"Princess? Can you hear me?" I whisper to Casey, holding her limp hand within my own. I wait patiently for her to respond. I don't know why I'm so nervous. I know that nothing will change between us. We promised each other that nothing would change. I fully intend to keep that vow. "I'm here. I'm so sorry I ever left," I say to her, hoping that she will understand.

I went to go take a shower and tried my hardest to give Nora what she wanted.

Space.

But in two short hours, I can visibly see the progress Casey has made while I was gone. I can't believe I ever left her side to begin with. I don't give a shit that Nora kicked me out. I should have stayed. It's my own fucking fault.

But I'm here now. Even though she's moving the slightest bit, I made it before she fully woke up. That's all that matters.

As soon as the cab stopped in front of the hospital, I threw Dad's credit card to Edwin and ran inside. I ran so fast, I didn't stop until I reached her. I'm still trying to catch my breath, and I can faintly hear Dad trying to talk to me, but I'm ignoring him. I need to know that Casey can hear me.

Even though her eyes remain closed, I can see them moving rapidly beneath her lids like she is desperately trying to open them. She's so close to coming back to me. I know it.

And then several more second's tick by before I feel it.

The smallest squeeze of my hand.

I let out a small laugh in relief. I've never been more grateful in my life. I lift her hand for a kiss, murmuring words of encouragement to her. Even though it's only been two weeks since I've heard her sweet voice, it feels like a lifetime. I don't know what I would have done if I had to watch her in this state for years. I meant even word I said when I promised I would never leave. I would wait forever if that's what it took.

I take this moment to look up, a tearful grin on my face.

But I freeze when I see Nora gazing at me with a mixture of curiosity and something else that I can't quite put my finger on. Her arms are crossed and she's studying me. I hadn't even noticed her presence until this moment. But even though she is standing only a few feet away, I couldn't care less.

All that matters right now is that Casey knows I'm here.

Eventually – sometime soon – Nora and I are going to have to hash this out, but now is not the time. At least I understand her reservations, and my actions are going to have to show her how serious I am about her daughter. I have a feeling that words aren't going to matter much to Nora where Casey is concerned.

I completely understand.

When it comes to girls, I am a total pig. Was! I was a total pig. But that's not who I am anymore. People can change. She's not even giving me a chance to prove myself, but I'm hoping that one day she'll give me the opportunity.

I'm no longer her stepson, only. I'm her daughter's boyfriend…maybe even fiancé. But she doesn't need to know that right now. She's on the brink of murdering me, as it is.

However, I'm the man that loves Casey. I plan on being the father of her grandchildren, so she better get used to the idea now, rather than later. I'm not going anywhere.

I gaze back down at my girl before dropped a kiss on the top of her head, moving my lips to her ear. Some things need to stay just between us.

"Do you remember what happened, Case? After we drown?" Immediately, she presses her fingers into my hand. Her response time is already improving, and it's only been minutes.

I breathe out a sigh of relief to know that she doesn't have amnesia. I would gladly woo her all over again if I had too but being able to pick up where we left off is much sweeter. We have a secret that will stay between us forever; that we can always share.

Our secret will begin with the Titanic and our intense kiss in that stairwell; two years of bottled up tension bursting forth all at once. It will end with the way we said we loved one another right before we died. I'll never forgive myself for leaving her alone in that freezing cold Atlantic Ocean. But I couldn't stay, and now I know why. She was so close to losing her life, that she had a hard time finding her way home.

But I'm so proud of her. She did find her way, even if she experienced a hiccup in the form of a coma along the way.

"Do you remember that I love you?" I whisper, and when she responds in affirmation, I grin. "I do, sweetheart. I really do. I love you so much, it hurts."

I don't ask any more questions, but I can feel Casey begin to squeeze my hand rapidly. She wants to talk to me, but she can't. I can feel the desperation in her touch, and I ache for her. She can't say the words that she's dying to speak.

"It's okay…I know how you feel, Casey. Just relax…"

"Derek," Dad says, squeezing me on the shoulder to try to gain my full attention. Reluctantly, I look in his direction for a moment, and when I do, I notice that we're alone.

I'm momentarily disoriented, trying to bring myself back from the euphoric high that I'm feeling.

"Hmmm?"

He gives a heavy sigh before patting me on the back. He looks distracted, peeking over his shoulder. "This whole ordeal has been really tough on all of us, Derek, but could you be a little more sensitive to Nora's feelings…please. I called you because I knew that you would want to be here, but Casey is her daughter, so I think that it would be best if you – if both us step back for a few minutes and let her have this time with Casey. Alone."

