Ch.4

Casey didn't know what to do. She was still trying to control herself, being so close to Derek was not helping. I can't do anything in front of Dominique…wait, no I can't do anything with Derek at all!..what did I do…I kissed Derek…Oh my god I kissed Derek!

"Yay mommy! Yay Derek!" Dominique was now jumping up and down with joy. Then to make matters worse Edwin and Lizzie walked into the kitchen. Casey could see that Lizzie was extremely happy and Edwin had the goofiest face on. Oh no they can't be…

"So what are you guys doing?" Lizzie asked innocently.

"Mommy and Derek were kissing! I'm gonna have a daddy! I'm gonna have a daddy!" Dominique was now happier then ever and was now running around everyone. Edwin and Lizie were looking at each other and smirking. Derek looked shocked but couldn't help but smirk himself. Casey was looking at Dominique with a panged expression.

"Dominique, sweetie why don't you go and get ready for our trip to the zoo and then we can eat our pancakes, ok?"

"Ok mommy!" Before anyone knew it the little girl was pulling at Derek's arm.

"What is it princess?"

"Will you go to the zoo with us? please…please..please!" Dominique's face was filled with so much hope that no one could say no to her. Derek looked Casey and could see that she was trying to figure out what to do. Casey then looked at Derek and nodded.

"Sure princess I'll go. Now go get ready." Dominique immediately ran out the kitchen.

"Derek I'm sorry…I shouldn't have…I never thought that she would…oh my god I'm the worst mother in the world." At the last comment Casey started to cry and Derek held her in his arms.

"Case it'll be all right, you'll see."

"Alright! Derek she thinks we're going to get married! She thinks you're going to be her father! God what am I going to tell her!" Nobody knew what to do to calm Casey down. Lizzie decided to take a wild shot.

"So why were you guys kissing in the first place?" Everyone was quiet. Nobody knew what to say.

Casey didn't know what to say. What am I going to say! The truth! Oh yeah…Liz I kissed Derek cause I still love him and…no I don't still love Derek! I can't…God I am so messed up! "Uh well…You know I wanted to ask you something earlier Liz but you weren't in your room or in the bathroom. Where were you?'

Now every one was quiet. Edwin and Derek looked uncomfortable. Lizzie and Casey were smirking at each other. Then Dominique came in.

"Ok I'm ready for pancakes!"

1 pm In front of the Panda cages

" Mommy I want a panda!" Dominique looked into Casey's and gave her her happiest little girl look.

"I'm sorry sweetie but panda's belong in the zoo or in mountains. Not in a apartment in New York." Casey could tell Dominique was going to pout so she quickly added "Hey, isn't it time for lunch. Why don't we go to that Monkey's Café and then we can go look at the monkeys.

"Mommy I'm not hungry. I want to play with the pandas!"

"Dominique we really should…" Casey was cut off by Derek lifting Dominique up and placing her on his shoulders. Casey couldn't help but smile at the thought that they looked like a family. No. In a couple of days me and Dominique will be going home and we probably won't se Derek for months. Even if the thought of us being a family is cute we'll never be one. With that Casey felt hurt and started walking faster. "Come on we better go.

When Derek knew Casey wouldn't here he quickly whispered to Dominique. "You know if you really want a panda then maybe you'll get one for Christmas." With that said Dominique's face lit up like if it were Christmas already. But that's when it hit Derek. The next day was going to be Christmas and he didn't have anything for Casey.

Five McDonald-Venturi home

Dominique ran to Edwin and Lizzie, who were in the living room, to tell them how their day had gone. Casey stood in the doorway looking at how happy her daughter was. Sure her daughter was a naturally happy person, but she should have brought her to see her family. Then she noticed Edwin looking at her with an evil grin and then he nudged Lizzie. Casey didn't understand why Edwin was giving her that look or why Lizzie was looking surprised and nervous. Then she felt Derek beside her and he was pointing upward. Casey was in utter shock.

"You guys know the rule. Who ever is under the Christmas tree has to kiss." Casey could've killed Edwin right then.

Casey was about to walk away when she felt a strong arm pull her back. Before she could do anything she felt Derek's lips on hers. They were so gentle and it felt just like it used to. Like if they were meant for each other, but that only brought back old memories. Some that were wonderful and some that broke her heart. She could feel her eyes tearing up and as a tear rolled down her cheeks she pulled away. She looked into Derek's face and knew that she was falling for him again, but then she never did fully get over him. No, she loved him but the only thing she could think of doing was running. And so that's what she did, she ran up to her room.

Casey was crying on her bed when she heard Lizzie come in. "He wasn't ready."

"What?'

"Derek. He wasn't ready to be a father."

"But he and Dominique…"

"No. When we were in high school. He wasn't ready…"

"Wait you were pregnant?" Lizzie was shocked. Her sister never told her any of this, but looking at Casey who looked so broken she knew it was killing her to relive what had happened.

"No, but we thought so. Lizz he froze. He just left when we thought I was pregnant. He said he wasn't ready, Lizz I wasn't ready either but he was the one that left!" Casey was now fully crying. "I took the test again the next day and it came out negative. I wasn't pregnant and when I told Derek he was relived and said he was sorry but I wasn't talking to him." Casey looked up at Lizzie and Lizzie knew that what was coming up next must've really hurt. " The next day at school I saw Derek making out with some girl in the hall way where every one could see!...That's the day I chose to go to NYU."

"Oh Casey…" Lizzie went over to Casey's side and hugged her while she cried herself to sleep.