A/N: I did not expect this chapter to be as long as it is. I really like it though and I hope all of you will too. Let me know what you think.

This chapter takes place right after chapter 2.

Also, at the end of chapter 2, Derek asked if Casey was upset. I do not know if it is clear to everyone, but he was referring to them going to college the next day (which is today in this chapter).

Enjoy and review please!

Chapter 5: Moving Out

Casey woke up the next morning bright and early, turning her alarm off at 5:45am. She looked around her empty room and sighed, afraid that she would miss it. She knew that she would be back and probably soon, but she still was upset that she was leaving. She only lived in this house for about 3 years, but it has become her home. She grew up in this house, had her first kiss in this house, even fell in love in this house.

As Casey got up her eyes found their way to that fascinating wall. She was sure she was going to miss that wall and all it represents. She was going to miss having a wall between the two of them, being so close and so far apart at the same time.

Making her way to the bathroom, she noticed that Derek's door was open. She glanced inside to see if he was still asleep. Although Casey woke up early, she knew that they still needed a pretty early start. She was shocked to see that Derek was not in his room.

Casey knew that Derek would be up early, but she did not think he would be up before her. Almost everyday over the past 3 years she would always get the shower first, and he was always there waiting for it when she was done. She even began to finish her routine in the bathroom, putting her perfume on after her shower. Casey always hoped that he liked the way she smelled.

Where could he be? Could he really be up this early? Casey entered the bathroom and turned on the water. It dawned on her that she would be showering in a new shower the next day. It would be a shower that only the two of them would be showering in. No Lizzie or Edwin or Marti. Maybe I could join him in the shower one day, she chuckled to herself.

After finishing his cookies the night before, Derek went to his room and set his clock for 5:30am. He wanted to be up extra early, knowing that they needed to leave at 8am to miss any traffic. He also wanted to spend a little more time with Marti.

Although Derek was getting exactly what he wanted, he was going to miss his little sister. She always held a special place in his heart. When his mother left their family, Marti was just a little girl. George was busy supporting his family that he did not have much time for such a small child. Derek was the one to wake her up and help her get ready for her babysitter. He fed her and put her to bed. She gave him a special nickname, which he gave one for her right back.

"Hey Smarti, want to come play a little before I have to leave?" Derek spoke softly as he gently shook his little sister. She was not his little Smarti anymore, she was now 7 and made that known anytime anyone said she was a little girl. But he also held a special place in her heart, so she let him get away with it.

"Morning Smerek. What do you want to do? Don't you have to leave soon?" Marti still had that sleepy look in her eyes, but it was apparent she was happy that he woke her up.

"Well, I was wondering if you wanted to go to the park across the street and swing with me on the swings for a little while." Although Derek knew his heart was completely for Casey, he knew that Marti crept her way in and held a place that would always be reserved for her.

Marti and Derek made their way out of the house without anyone knowing. They spent about half an hour swinging alone in the park. Marti told Derek she would miss him and he said that he would be home soon and that she could visit him any time she wanted.

When Casey finished her shower, she brushed her teeth, put on her deodorant and gave a light mist of her apple perfume over her body. She collected her remaining few items from the bathroom and walked across the hall to her room. Quickly getting dressed and brushing her long hair, Casey packed the remaining items into her small duffel and walked over to her window.

She saw Derek and Marti across the street. She saw the smiles on their faces and the way Derek gently pushed Marti on the swing. Casey always admired the special relationship between the two of them. She saw how he could love someone unconditionally. She wondered if he could ever love her that way. I wonder if he is going to be this great with our kids. The thought crossed her mind before it could register. Why do you do this to yourself? You are not even together and you are thinking about kids with him. Little Derek/Caseys running around. She could not help but think about what they would look like. Maybe his chocolate brown eyes and her dark hair, or her blue eyes and his reddish brown hair.

Casey did not notice that Derek and Marti left the park and entered the house. Taking one last look around her room, her eyes looked over to her bed. She wanted to bring her diary, but she decided not to, afraid she might leave it out in the open and Derek would learn her secrets. She grabbed the book from under her mattress and placed it in the back of her closet on the top shelf. Casey grabbed her duffel and entered the hallway.

Bam! Déjà vu, she slammed right into Derek. This time he caught her early, before she got close to the floor. Damn, I can get used to this. They both thought. Within a second, Casey stood up and found herself caught up in Derek's eyes, for what seemed like hours, but was merely a matter of seconds. Derek broke the contact.

