A/N: I don't know how I feel about this chapter. I like the end and their conversation, but I don't know . . . Hope you all like it though.

I would like to thank all of my wonderful reviewers. I love the comments and encouragement. I hope that my story is as good as all of you say it is. On another note, I was going to place something in this A/N, but I decided against it. I didn't want to ruin my story by having something mean in here. If anyone cares, I have decided to place it into my profile. I will remove it when I finish this story. You can message me if you want to know more.

So . . . that means this story is not done yet. There are not very many chapters left though.

I would also like to apologize. I am not from Canada and have never visited. When I wrote about colleges, I just did a search and picked the first 2 I saw. I probably should have done a little more research before I wrote the chapter about it . . . sorry.

Also, I know I didn't thank Laura8881 for the suggestion of "Love Actually" a few chapters ago. So sorry and thanks. Also, if I took a suggestion and didn't thank someone, I'm very sorry. I usually write the chapter in one sitting and don't really remember all the reviews. Don't hate me or think I'm ungrateful:(

Lastly, I have finals next week (have I said I hate college) so I don't know when the next time I will be able to update is. It will probably be sooner than you think because I have dubbed this site my official distraction from school!

Enjoy and review

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Chapter 16: Perfect fit

Derek sat on his bed staring at the last three words in front of him. He never thought that three words would mean so much to him. Sure, he heard them before from a lot of people. His father, brother and sister said them to him. Even his stepmom and stepsister Lizzie told him that they loved him before. Hundreds on people in high school told him all the time that they loved him, especially the girls. But he never thought that those three little words would ever come from one Casey MacDonald.

He had hoped day and night that one day she would show any sign of love towards him. But whenever she showed anything at all, Derek always told himself that it was in a brotherly or friendly way, hoping it wasn't brotherly. But after reading her diary, Derek had his prayers answered. Casey loved him, she felt the same way towards him that he felt towards her, and he couldn't wipe the smile off of his face. It was like the weight was lifted off of his shoulders, even though he knew that the weight was on his heart the whole time.

Casey was just as ecstatic about her letter as Derek was about reading Casey's diary. It said so much, showed her that he really did care about her. And the last few words meant more to her than she ever imagined. It wasn't only the words though, it was everything. All of the drawings and every single word in the letter broke the shell that Casey knew was around her heart. She felt that her heart was beating for the first time, like her eyes were seeing things in a new light. Everything was brand new to her, especially the smile on her lips.

During the entire time she loved Derek, she never imagined that he felt the same way. It was something left for her dreams; something she told herself would never come true. Casey always hated the story of Cinderella, thinking that in real life your dreams would never become a reality. But she was sitting in her room, glancing at all of Derek's drawings and looking over his letter, realizing that her one wish was granted. Derek loved her and felt the same way about her that she felt about him.

Making the first move, Derek opened his door, walked to Casey's and opened hers. He was surprised to see that her entire room was covered in his drawings. It wasn't until then that he realized how many he had actually drawn, how many nights he sat at his desk mesmerized by the person currently sitting in front of him. And now, he couldn't be any less mesmerized, because now he knew that she felt the same.

Finding that the only available place to sit without disrupting the papers strewn about her room, Derek sat at the head of her bed, across from where she was sitting at the foot of it. He could tell that she still didn't notice he was in her room, because she was still looking at the few drawings in front of her, as well as clutching the letter in her hand. Derek leaned against the wall and raised his head towards the ceiling, closing his eyes. It was still all sinking in for him, so he figured he wouldn't interrupt it sinking into Casey as well.

Casey finally looked up and saw Derek across from her. He looked so peaceful and happy. His closed eyes made him look like he was dreaming and the smile on his lips made him look like it was a very happy dream. She had to blink a few times to make sure she wasn't imagining him. It all felt too surreal to her, and she didn't want to wake up and find it was all a dream. She eventually pinched herself a few times to make sure she was actually awake.

She noticed that he was gripping her diary closely in his hands. All of those nights suddenly flashed through her head. There were so many nights that she sat in her room, glancing at the wall between them, letting her hand form the words she felt. But there was no more wall, it was just the two of them.

Not exactly knowing how to begin, but knowing that she needed to say something, Casey broke the silence. "Two years . . ." was all that came out of her mouth. She honestly had no idea what to say, so she tried to start by stating a fact.

Breaking away from his peaceful thoughts, Derek moved his head and opened his eyes so that he was staring into Casey's. "Actually, it's been more than two years. Your first entry says it's been more like two and a half. Around the same time as my drawings . . ."

"Same date actually." Casey grabbed the first drawing and handed it to Derek.

Glancing at it, he turned it over and noticed it was dated. "I didn't even know I dated them," he said barely above a whisper, but it was so quiet in the apartment that Casey heard him anyway.

"How could you not have known?" She knew that they were both avoiding the subject at hand, but she couldn't help it. What was contained in their respective hands was very fragile, as if it was a thin sheet of ice on a lake, and she didn't want to chance breaking it.

Derek took the first step onto the ice. "Casey, I can't think when I'm around you. And when I think about you, I have no control over my actions. I have no idea what I'm doing until it's already done. You consume everything." He noticed that Casey looked away. Derek was afraid that she would take it as being something bad, so he continued. "And I wouldn't have it any other way."

Casey felt her heart racing in her chest. She couldn't think of anything to say as a response, so she looked up and got lost in his eyes. She saw the emotion she saw so many times, but now it was very clear what it was. And she was sure that he saw the same thing in her own eyes. It suddenly dawned on her, and she felt like slapping herself.

