Disclaimer: I own nothing you recognize from outside this story, and definitely not any songs I use. I claim only the plot, the characters, any places and such that I make up for the purposes of this story.

Chapter 14

Casey walks in the front hallway of the house and looks around for her mom. She sees Marti coloring at the dining table. Lizzie and Edwin are watching TV on the couch with books in their laps. "Hey guys, you know where my mom is?" Casey asks. Without taking their eyes from the TV, Lizzie and Edwin point behind them towards the kitchen. "Thanks," Casey says as she heads to the kitchen.

Upon walking through the doorway Casey spots her mom sitting at the center island with papers all around her. Casey gives her mom a hug around her shoulders causing her to jump. Nora looks to her right and seeing Casey she gets up to give Casey a proper hug.

"It is so good to see you. It feels like it has been forever. Now sit and lets talk." Nora says sitting back down.

Noticing Nora having to sit more carefully than before, Casey asks "so do you and George know if its going to be a boy or a girl?"

"The doctor said it's a boy. We think we will name him Simon. What do you think Casey?"

"It's a great name, Mom. How have you been?"

"I have been as good as I can be with my feet killing me. So Derek huh?" Nora asks Casey cocking her head to the side.

"Yeah, that's why I am here. I need to talk to you about it. Derek told me in the car he told you and George we are dating now and I need to know what he said so I clear this all up so you understand."

"Unless you two aren't really dating there isn't anything to clear up. I do want to ask you a couple things and talk about this and so does George. That is why I ordered pizza and everyone else is going to eat in the dining room while we eat out here and talk for a bit when George gets home in a few minutes. Until, then I want to talk to you. First off, tell me about this. I want to hear it from you, though I don't think you can top that wonderful song he played," Nora says.

Casey blushes and says honestly, "I probably won't be able to. No matter what song he played, both of them are beautiful. I love him, Mom. He is good for me. He is fun and life with him is never boring. At the same time, he has this serious side I never noticed before. Whether it is with hockey or his classes, his focus is incredible."

"I noticed that too. Now that he is gone and doing something he enjoys, he really seems to be doing so well. He wrote another song?" Nora asks.

"He did. Ask Lizzie or Ed and they can show you later. Derek would be glad I am sure to play it for you." Casey says in response

"I would be glad to do what?" Derek asks as he walks through the doorway. "By the way, Nora the pizza guy is at the door."

"Can you handle it and set the kids up for dinner?" Nora ask Derek.

Not wanting to be in the room just yet anyway, Derek grabs the money off the island and puts it in his back jean's pocket. He pulls three cups, a jug of juice, and three plates before carrying them out the door.

George comes through the back door and hangs up his coat and sets his briefcase down in the laundry room. "Oh hi, Casey. How are you?"

Derek comes through the closed sliding closed doors with a pizza box in hand and closes it behind him when he sees his dad standing there. Nora gets up to get plates. He sets down the pizza box and sits down next to Casey. "What's going on?" Derek asks hesitantly.

Nora sets plates and pops them in front of them and hands one to George. "Derek, your dad is sorry he left before you could finish explaining what is going aren't you, Georgie?"

"What? Oh sure I am." George quickly says grabbing a slice of pizza. "But that doesn't mean we don't an opinion on this and Nora and I have talked and come to a decision on a couple things."

"What is that?" Casey asks feeling backed in a corner.

"Did you guys think of what will happen if you two broke up and how that will be handled?" Nora asks.

Derek reaches under the island to grasp Casey's hand, squeezes it and says "I don't plan on ever breaking up with Casey. If that ever happens though, we can always visit on separate weekends. I can also get a loan and move to campus. We can manage to be civil on the holidays too, I am sure." Hearing this, Casey smiles and squeezes his hand back.

"I am really proud of you Derek for coming to us yourself about this. That alone makes us think that you can follow through with what you just said. We want to be okay with this so we will let your actions speak for themselves. We will trust you two to make decisions that are in the best interest of both of you and this family," George says.

"You love each other and we want you to be happy. You will always be welcome in this house no matter what. Our family just got a little more, ummm, interesting is all." Nora continues.