What did he just say?

He has got to be out of his fucking mind if thinks I'm going anywhere just to preserve Nora's precious feelings. Listen, I get it. I do. I know that I'm acting like some overprotective husband who has dibs on Casey's well-being. But she is mine. I don't care what anyone else thinks.

"I'm going to pretend like you just didn't say that," I say, trying my best to go back to ignoring everyone and everything around me. Everyone but Casey as I stroke her hair, willing for her to open her eyes.

"Derek…"

"I just left for two hours because Nora kicked me out!" I burst. I can feel the anger that I've been bottling up inside. It's rising to the surface, and I'm not sure how much longer I can refrain from exploding. "I know that she thinks Casey is some passing phase for me, but she's not. What more do you want? What more do I have to do to prove to you guys that I love her?" I pause, taking a moment to collect my thoughts and keep myself from going completely crazy. I can see my dad look away in guilt, but he's also tired and extremely worn down. It's written all over him. I don't want to go off on him. But I feel like I have no other choice. I lower my voice before taking a seat on the edge of the stool next to me.

"I know that I've always treated her like shit," I begin. It needs to come out. Even if it's not Nora who I'm saying these words to. Call it a practice run, if you will. "But has it ever occurred to either of you why I've always made fun of her; made her life a living hell? I was trying…I was trying so hard to push her away. I tried so hard not to feel it. I always knew that eventually, I would give in. Maybe college? Maybe at thirty years old when I'm a washed-up Hockey player and Casey is some big shot lawyer or…fuck, I don't know…a thoracic surgeon. Because she's all smart and shit, and I'm not…I know that I'm not good enough for her, but I swear I have the best of intentions."

I risk a glance at my dad for the first time since speaking, and he's watching me with his undivided attention like he is letting every word I'm saying seep into him. I take that as a good sign. "I know that no matter what I say to Nora…it won't make any difference."

"You don't know that," he interrupts me with a definite tone, his voice soft. "You said all the right things, Derek. I just don't want you to be surprised it if takes us a little while to adjust. The thought of you and Casey…well, it's a lot to take in. You need to understand that."

"I do," I say quickly. "You guys can take all the time in world, but it won't make any difference. I love her, G. I'm not going to hurt her. I've loved her since the moment I laid my eyes on her, I'm sure of it. She had that hideous retainer and she was all nerdy and shit. She tried to tell me a math joke. A math joke! The thought of us together was so fucking stupid, but I couldn't get her out of my mind. Even for a second," I say truthful, letting out a small laugh as I think back over the past two years. The memories are flooding back to me. Like the way I put my hand on hers at we plotted a way to break up our parents. She totally pulled away from me. I could hear the feigned disgust in her voice. She didn't mean it. She totally wanted me.

Or the way I offered her a piece of cake off my fork after we thought Operation Disengagement worked. I felt relief at knowing she wouldn't be my stepsister. I could make my move, even if she was pretending like she hated my guts. But when we totally failed, I wasn't completely upset if I'm being one-hundred percent honest. I'd have her all to myself. I'd have her underneath the same roof.

"But that fire I felt…the fire I feel…I've never experienced anything like it."

I can't tell the difference.

In my mind, I'm the same.

But I know that I'm not.

I'm making progress, because I can hear the excitement.

They can feel me squeezing their fingers. I'm trying to focus on my actions, listening to every word that is spoken. I know that I need to respond appropriately, or they won't believe that I'm still in here; trapped and terrified.

I've been trying for so long to communicate with my family. I've been able to hear them talking in hushed tones. I've been able to hear them crying and fighting.

I could hear my mom kicking Derek out, and I wanted to yell at them both for being childish.

I never wanted him to leave, but I sure as hell didn't want him to give me a sponge bath. He's such an ass sometimes, but I totally love him for it.

And even though I've been able to hear Mom saying terrible things about him to Dad and George, it wasn't until she demanded that my stepdad not call Derek to come back to the hospital, that I really started to resent her.

I understand her fears. I really do.

I had the same reservations after I kissed Derek and he nearly took my virginity in that stairwell. I knew that I was completely and utterly infatuated with him, otherwise, I never would have entertained the idea of letting him have his way with me. I wasn't going to stop him. I needed him to stop on his own, and I'm grateful that he had.

After that, I was terrified that he was going to hurt me eventually.

