November 2nd, 2002

Sara stretched after her warm up and walked into the living room. She smiled softly as she watched him. Derek was up to something the past couple of days. She wasn't sure what it was though. She was the one who was supposed to be plotting something.

Derek's birthday was in a couple of weeks and she still had no idea what she was going to do for him. It had to be special.

"It's snowing outside, Sara." Derek said to her. Sara glanced out the window and nodded. She hated new York winters. they were so much different than Chicago winters. Maybe they could have to move to warmer climate someday in the future.

"Just great." She said, "Will you drive over to the dance hall with me? They are posting the parts today." Derek nodded.

"Of course." He said, "I want to capture the moment in my memory." Sara rolled her eyes.

"Let's go, Baby." Sara said. god, she was so nervous.

* * *

Sara climbed out of the car and shivered. New York was very cold. She was so nervous. She had the right to be though.

"Come on." Derek took Sara by her waist as they walked into the building. Her hands were shaking. "I'm sure you got a part."

"Probably as a sugar plum fairy or something." She said.

"Just don't be so negative." He chuckled

"Me negative? No! I'm just realistic." She said, "I'm not the best ballerina in the world."

"To me you are, Sara." He said to her. Sara chuckled.

"Thanks." She said walking down the hall, "There it is."

"Go look." He said patting her butt. Sara smiled and walked up to the board. She took in a deep breath. Her eyes started to scan over the list of names. Her heart pounded in her chest as she saw Clara's name.

"This is it, Derek." She whispered and looked at the name beside it. Her heart stopped in her chest. "Oh my god."

"What?" Derek asked. Sara turned and looked at him.

"I got it." She whispered.
"What?" His eyes widened.

"I got it!!!" Sara cried, "I'm Clara!!!!" She flung herself at Derek and hugged him tightly.

"That's my girl!!!!!" He spun her around the hallway. Sara laughed loudly.

"I cant believe it!!" She jumped up and down. This was the moment she had been waiting for her entire life. She was going to be in the most famous Christmas play. This was perfect.

November 18th, 2002

Today he was twenty years old. A new decade in front of him and he already had so much planned out. He would propose to Sara, he would marry her, he would become a doctor, he would become a father. His plan sounded perfect. he hoped it would turn out to be.

Derek pulled his jacket on. he was going to go jogging. He put his cap on and looked at Sara as she read a school book. Derek smiled softly.

"I'll be back in twenty minutes." Derek said, "I'm going out for a run." She nodded.

"All right. I'll have dinner on the table when you get back." Sara said.

"Thanks." Derek said as he walked outside and downstairs. It was freezing out, but he knew he would warm up soon enough. His sneakers crunched on the snow and ice as he began to jog.

He loved having these jogs. He needed them to keep his mind on his school work. As he jogged, he thought about taking care of patients. Soon, he would be in the local teaching hospital working on little children. he couldn't wait. Suddenly a burly arm grabbed Derek and threw him to the ground.

"What the fuck?" Derek cried. He looked up to see a gun barrel in front of him.

"Give me all your money." A very husky man yelled. Derek stared at him. He instinctively reached behind him for a gun, but it wasn't there. You got out of that life, Derek, He thought.

"I...I..." Derek stuttered. He was utterly stunned. The man punched Derek and then kicked him in the ribs. He grunted loudly. Where was his boys when he needed it?

"Give me all of your money." He growled. Derek reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet. The man grabbed it and pulled out the fifty bucks that was in there. he looked at Derek and snagged the gold chain from around his neck, "I think that is mine."

"Fuck off." Derek groaned. The man growled and kicked Derek two more times. Derek closed his eyes tightly as the man ran off.

* * *

Sara put two plates down on the table. Pasta, salad, and corn on the cob. It was going to be a wonderful dinner. Derek opened the door an limped in. Sara's eyes widened when she saw him.

"Oh my God!" Sara ran over to him, "What happened?"

"I was mugged." Derek said.

"You were mugged, Derek??" Sara touched his cheek. he winced. "Oh Derek. let me get you some ice. Sit down."

"I'm fine, baby." Derek said.

"You're not okay, Derek." Sara snapped. Derek sighed softly. "I can't believe you got mugged. What did they take?"

"Everything." Derek muttered as Sara walked over with an ice pack.

"Everything?" Sara asked as she sat down. Derek nodded.

"My chain and my wallet." he said as Sara put an ice pack on his cheek. Derek hissed, "Jeez, Sara!" She jumped.

"I'm so sorry." She said. Derek sighed with a shrug.

"It's all right." He said, "It feels good now."

"Stop lying." Sara said, "It hurts." He nodded.

"yeah. Could you get me some pain reliever?" He asked her. Sara nodded.

"Sure, baby." She said going to the bathroom. Sara was utterly freaked out. her boyfriend had been mugged. Things like that aren't supposed to happen.

* * *

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