Chapter Two--Sequel

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Six months had passed since Derek had told Casey he loved her. Six months. She had to heal from the dark memories of Sam's death. Derek really didn't know if Casey really cared for him or if she would have sought comfort from any warm male body that night. He shuddered at the thought.

Derek sat still as stone, in the early morning light of the kitchen. The cold air surrounded him. Why did January have to be so cold? The light dusting of snow that had begun to fall the night before had turned into almost six inches overnight. The radio had cheerfully announced that there wasn't going to be any school today. Derek stood up slowly and glared out the kitchen window. The suns weak beams weren't blinding yet, flickering across the snow, but they would be soon.

Derek just went back upstairs; there was no need to be up this early in this cold. He just climbed up the stairs, pausing, as he always did, at Casey's door. No sound, but he peeked in anyway. Casey wasn't asleep, though, and glanced at the door, laying aside the book she had been reading.

"Derek? You need something?" She asked gently. He shook his head.

"Just letting you know we don't have school today." His eyes wouldn't rest on her face, but browsed through her room.

"Anything else?" She asked. Derek shook his head again and left the room. Casey just picked up her book again, resisting the urge to call him back, to embrace him and assure him that everything was going to be okay. He had done that for her, but no one had done that for him. He was terribly alone, she knew. She could see it in his dark eyes.

Derek walked into his room and without even stopping and crawled back into his bed, which was amazingly still warm. He sighed, almost contentedly and fell back to sleep. A few hours later, he was rudely awoken my Marti jumping on his bed. Stifling a groan he turned to glare at her.

"Yes, Smarti?" He forced through gritted teeth. Marti just grinned at him.

"Smerek, I'm going to daycare!" Derek did groan at this point.

"And why are you going to daycare?" He was once again grinding his teeth.

"Because Lizzie and Edwin have to go to the tooth doctor." And with that she hopped away and out the door. But Derek was, to his disappointment, now wide awake. He marched downstairs to find Nora in the kitchen making breakfast. His stomach grumbled in response.

"Nora, why is Marti going to daycare?" Nora turned to face him, after flipping the eggs out onto a platter.

"Because Lizzie and Edwin both have dentist appointments that can not be rescheduled again. And I don't want to force you or Casey to watch Marti. Somehow she's already had four cookies this morning." Derek nodded.

Almost a whole day with Casey. Not that he didn't want to see Casey, he was just afraid of what was to happen when they left alone. But Marti after four cookies was worse then an atomic bomb.

"All right. How much longer to…" his stomach rumbled, emphasizing his point, "…breakfast."

After sitting down and proceeding to stuff himself full of biscuits, eggs, sausage and bacon, as only a teenage boy can do, he stood up, slowly making his way upstairs to get dressed for the day.

It was to his great relief that he didn't see Casey all morning. It wasn't until around three that he began to worry. The light snow had become heavier; making it impossible for even Nora's large SUV could get through.

Nora called at five, saying that she had gotten a hotel room at the hotel next to the dentist's office, and that Marti was staying with Mrs. Dewberry, the lovely old lady that owned the daycare. George, who liked to be prepared, was staying in his office, on the fold out couch.

That just left Derek and Casey.

After he had gotten off the phone, with promises of taking care of Casey, and assuring Nora that he knew where the kerosene heaters were, in case the power went out, he went upstairs to talk to Casey. He knocked softly on her door.

"Casey, Nora called. Everyone is stuck out, the storm got too bad. It's just you and me tonight." Casey, who was once again reading only nodded. Then the lights flickered. They were lit for now, but it was nearing dusk, and the dark clouds only made it darker outside. The second time they flickered, Derek just ran downstairs.

He carefully set up the kerosene heaters in the living room, all three of them, in a triangle shape. He also sat aside the flame retardant; he wasn't going to burn down his house just to stay warm.

Dragging the spare blankets out of the hall closet, as well as the lantern and a couple of flash lights with extra batteries. Grabbing all of the snack foods out of the pantry that didn't have to be cooked, he quickly settled in to make a happy nest for himself on the couch, complete with iPod and Gameboy.

Right as he was about to flip on the television, to watch whatever he could before the power went, the lights flickered again, then again…and didn't come back on. Quickly grabbing an available flashlight he headed up the stairs to find Casey.

Casey was huddled on her bed, shivering, not with cold, but fear. Casey hated the dark. She flinched and hid under the covers when she heard Derek's heavy footsteps in the hallway. He called out to her, sweeping the beam of light across her room.

Seeing her huddled in her blankets he reached out to her, startled when he saw she was crying. Knowing of her fear, he quickly picked her up, bridal style, along with the book she was reading and another one on her nightstand.

Carrying her down the stairs was tricky in the dark, but he managed, never stumbling. Settling her onto the oversized couch, he quickly lit all three heaters and the lantern. Seeing her relax as the room filled with a soft, but ever present light, gave him comfort.

He quietly joined her on the couch, spreading the blankets out over them both, then pulling her towards him, letting her lean upon him once again in her time of need.

"Derek." Casey mumbled into his chest, "You really need to stop doing this. You don't have to be strong for me, I'll survive." Derek sighed.

"I like being strong for you. I want you happy, Casey. I've never said otherwise." Casey snuggled into his well-built chest, sighing.

"Do you still love me, Derek? We haven't talked about that since that day. It's been six months, Derek. I know my own heart now." Derek just glanced down at her.

"You sure?" She nodded. "I still love you, Casey. I couldn't stop, even if I wanted to."

"Derek…Sam was a terrific guy, a wonderful boyfriend. And I loved him, still do. But you were right when you said I loved him like a memory. Because that is all I have of him, Derek. It doesn't sadden me, anymore. I'm just happy to have known him."

"So…you've moved on?" Casey nodded.

"I loved him, past tense, never coming back. Loved." She stared into his eyes. "Derek, you're always going to be there for me, no matter how I love you; like a friend, brother, or even lover, you'll be there for me. That is the greatest feeling, knowing that."

"I couldn't leave you, Casey. Somehow you've wormed your way into my heart, there to stay. I love you, and although it kills me to not have you love me back, I'll always love you."

"I never said I didn't love you, Derek. I do, I really do love you."

Derek surprised and full of hope selected his words carefully. "Friend, brother or lover?"

Casey only smiled, a true smile, one that reached her eyes. She looked so young, so innocent in only the flickering light, that his breath caught.

"All three, Derek. All three."

And this time, when she tried to kiss him, he didn't pull away.

A/N: This was originally going to be a one-shot, but I knew I couldn't leave it at the last chapter. Thanks for reading and for all my wonderful reviewers who have already reviewed, and for those who will review (hopefully) in the future.