Derek felt like he was going to fall. But this time her lips were going to catch his. He noticed himself leaning in, but he finally gained control of the situation and looked away. A few more seconds looking into her stunning blue eyes and he knew he would kiss her. He heard her mumble thanks and then saw her pass by him, towards the stairs. Derek grabbed his stuff and entered the bathroom. Unfortunately, he got back from the park a little too late and her fragrance was barely there.

After his shower and other bathroom activities, Derek made his way across the hall to his room. He got dressed and grabbed the last of his things and shoved them into his backpack. His eyes traced his room, looking for anything else that he may have forgotten to pack. Derek's eyes landed on that wall and he sighed. He was really going to miss that wall. He thought of all the nights he spent staring at it, wishing it was not there at all.

Finally breaking his gaze, he looked to his bed. He knew that he could not bring any of his drawings, afraid that Casey would one day find them. He reached under his bed and grabbed them, along with the letter from the night before. Derek put them in the back of his closet, underneath old blankets so that no one would find them. He grabbed the last of his things and left his room.

When Derek reached the stairs he smelled breakfast cooking. He knew it was really early for people to be up, but he knew that they all wanted to say goodbye to both him and Casey. The smell of pancakes brought him to the kitchen. As he opened the door, a sad look came across his face.

I can't believe that this is going to be our last meal together for a long time. Derek's eyes met Casey's and she smiled at him, knowing that he was thinking the same thing she was. At least I will be eating alone with Casey more often. Derek noticed Nora place a stack of chocolate chip pancakes next to where Casey sat, motioning for Derek to sit and eat.

Breakfast was full of laughter. Everyone was reliving past events and family occasions. This past Christmas was definitely everyone's favorite. There was a huge blizzard and they were all stuck in the house together for an entire day.

Derek woke up freezing. Rolling over, he noticed that his clock was off. He thought that he might have blown a fuse, because he went to sleep with his stereo on. Derek dragged himself out of bed to grab a sweatshirt and to go get some food.

This was the third day of his winter vacation and he got the entire week off of work. Derek planned to return to his early days of slothfulness, just enjoying his vacation. It also helped that Casey got off from her job as well, so he knew that she would be around the house as well.

Casey left her room at the same time as Derek was leaving his. She had her blanket wrapped around herself, shivering. I wonder if he will hold me if I complain that I'm cold. He noticed she still looked sleepy and looked like she was as cold as him. Maybe if I explain that body heat was the best form of warmth she might let me hold her.

"Morning Case." Derek said, thinking how gorgeous she looked when she just woke up. He noticed that she slept with her hair down the night before, and that her hair was slightly sticking out all over the place, but he absolutely loved it. Her eyes also had a half dazed look in them, like she was still dreaming.

"Hey Derek, what time is it? My clock's not working, I think I blew a fuse or something." Casey said.

"I don't know, my clock is not working either." Casey stared at Derek as he spoke. She loved his messy hair in the morning, and how his eyes were always squinting, like they were allergic to the light or something.

"Well, can you come with me to the basement so we can flip the switches? Mom and George are probably already at work and I do not want to go down there alone." Casey asked, hoping that Derek would believe her, even though she just wanted to be with him in the dark basement.

"Sure Case, come on." Derek started for the stairs, waiting at the top for Casey to follow.

The two got to the kitchen and noticed that the time on the oven was not on. They both looked at each other and moaned, knowing something they did not want to be true. They ran down the steps and reached the fuse box. Before Derek was able to open it, Casey tapped him on his shoulder. It was then that Derek heard what she was trying to get his attention for. He would know that sound anywhere. Both crept towards their parents' bedroom door and slowly opened it. George and Nora were still asleep and George was snoring like a wild beast.

Derek reached for his father's watch on the dresser and saw that it was 10:30am. Both Nora and George were usually out of the house by 7am, so seeing them sleeping told them that it was true. The electricity was out. There was no denying it.

"Hey dad, wake up. It's 10:30." Derek said shaking his father out of sleep.

"Ha ha, very funny. Why didn't my alarm go off then?" George said rolling over to see his alarm clock, which was black. "Ugh, I am going to be late for work."

"I do not think you need to worry about work George," Casey said from across the room. She pulled back the curtains and everyone saw what she was looking at, complete white. Although George and Nora lived in the basement, the window was still a least 3 feet off the ground and about 4 feet high. The snow was over the top of the window.

