.
6 Months Later...
"You're being foolish, Casey," Liz Donnelly said from the young woman's doorway. She'd stood there for a full minute before addressing the redhead, watching as Casey sat in her corner office at Cabot Investment Banking overlooking the financial district of New York City. From the moment she'd first met her to now, Casey had transformed from a reckless carefree vixen, into a respectable driven adult.
Watching the grey suited redhead turn to face her, Liz's heart broke. She'd remembered flipping through some of Alex's pictures from her travels and seeing pictures of a smiling vibrant woman, but now she just saw a sad empty soul. "Casey, you don't have to sit here helpless."
"I will not ruin this for her. If she wants this then I will give it to her. Now, I am sorry, but I have to prep for my meeting with Abbie Carmichael. It's a giant potential account, which you know."
"You don't have to do this..." Liz attempted once more.
"I know!" Casey snapped, "I am doing it for her, please go."
Holding up her hands in surrender, Liz nodded, "As you wish, Ms. Burton."
Watching the second in command leave, Casey resumed her emotionless stare out the windows. At this particular moment, she was cursing the fates that her office windows didn't open. She needed to lose her senses in the sounds and wind of the wild city below. What she'd just walked in on in Vivian's office had broken every last one of her resolves, and she needed to rebuild herself. She needed to be strong again.
Hearing a familiar light knock at the door, she looked up to see the reason for her break. Alexandra Cabot was standing before her. The diamond ring sparkling on her left hand. Swallowing thickly, Casey forced a smile on her face and stood, "So, congratulations are in order!"
"Casey, I didn't know. Why didn't you tell me?"
"Have you two been together long? I mean I know you all were together for seven years, but when did you reconnect?" Casey asked as she began shuffling papers together.
"Casey," Alex almost whispered, "I didn't know, I'm sorry."
Closing her eyes for a couple of seconds to will away tears, the redhead looked back up. "You have nothing to be sorry for Alex. Really, everything is okay. I am so happy for the two of you."
"Why didn't you tell me you did all of this?"
"When is the wedding?"
"Stop deflecting, please." Alex pleaded.
Turning her back to the blonde, she stared out the window at the big city. "I did what was right, that is all. It was time for me to grow up and fix my mother's terrible mistakes...her selfishness. I gave it all up to fix the curse of my family name it seems. Don't feel bad, Alex. You always deserved better. All I ever wanted was for you to be happy, and you seem very happy."
Alex stared at the back of the woman she'd fallen in love with all those months ago. She'd changed so much since they last parted. "Thank you, Casey..." She whispered. Realizing, Casey was finished with her, she continued, "I will let you get back to work, I guess."
"I fell in love with you that first night on that cruise. You seemed so self assured and free for the first time since I'd met you. Your smile was breathtaking, and I realized in that moment it was all I ever wanted to see. I am sorry I didn't tell you sooner. I wanted you to know the person I wanted to be, not the one I was...but, I knew you would always have my heart when you woke me that night when you were scared of the storm. And," she said turning to face Alex, "I knew I would forever regret breaking yours that first morning without you in Denver."
Alex looked at the broken expression on the redhead's face. "What do you expect me to say?"
"I expect you to say, goodbye," Casey whispered, as she looked down at the picture of her and her brother on her desk, "So, I can get back to work."
"Okay," Alex said with a crack in her voice.
Casey didn't watch the woman she loved leave. She didn't need to, she'd watched her go six months earlier and that was hard enough. Alex was gone forever now, and Casey's only job was to make her family's name a household one.
Four Months Later...
Casey drove her black Shelby Cobra down the cobblestone drive of the Cabot estate. Her heart hurt, pained by the twinkling lights that were an indication of the later evenings festivities. The woman she loved was getting married. Her Alexandra would officially never be her's again.
She knew deep in her heart, that her love for the blonde would forever stand the test of time. The hot midsummer evening stood nothing to her breaking heart. She'd attempted to prove herself to Alex. She thought saving her family business the proper way would be the noble testament of her love, but it wasn't enough. Maybe she should have tried harder. Maybe she should have been honest that first night in Rome. Maybe she should have let Vivian tell her everything months earlier...
Pulling up to the circle drive, the valets came running eagerly forward. Climbing from the 1967 race car, Casey shook her head. "Do not touch my car. I will not be here long," the black suited redhead said curtly, as she picked her briefcase from the small trunk. "I am not here for the wedding, I just need a signature."
Leaving the two young men with their jaws on the ground, she sauntered into the large home. Standing in the foyer, she easily remembered being here a year ago on different terms. If only she knew then what she did now, she would have behaved so differently. She would have stopped the blonde on the side lawn during her escape. She would have fallen to her knees and begged for a chance at love. However, now she stood looking at a picture of her Alex in another woman's arms.