"We only have one thing that will be changing directly because of this. That is that Nora and I do not feel comfortable anymore paying for your apartment. I don't know what Dennis and Abby will say and if they will still be willing to help financially. We were helping before for two step-siblings to live together but now we would be helping a couple life together." George explains.

Seeing Casey about to question this, Nora says "We don't know how far your relationship has gotten but it still is what we have decided. We will continue to pay our part of your expenses until the end of the season or after the playoffs if the hockey team makes it to that point. Derek's scholarship is directly tied to him being on the hockey team. We don't want to jeopardize that so that gives you two until then to come up with a plan."

Derek keeps a cool exterior but inside he was ecstatic. It is going better than he expected. "Don't worry. I can always get a job in the off season until we can up with something better. And I know Casey is a planner by nature. We can work it out."

Casey's smile falters as she hears Derek say "we" when referring to them and how confident he is. It dawns on her why he asked her if she trusts him that morning. He actually had it covered. She didn't need to fix anything. She has some making up to do.

George sets his pizza crusts down and clasp his hands together. "Great. Now that, that is out of the way, what would you like to do tonight?"

"Edwin mentioned he bought the new Guitar Hero earlier," Derek says.

"Lets go. And you can tell me about the game yesterday." George says as they head towards the living room.

"Nora! Nora! Nora!" Marti runs into the kitchen waving a piece of paper.

"Marti, what is this?" Nora asks taking the paper from Marti. "Marti, when did you get this? It says you need cookies for tomorrow for ballet class."

"I don't remember. I found it when I got my crayons out." Marti replies nonchalantly.

Lizzie comes in and asks Casey "Casey, hey do you want to play a board game with me?"

"Lets play Sorry," Marti says jumping up and down.

"Before we play anything, how about we help make these cookies and then figure out a game to play?" Casey says.

Nora shoots Casey a grateful smile and turns to grab her cookbook while Lizzie grabs aprons and Casey turns the radio on low for background noise.

12am

Casey tiptoes downstairs to the living room. Everyone has long since gone to their respective rooms and were now asleep. Casey approaches the couch to see Derek sleeping flopped on his back with a blanket draped around his legs. They hadn't had a minute alone since their talk in the car. Edwin, George and Derek played video games with their competitive sides coming out first with Guitar Hero and then switching to a shooting game. The girls ended up playing Clue after playing Sorry.

Casey shakes his shoulder and whispers, "Derek?" He stirs, opens his eyes, land looks up. "Can I join you?"

Derek lifts up the blanket and Casey lays down with him resting her head on his chest. He places the blanket back down to cover them both. Derek puts his right hand behind his head and using his other, he strokes her hair. "Can't sleep, Case?" Derek asks.

Casey turns her head putting her chin on his chest to look up at him and says, "I'm sorry, Derek."

"Sorry for what, Casey? I don't mind you waking me up for this," Derek responds.

"I'm sorry for thinking so little of you earlier. You always have been a charmer and ambitious when you really want something. You are a big softie when it comes to people you care about."

"Hey now, don't go telling the other hockey teams that. Can't have you ruining my tough guy rep you know," Derek teases.

"We wouldn't want that now would we?" Casey smirks.

"Besides they wouldn't believe you after we have kicked their asses in a game," Derek says making Casey laughing silently. "Seriously Casey, I just need you to have a little faith in me. I won't always get it right but I am trying."

"I know you are and I appreciate it. You have always come through in the end even in high school. I didn't start to realize that until that party we went to in Toronto last year. You did great talking to them today. I think I can get a job around my classes next semester, even if I have to give up the Dance Team after this season."

Derek responds with, "We have time to figure it out together. I am sure we can figure out something so that you don't have to do that. After the playoffs, we will have until hockey camp and dance practices in August to deal with combining jobs and school and sports."

"Confident you are going to the playoffs are you?" Casey teases.

"Of course I am. With the teammates I have especially with Mark as a forward with me and Daniel as our starting goalie, you combine that with my talent we have been unstoppable this season."

Waving a hand in the air, she says with a straight face, "oh you have been okay." Seeing him raise his eyebrows she breaks. "Yeah alright, I can't wait to be cheering for you at a playoff game."