A little while later everyone was in the kitchen. George got off his cell phone with a colleague who informed him about the storm. It had snowed heavily all night and everything in town was shut down. Plows were not able to get down the blocks, so everyone was staying inside until it was ok. "I guess this is time for some family bonding."

Everyone groaned as a collective. No one wanted family time; they all wanted to be with their friends. Everyone wanted this except for Derek and Casey, who were secretly ecstatic about being able to stay home with the other.

Since there was no electricity and everything in the refrigerator would go bad, Nora told the children that they could have ice cream for breakfast. This brought up the spirits of everyone. After stuffing themselves with ice cream, the family went to their respective rooms to get changed. However, everyone seemed to just put on more layers of pajamas on.

"Hey Der, can I ask you for a favor?" Derek heard Casey's voice as he pulled his sweatshirt over his head. She was standing in his doorway, leaning on the frame. "I was wondering if I can borrow a sweatshirt. Mine are too small for me to fit more than a t-shirt underneath and I'm freezing."

At first Derek was shocked and happy that Casey would want anything of his, but he shrugged it off as it just being cold because the heat was not working. "Sure Case." But then it dawned on him. He had not done his laundry yet and he had no more clean sweatshirts. "But I do not have any clean ones," he said pointing to his laundry basket.

"Oh, well I guess I won't mind borrowing a dirty one, I am just so cold." Casey said trying her hardest not to sound as excited as she was. Yes, I hope it smells like him. Casey grabbed the sweatshirt Derek held out to her. She dropped her blanket on his bed and pulled his sweatshirt over her head. A smile crossed her faced when she smelled him in the cloth.

"Everyone is downstairs getting ready to play a game, wanna come?" Derek said, wondering why she was so happy. I bet it is because she is just warm now. Casey nodded and followed Derek downstairs, after wrapping her blanket around her body.

When they reached the living room they noticed that everyone was already there. George and Nora set up a few candles on the table. They were both sitting in the recliner, with Nora on George's lap. They were snuggled in a blanket. Lizzie, Edwin and Marti were sitting on the couch, all under another blanket and huddled together. Casey sat down across from everyone and patted the floor next to her for Derek to sit, noticing that he was looking around for a place to sit down.

George and Nora suggested a board game, but no one wanted to move. After a moment of silence, Edwin suggested a game of truth or dare. One after another everyone agreed. At first everyone picked dares and had to do stupid things. Edwin had to get everyone a drink, Lizzie had to grab some more candles and Nora had to make snacks for everyone.

Since it was Nora's turn, she turned to Casey and Derek. Noticing that Derek was slightly shivering, she asked Casey truth or dare. Casey contemplated it for a second and decided to keep the tradition going, she agreed to a dare.

"I dare you to share your blanket with Derek, since he does not have one." Nora felt her husband nudge her, giving her a look that said 'I thought we were not going to interfere'. Derek and Casey both felt their hearts jump into their throat and they gave one another a look, but a few seconds apart. Of course, no one noticed it, except George and Nora.

Casey lifted the blanket and allowed Derek to scoot closer to her. She felt his thigh brush against hers, sending shivers up her spine. She wanted to lean on him, but decided not to push her luck. Although Derek was excited about being close to Casey, he wanted to be closer to her. He had to use all of his will power not to place his arm around Casey, pulling her closer to him.

Casey asked Marti, who picked truth. Her question was whether she liked Dimi, Emily's little brother. Marti turned completely red and said yes. She began to threaten everyone's life if they ever told anyone, which made everyone burst out laughing. After that, no one picked a dare. It was truth after truth after truth. They learned that George took dance lessons before the wedding, Lizzie did not like George's cooking, Nora also did not like George's cooking and Edwin had his first kiss with some girl in his science class.

Edwin turned to Derek, who had yet to be picked. "So, Derek truth or dare?" Derek followed the rest and chose truth. Edwin raised his eyebrow and a smirk formed on his face. "Derek, did you lose your mojo?" Everyone turned to Edwin, confused about his question.

"What does that mean?" Derek asked, just as confused as everyone.

"Well, you haven't had a girl over in over a year. You never go out on dates. I do not think you have been to a party in the last year and a half. What happened to you man? Did you lose it or something?"