Was it wrong if she prayed that woman would go straight to hell for taking Alex from her?
"Casey," Liz Donnelly's smooth voice cut through her train of thought. "I thought you weren't coming tonight."
"I'm not," she said softly adverting her eyes from the image, "I was at the office finishing up some last minute turnovers, and Max Wellman called."
"He did, did he," the Executive Vice President hummed, "And?"
"And, he said if Vivian signed tonight he would move all of his investments Monday morning." She relayed.
"Conditions?" Liz asked as she took her young protégés arm and began to lead her upstairs.
Casey just acted on autopilot. Putting on her business hat was much more comforting, than realizing how her heart was breaking into a million pieces. Had she been more cognizant of her surroundings she would have realized where she was being led.
"All of the same conditions we laid forth at Friday's meeting," she explained.
Stopping the redhead at the top of the stairs, Liz shook her head, "He hated those conditions Friday. What made him suddenly change his mind?"
"Me. I called him at the close of Friday and said it was the best we were willing to offer. I told him he'd be hard pressed to find better and if he passed before noon Monday our terms would permanently increase twenty percent."
"That was a ballsy move, Burton," the older blonde smirked.
Casey gave her, her typical cocky half smile. "Did you ever expect less of me?"
"No. Come on, let's get Viv's signature."
Following her boss down the hallway, Casey suddenly realized where she was being led. Her stomach twisted deep within her, as she prepared to die a little more inside. When Liz took the handle of the room, she swallowed thickly. She suddenly felt terribly ill.
Taking a shaky breath, Casey prayed no one would notice her discomfort. She silently prayed that she wouldn't see the blonde that haunted her dreams. She didn't know if she could keep from crying at this moment. She'd fought to stay strong since she found out Alex had gotten back together with her ex nonetheless was marrying her.
As the door opened, Casey instantly saw her one true love standing before a long mirror, as Vivian fixed a loose hair behind her ear. Alexandra Cabot looked magical. Her white lace dress fell against her beautifully. Everything about her was stunning, and only highlighted by her bright smile.
"Vivian," Liz interrupted the private mother-daughter moment. As the two turned towards them, Casey saw how the younger blonde's smile disappeared at the sight of her. The look of displeasure was enough to make her want to run from the room, but she stood strong. "Casey, got the Wellman account, but Max wants you to sign tonight. He said he'd transfer all investments Monday morning."
The elder Cabot beamed at the redhead, "Well done, Casey!"
"Thank you, ma'am." She whispered unable to tear her eyes away from Alex.
Vivian looked to her Vice President, "Well, let me get these papers signed." Turning to Casey, she took the folder, "Liz and I will just be down the hall, keep Alexandra company."
With her eyes still locked onto her favorite blue ones, she nodded yes in a weak reply. As the two older women vacated the room, Casey walked towards her ex lover. Alex didn't hesitate to turn away.
"Go away, Casey."
"Why? Am I so horrible you can't even look at me?" The redhead bit out. She didn't know why she was being so curt with the blonde. She was the intruder here not Alex.
Sighing, Alex looked up to the ceiling, "It's my wedding day."
"I know," she whispered, "You are the most beautiful bride I have ever seen."
"Don't."
"Don't what?" Casey played dumb.
"Don't play games with me!" Alex snapped turning to face her. "This is the happiest day of my life!"
Pulling her jacket open, Casey freed a small box, "I know. I brought you a gift for it. I had it specially made for you."
Frowning, she took the box opening it to find a white gold bracelet with small ivory iridescent jingle shells hanging from it. Moving it in her fingers she understood their name completely. They made a soft bell noise as she moved the jewelry. "It's beautiful."
"Like you." The affirmation was given in a small voice as Casey fixed the piece to Alex's small wrist. As she looked back into the blonde's eyes, she noticed the loose blonde curl fall forward again.
Gently, she tucked it back as bells began ringing. "That's your cue," she whispered, "I wish you nothing but happiness Alex, and if you are happy then I am happy. Always."
"Casey," Alex began, only to be cut off by the door opening.
"Okay, we got them," Vivian's voice trailed at the close sight of her daughter and her young apprentice, "Signed..."
Forcing a smile to her face, Casey turned to face her boss, "Great, I will go get those filed tonight."
"You aren't staying," Alex asked.
Only half turning her face towards the bride, Casey said, "No, I have a job I need to do."
"Casey, you can stay," Vivian offered.