But as the days ticked by, he seemed to always put me first. He would kiss me like me meant it and try to shield me from any news that could potentially break my spirit. And now that I'm unable to communicate with the world, knowing that he is here despite the fact that I may never have known of his presence, just confirms how much I really do mean to him.

Its hard to fathom the possibility of me choosing Derek over my mom, but she's walking a fine line, and I'm over it.

I need to wake up to let her know that I choose him. I'm always going to choose him, and I want her to be okay with that. I don't want her to think that I'll ever love her any less.

But he's my person.

He's always been my person.

Even when I used to hate him for making my life miserable on a daily basis. We were kids. It's what kids do when you crush on someone; fight and make fun of one another.

I was starting to panic when I failed to hear Derek's voice. Where was he? I knew that I couldn't do this without him. I never heard George call him, and I was beginning to wonder if he ever would? Maybe my mom did talk him out of it. I prayed that she hadn't.

But then I heard him. I could feel his warm touch.

I could feel his fingers grasping mind, and suddenly, all seemed right with the world. My heart instantly slowed to a steady beat, and I felt more relaxed. He was asking me questions, and I squeezed his hand lightly like I had everyone else. But when he asked if I remembered that he loved me, I couldn't contain it. I needed him to know that I never doubted a word he's ever said to me.

And even thought he's talking to George, I'm still squeezing his hand, letting him know that I'm here.

I'm trying so hard to open my eyes. I have to open my eyes.

Suddenly, my stubborn will is beginning to shine through.

I bright white light burns my eyes, and I pray that I'm not at the pearly gates of heaven. That's how blinding it is. I take a few moments to adjust, willing my vision to clear. I squint at the sudden assault to my retinas, but the pain is nothing compared to the emotional scaring I've felt from being comatose.

But then I see him once my blurred vision settles.

He's wearing a green sweater, the sleeves pushed up to his elbows, and his head is turned to the side. I have a beautiful view of his neck, and I would give anything to press my lips against it and feel his heartbeat from underneath my touch. I'm still squeezing his fingers, trying to get his attention.

I can't find my voice.

But since I have been squeezing his hand continuously for several minutes, he thinks nothing of it.

I take a moment to listen to the sweet words he's speaking, remembering the same fond memory at that small table where Derek and I shared our first laugh together.

"I've loved her since the moment I laid my eyes on her, I'm sure of it. She had that hideous retainer and she was all nerdy and shit. She tried to tell me a math joke. A math joke! The thought of us together was so fucking stupid, but I couldn't get her out of my mind. Even for a second," he says, taking a moment, to rub his hand on the back of his neck. I stop squeezing his fingers and want nothing more that to reach up and tell him that everything is okay. I'm here. I'm right here, and I'm never leaving him again. He starts to speak again, oblivious to the fact that I have finally awoken. "But that fire I felt…the fire I feel…I've never experienced anything like it."

"Derek," George interrupts, and for the first time, I notice that my stepdad is looking directly at me, his features full of relief and pure excitement.

"Dad…"

"Derek!" he says more firmly. He nods his head in my direction, and that's when Derek looks down at me, those glorious dark eyes instantly softening. He takes in the site of me for a mere moment before closing them, a tear escaping, running down his cheek. I think he's half overwhelmed and half terrified. I don't think he was expecting for my eyes to be open yet, pouring into him. That would freak anyone out.

He cradles his skull, taking a shaky breath.

I want to reach up and wipe that tear away, but I can't. I just awoke from a coma. I know I'll need time to recover. I can't fully move my body. But I'm awake. That's all that matters.

Derek hesitates briefly before bringing his lips to my hand, dropping a soft kiss. His next words pour into me, and for the first time since I met him…one month before my fifteenth birthday…I'm grateful that our parents met and married one another. Otherwise, I never would have found my person.

"Welcome home, beautiful," he says gazing down at me, his voice laced with emotion. I can see the love in his eyes. I can feel my mouth lifting in a small smile, but I still can't speak no matter how hard I try.

So, I settle on the next best thing.

I mouth those three little words to him before I feel myself slowly drift back into an exhausted sleep. I can't fight it, no matter how hard I try. I want to spend time with him, but it will have to wait. After countless hours of trying to wake up, I'm completely and utterly beat.

We now have all the time in the world.

I'm going to be fine…we can finally have that life together that I want so badly. The life that Derek promised me we would have the moment he slipped that beautiful ring on my finger.

He promised he would always be there, and so far, he has done a pretty good job of keeping that vow.