Derek lights up and says, "that's something to look forward to. So Miss Fix-It, how does it feel to be out of a job today?"

"Have I told you yet today you are an amazing boyfriend and I love you very much?" dodging the question, Casey says moving to lay fully on top of him and prop herself up on her arms. She moves closer to him and kisses the side of his neck making her way up to his ear to lick his ear. He reacts with a shudder and hugs her closer to him.

"Nope I don't believe you have," he croaks out as she sucks on his ear.

"I will just have to tell you again. I love you. How can I make it up to you?" she asks quietly as she slips a hand under his shirt to run her hand over his abs while bending her head to press teasing kisses on his lips. He groans and buries his right hand in her hair that spilling around her shoulders to tug her mouth to his to deepen the kiss. When they break apart, he says with a goofy grin, "hi. You want to stay down here with me tonight? "

"I will have to get up early before everyone else then."

Derek reaches blindly towards the coffee table and grabs his phone. Casey flashes him a smile, takes it and programs an alarm for the morning. She hands it back to him and gives him a kiss. He tosses the phone lightly onto the table as he responds. Before ending the kiss, he traces his tongue around her lips knowing it will make her sigh. Casey lays her head on his chest and snuggles into him. He closes his eyes in contentment and joins her in sleep soon after.

9am

Edwin and Lizzie enter the kitchen at the same only to stop in their tracks. To their surprise, they see Marti at the island happily munching on chocolate chip pancakes. Derek, still in his pajamas, is at the stove tending to bacon while Casey, dressed and hair still wet from her shower, is flipping pancakes.

"What's all this?" Lizzie asks.

Casey turns and sets a couple plates of pancakes down in front of the stools next to Marti. "I thought we could make breakfast since we can only stay until noon since Derek has practice later today."

Sitting down and reaching for a piece of bacon from a plate by the butter, Edwin stops short. Leaning his head towards Lizzie, he asks in a stage whisper "do you think its safe to eat?"

Derek says pointing the fork he was using to turn the bacon at Edwin, "Shut it Wise Guy. No one said you have to eat it. More for the rest of us."

Edwin pops bacon into his mouth and with his mouth full, "Great job Derek. Best bacon I ever had." Satisfied, Derek turns back around to the stove.

Nora and George stop in the doorway to the kitchen. "Am I seeing things, Nora?"

"No because if you are, then I am too." Nora lays her head on George's shoulder.

"I think that this can be a good thing."

"Me too, Georgie. I think I smell coffee too."

"Oh good morning Mom. Hi George. There is coffee made if you want some." Casey hands her mom an empty mug.

"You drink coffee now, Casey?," Nora asks pouring herself a cup.

"No but Derek does. He practically lived on it during midterms," Casey remarks bumping shoulders with Derek.

Derek sets the rest of the bacon on the island and snatches a piece for himself. He bends to Marti. "I have to go shower but when I come back down you want to watch a movie before I have to leave?"

"Yay!" Marti drinks the last of her milk and hops down and runs to the living room to get ready.

After Derek leaves, Lizzie asks "Casey, can you help me with a poem I have to write for English class? You are better at that than I am."

Casey wipes her hands and her and Lizzie leave to sit at the dining table. Edwin looks up from his plate and asks, "Can I have a ride to a friend's house today? Before you ask, my homework is done."

George picks up his keys from the counter. "Sure, I will take you."

Finding herself alone in the kitchen, Nora leans against the sink and sips her coffee. All too soon Casey and Derek will be gone again but at least the semester will be done soon and they can visit for longer with the holidays just around the corner.

**** End of Chapter 14****

Thanks for reading. Hope you like it. If there is any mistakes, spelling or otherwise, sorry. I typed this out after getting home from Thanksgiving at my parents' house at 11pm.

Up Next: Making a Music Video

Questions, reviews and shout outs are all appreciated. Since I usually post updates in the evening, it is exciting to wake up or get home at night to reviews. Totally makes my day. You guys are amazing.

To all my American readers: Happy Thanksgiving

Thanks to all who reviewed last chapter: merdarkandtwisty, kmr04, , Kpfan72491, Dark-Supernatural-Angel, LaYdI tOmOe, feathersfam