a/n: this is the last chapter of the story, it was fun to write and I really enjoyed reading all of the reviews. Thanks for your patience in waiting for me to update. I'm glad you liked the story and hope that you aren't disappointed of the ending.

disclaimer: I own nothing.

Epilogue

"Casey the phone is ringing," Derek said, poking her in the shoulder.

"And why can't you get it?" she asked him.

"Because I'm watching Zachie," Derek declared. Casey glanced at him then at Zachie, who was so absorbed in the cartoons that he wouldn't even know if a fire was happening right behind him.

"Ya right," Casey said rolling her eyes as she got up to answer the phone. Derek got up and followed her. "I thought you were watching Zachie," Casey said before she picked up the phone.

"Please, he is so absorbed in those cartoons that he wouldn't know that we were gone," Derek replied.

Casey rolled her eyes before talking into the phone. "Hello?" she said into the phone.

"Hey honey, how's everything?" Casey immediately recognized her mother's voice and smiled. After not hearing it for six years, she wanted to hear it all the time.

"Everything's fine," Casey replied.

"And Zachie, how's he doing?"

"Hang on, I'll put you on speakerphone and you can hear for yourself," Casey said pressing the speaker button and called for Zachie.

Zachie got up swiftly, it was commercial and he figured he could do what Casey asked him quickly, then go back to his show.

"Say hi to Grandma Nora," Casey instructed.

"Hi Grandma Nora," Zachie said, then glanced over to the t.v. just in time to see that the commercial break was over. "Bye Grandma Nora," he called as he ran back to the t.v.

Nora laughed as Casey shouted to Zachie that what he did was rude. "It's okay Casey, we should always remember that nothing can separate that kid from his cartoons."

Derek laughed too. "She has a point Case," he said.

"Is that Derek, how are you?" Nora asked.

"Fine, would be better if Zachie would let me watch the hockey game once in a while, but as you said, nothing separates Zachie from his cartoons."

"So mom, how is the family reunion?" Casey asked.

"Well, Uncle Larry only got drunk once, which is an improvement for him, his girlfriend really smarten him up. Just when you think you grandmother's hearing has reach the lowest it can go, she finds a new low, but of course denies that she needs a hearing aid. I guess cousin Drew will always be called Dean. George only spilled his soda on himself once but it wasn't his fault. One of the younger cousins ran into him. Lizzie, Edwin, and Marti are having a great time. Anyways, I just called to ask for your advice. Should we come home today or tomorrow?"

"Today!" Casey and Derek both shouted.

Nora began to laugh. "Sorry I couldn't resist. I'll see you soon, bye."

"Bye," Derek and Casey both said before Casey hung up the phone.

"I hate that she keeps doing that," Casey said to Derek.

"Come on, she is just having some fun," Derek said. He began to steer her towards the living room when the phone rang again. Casey reached up and grabbed it.

"Hello," she said into the phone.

"Is this Casey?"

"Yes this is, who is this?" Casey asked.

"Uh, it's Faith, Derek's girl- I mean ex-girlfriend."

"Oh," Casey said. She then mouthed to Derek, 'Faith'. Derek leaned in a bit to hear the conversation.

"Um, I just wanted to phone to congratulate you," Faith said. "For the marriage. I hear you and Derek got married last Saturday."

Casey smiled. "Yes we did."

"Well I'm happy for you both and I'm, um, just really sorry about that whole wanting to kill your mother thing," Faith replied.

"That's quite alright," Casey said not really caring about it. She just didn't want to talk to her.

"Ya, okay, well, have a great life and a splendid honeymoon," Faith replied.

"You too, the great life, not the honeymoon, I mean have a great honeymoon when you get married well if that's what you want in life…" Casey rambled.

"Casey, hang up," Derek whispered to her.

"Bye," Casey said to Faith then quickly put the phone down, ending the phone call.

"Have a great honeymoon if that's what you want in life," Derek mocked her.

"Shut up, what am I suppose to say to her?"

"See you in court?" Derek suggested.

"I'm not pressing charges on her. If it wasn't for her, mom would still be in a coma."

"So she says."

"Whatever, I want her to get married and have a honeymoon if that is what will make her happy," Casey said walking to the fridge to start lunch. She turned on the radio also to listen to music.

"Well, I would like a honeymoon," Derek commented.

"We are on a honeymoon," Casey said.

"Skipping a family reunion and watching Zachie because he has a cold does not count as a honeymoon."

"Well, I can't go on a honeymoon until the summer and besides you have to make sure your new office here is ready."

"I know, it just seems that the summer is never going to get here," he said as he wrapped his arms around her waist, kissing her neck softly.

Just then the song 'Happy Ending,' came on the radio. They both paused, not knowing what to do. Casey reached to shut off the radio but Derek stopped her. "No leave it, I like the song, besides it doesn't define us anymore." Casey nodded and pulled her hand away. She turned around in Derek's arms and put her arms around his neck. "You know, Zachie seems very absorbed in his cartoons, maybe you and me can go to your old room and-"

"Derek no!" Casey shouted, smaking him. Derek began to laugh.

"It was just a suggestion." Casey rolled her eyes and was about to say something but didn't get a chance because the front door burst open and in walked Rachel and Mark.

"I knew it was a mistake to keep the door unlocked," Derek muttered as Mark and Rachel walked towards the kitchen.

"So how's the happy couple?" Mark questioned.

"Hey Zachie," Rachel said as she passed him and followed Mark into the kitchen.

"We're fine," Casey said, breaking away from Derek to start lunch. "Do you want to stay for lunch?" Casey asked them.

"Sure," Rachel said, grabbing some of the food to help Casey.

"Hey Mark, why don't we leave these two lovely ladies alone and watch the sports network," Derek suggested, knowing that he would be able to watch sports because Zachie's show was ending.

"Sports, sure," Mark said, trying to sound excited but it wasn't going so well.

"Or the 'Sound of Music,'" Derek said, knowing that Mark would pick musicals over sports any day.

"Sure!" Mark said, now actually really excited.

Casey laughed as she watched Mark and Derek walk back into the living room. She couldn't believe that this was her life now. That it wasn't long ago that she was in that mall, trying to pick out something quick and get back home as fast as she could. It wasn't that long ago that Nora was still in a coma, George in rehab and Derek out of her life.

She had spent six years wishing to go back in time and stop that horrible accident but she realized now that Mark was right. She wouldn't want to go back and change the past, for if she did, she wouldn't have the things she had now. Zachie wouldn't be here, she wouldn't have a steady job that stayed in one spot, she wouldn't have her two best friends, and who knows, maybe she wouldn't have Derek. She didn't even want to think about losing Derek again so she put those thoughts out of her mind while she and Rachel laughed together while making lunch and looking Mark and Derek watching the 'Sound of Music'.

The End!

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