Derek was stunned by the observations of his little brother. He noticed everyone turn to him, waiting for an answer. "Well, I guess I was immature back then Edwin. I did not treat girls with the respect they deserve." Derek looked down to the floor, trying to avoid all of the questioning stares in his direction.

"What about now though? I mean you have really grown up in the last 2 years, why have you not started dating?" George asked, this time Nora poking him under the blanket.

Derek did not know how to say it without giving too much away. "I guess I decided I should not waste my time with meaningless relationships. When you find someone special you just don't care about anyone else, I guess." And I found someone special, all I have to do is wait for Casey. Derek still stared at the floor, not wanting to find any one's eyes.

"Did you find anyone special yet Derek?" Edwin asked, amazed that his skirt chasing brother became a sap over a girl. He just needed to know who made him this way.

Seeing Derek's eyes turn to Casey, Nora jumped in before he could answer, "Only one question per turn guys. Derek it's your turn to ask someone."

A few rounds later and it was Lizzie's turn. She turned to her older sister and asked, "Casey, why were you not very upset when you and Sam broke up a few years ago?"

Casey almost choked, she knew that she only went out with Sam to try and make Derek jealous, but she could not admit that. "I guess I was not upset because I never really loved him." I loved someone else. Derek always hoped that they really had nothing very special. He wanted to be her someone special.

After a few more rounds, everyone got some dinner, which was anything that did not have to be cooked. After dinner, they all sat around the living room once again. They shared past stories and experiences. Everyone laughed more that day then they ever had in their entire lives. Later that night, they all decided to sleep in the living room and cuddle up to keep warm. Casey went to her room to grab a pillow and Derek ran to the bathroom. When they both got back downstairs, they looked around and saw that everyone was already asleep, in the same places as before.

Derek was screaming on the inside, as was Casey. He nudged her and softly said "Let's just get some sleep." He laid down on the floor and motioned for her to come lay down next to him. As she got to the floor and covered the two of them, she turned so her back was to his face. After about an hour, neither of them was asleep. She stretched a little and brushed her back against his chest. He thought she was asleep, so he placed his arm around her, pulling her in closer to him. He couldn't help himself but snuggle into her neck. Casey could not help but sigh, feeling his breath on her neck. She thought he was asleep and did not want to wake him. She snuggled a little bit closer into him and fell asleep.

The next morning, Derek and Casey woke up at the same time. Derek did not want to freak Casey out, so he tried to explain. "Sorry, I did not mean to hold you, I guess I was just a little cold." He removed his arm and turned away from her a little.

Casey turned over so that she could look into Derek's eyes, "It's okay Derek, I was pretty warm last night, so I guess I should thank you." Before anything else could be said, the rest of the family began to wake up and start talking. They all noticed that the electricity was back on and they each went on about their normal activities.

After a long and fulfilling breakfast, everyone made their way towards the front door. Derek hugged everyone goodbye. He gave Edwin some brotherly advice, told Marti he would see her soon and told Lizzie to keep up the good work on her hockey team. Casey gave her sister and stepsiblings hugs, telling them she will miss them and see them all soon. The three younger children all ran up the stairs, going back to bed because it was still early for them for a Saturday.

"Well, I can't believe you're going off to college." Nora said with tears filling her eyes.

"Oh mom, don't cry. You know we will be home soon. And you can visit us anytime." Casey said, taking her mother into a hug.

Nora reached out, taking her daughter and Derek into one big hug. Although he was hugging his stepmother, Derek was caught up in the scent that he missed in the bathroom earlier. As he breathed in heavily, trying to take in the sensation of being so close to Casey, he felt Casey shutter. I wonder if my breath on her skin made her shake. Suddenly, George enveloped them all into a big hug. After breaking the hug, Derek and Casey said their final goodbyes.

Derek grabbed his bag and Casey's duffel and headed to his car. It was actually George's old jeep, which he gave to Derek for his seventeenth birthday after George got a minivan for the family. Derek placed the bags into the already stuffed trunk and got into the driver's side. Casey was already sitting in the passenger seat. He noticed her fidgeting with the directions in her hands. He reached out and placed his hand over hers, the touch making her head turn towards his.

"We are going to be okay, you know that right?" He said, looking into her eyes with sincerity.

When he removed his hand she felt the warmth disappear. She turned towards the window and nodded, "Yeah Derek, I know." And I am more excited than you will ever know, they both thought at the same time.