"It's okay, Mrs. Cabot. I've had enough fun for one lifetime," she responded with a weak smile as she took the papers. Once out in the hallway, she practically ran from the house and straight to her car. Turning the engine over, she took comfort in the loud roar. It at least drowned out the sound of her shattering heart.
Speeding down the cobblestone drive, she prayed for redemption from her terrible thoughts. She prayed that Alex would always know that she loved her. She prayed that one day the happiest day of her love's life wouldn't always be the worst day of hers.
Standing in her office, Casey listened to the continual ringing of her phone. Fetching it from the corner of her desk, she sighed as she answered, "What Carmichael?"
"Did you get the papers signed?"
"What does it matter to you? I don't work with you?"
Abbie snorted into the phone, "Right, I only sang your praises for weeks to Wellman for nothing. You do know he is the most boring son of a bitch on the planet right?"
"So I've been told," Casey huffed, as she gathered her belongings to leave. "So, did you go to the wedding?"
"No, we didn't think it felt right." Abbie conveyed, "Did you see her?"
"Yeah," Casey whispered as she walked to the lift, "She was breathtaking."
"I'm really sorry," Abbie sighed, "I almost expected you to say she left with you."
"Not a chance, I messed that up long ago."
"Well, everything will work out one day," the brunette tried to amend.
"One day," Casey replied, as she said her goodbyes and disconnected the call she looked around their floor. She'd given up so much for this company. To save people she didn't even know. It may have redeemed her soul finally and freed her of guilt for her brother, but some days she didn't think she would mind being a wandering soul again.
As the elevator arrived, she left her present world behind and headed to one of the past.
Standing on the observation platform, Casey let herself be enveloped in the wild winds of the New York City skyline. If she closed her eyes tight enough she could almost hear Burton's squeals as he would tell their mother that he felt like he might be carried off in them. The thought made her throat grow thick for a small moment.
She'd finally heard from the woman that haunted those memories about five months earlier. Ellis had been working hard to ameliorate her wrong doings. It was a slow going process, but as a sign of good faith in her daughter and mission to fix their relationship she'd offered to reestablish her trust fund. Although, Casey has turned it down and instead asked for weekly dinners with her parents. One she always attended, and surprisingly her mother did as well. At least, Ellis seemed more human now.
As old memories faded, and the new ones filled her, Casey sat down on a bench. She couldn't believe that Alex was gone now. Closing her eyes she envisioned the whole ceremony, the cake cutting, the first dance, the departure...however, in her version she was in Billie's place.
"If only that were the truth," she mumbled as she stood back up and looked at her watch, realizing the festivities at the Cabot estate would soon be wrapping up.
Walking back to the observatory ledge, she looked down on the concrete jungle below. Now she felt like the helpless child fearful of being carried away, but hers was in the drowning of a broken heart.
But then a murmur of people caught her ears, "Is that a bride?"
Turning in the direction of conversation, Casey saw the woman they were referring to from behind. A tall blonde in a familiar lace dress, but with hair down. She was walking around searching for someone.
Casey was almost certain it was Alex, but was hesitant to approach in case she was wrong. That was until she heard the familiar voice cry out, "Casey Burton?"
Closing the distance until she stood a few feet behind her, Casey softly said, "Alex."
The woman turned around brushing her loose curls from her face revealing she was still wearing the bracelet. "I had to see you."
"You left your wife to come see me?"
"No," Alex said softly closing the distance, "I left my ex-fiancé to come see you."
Mesmerized by the woman before her, her unruly hair dancing in the wind. "Why?"
"Because I can't promise my heart to someone for a lifetime when it already belongs to another," she whispered as she took Casey's hands in her own, "You will always have my heart. I love you, Casey Burton."
With that she kissed her, allowing herself to be lost in everything that was Casey. Ignoring the growing group of onlookers. Just finding herself captivated by the woman she loved.
As they finally parted, Casey smiled genuinely at the blonde that had stolen her heart all those months ago, "I love you too. I promise to make sure you know that everyday for the rest of our lives."
As she led the woman she loved to the look over, she asked, "How did you know I'd be here?"
"Because as it turns out," Alex answered with a mischievous grin, "I do know Casey Burton very well. And I know that she loves the Empire State Building."
"Oh you do?" The redhead laughed.
"Yes," she laughed, "So when I didn't find you at your apartment or home, I headed here."
Pulling Alex into her arms, she whispered, "Well, I'm glad you found me."
Holding her tight, as the air current swayed them in place, Casey realized that was exactly happened. Alexandra had found the true Casey all those months earlier. It was something she'd be forever grateful for...the time she was saved from her past.