"You knew it was me, didn't you?"

Derek knew what she was talking about, feeling his cheeks become heated. He slowly nodded and said "Like you knew it was me."

Embarrassment flooded Casey and she looked away from Derek. At the time she didn't think that Derek could have possibly known it was Casey at the party the night before, but seeing his drawings and reading his letter, she knew he knew it was her.

"Don't do that." Hearing Derek, Casey's eyes shot up and she gave him a questioning look. "Don't be embarrassed for doing something I was too afraid to do." That kiss may not have started the events that led them to revealing the secrets that they kept so close, but he didn't want her to think it was a mistake. And even if it was, it was the best mistake that ever happened to him.

After several minutes of silence, both Casey and Derek realized that they were afraid to continue, in fear of saying something wrong or ruining what might happen.

Derek was about to say something, but Casey beat him to it. "Let's play a game . . . I ask you something, you answer it honestly, then you ask me something."

Feeling his mouth drop, Derek knew Casey was meant for him. We even think the same. "Can you read minds?" he asked playfully.

"No, we just think the same. And now it's my turn." Casey said in the same tone, sticking her tongue out. She quickly brought it back into her mouth when she remembered the night before. She remembered how amazing Derek tasted. He tasted like perfection. "What did you eat last night, before the party?"

Derek smiled a small smile. "I guess we are still thinking the same. I didn't eat anything since lunch hours before. What did you eat?"

"Nothing," she said sheepishly. I guess that's just Derek.

"So, I guess that's just how you taste." Derek said as quietly as possible, but the rose color rising in Casey's face told him that she heard. "Your turn," he said, trying not to blush himself.

Thinking for a few seconds, Casey remembered a few weeks ago. "How'd you know tulips?"

"I remembered from when you broke up with Sam and steered clear from red roses. Why did you come to my first game that night? You haven't been to one in years." Pausing for a moment, he said "I'm really sorry by the way, it wasn't your fault."

Casey couldn't help the laugh that escaped her throat. I guess he never saw me. "I haven't missed a game in about 2 years."

Realization crossed over Derek's features. "I knew that wig was familiar." This caused another laugh to come from Casey. I wish I can hear her laugh for the rest of my life. After waiting for her to regain her breathe, Derek apologized once more for his hurtful comments from years ago.

"Derek, let's not live in the past. What's done is done. Let's just look towards the . . ." Casey stopped herself. She knew she loved Derek and wanted to spend the rest of her life with him, she couldn't see herself with anyone else. And she now knew his feelings towards her. But she wasn't sure how he would react to the word future when they weren't actually together yet.

"Future," Derek said, finishing her sentence. He saw the fear that was in Casey's eyes. He saw that she was afraid that a little word would scare him off. But he was in this for the long haul. Looking into her eyes he saw his future, and he didn't want her to think anything other than that. "It's your turn."

"How did you know what shampoo I used?"

This caused a laugh to come from Derek. "Not only have I lived with you for over 3 years, but haven't you ever wondered why I always seemed to let you use the bathroom first in the morning?"

Casey furrowed her eyebrows. She knew she usually got the bathroom first in the mornings, but she always thought that it was just because Derek liked to sleep in. "Well, why did you let me get the shower first?"

Closing his eyes and breathing in deeply, he could almost smell what he smelt every morning. "Coconuts and apples, it's become my favorite combination." Opening his eyes, he saw the small smile creep onto Casey's lips. "Was your heart beating as fast as mine was in the supermarket that day when I scared that guy away?"

"Lame question and yes. I'm surprised you didn't feel it almost breaking out of my chest. But I didn't feel yours, I think I was too focused on trying to slow my own down."

Shaking his head, he remembered how he was fixated on trying to stop his own from exploding from his chest. "Your turn again."

Biting her lower lip, she was a little afraid of asking her next question. All of her fear left when she heard Derek say in a very calm voice "Just ask it."

Slowly, she asked "Do you think we can make it?"

"I don't know," he lied. He knew that if he was given the chance, Derek would do anything in his power to make it last forever. He would love Casey more than life itself. He would take care of her and protect her until the day he died. He had no doubt in his mind that they would make it.

Casey saw it all in his eyes. "Liar," she stated. Slowly getting off her end of the bed, she carefully collected the drawings that were spread across it. Thinking that she needed to buy a lot of frames, she placed them on her desk and sat down right in front of Derek.

"I can read people very well, and now that I know how you feel, I think I can read you the best. You lied and I know it. You know we can make it, just like I know." She slowly lifted her hand and brought it to his face, caressing his cheek.

Closing his eyes, Derek leaned into Casey's touch. It felt better than the three words at the end of her last entry. "It's my turn," he said. Opening his eyes, Derek asked "What was written before 'I love him'?"

Without hesitating, "I think" came out of Casey's lips. Seeing the look of sadness on Derek's face, Casey continued. "But I crossed them out because I knew it wasn't true."

Derek felt his eyes widen. He couldn't believe that this was a big joke. Casey doesn't love me and now I made a huge fool out of myself. Derek began to back away from Casey's hand, but her other hand came up and wrapped around his neck, holding him in place.

Staring into his eyes she saw his panic. "I didn't think, I knew." She saw his eyes begin to soften, recognizing his mistake. "I love you Derek."

Slowing closing the distance between their already close faces, Derek said "I love you too."

Jokingly, Casey rolled her eyes and said "I know." But she was caught off guard when she felt Derek crash his lips into hers. Just the touch of the other's lips sent every thought out of their heads. Only one word ran through their minds, perfection.

And it was, it was absolutely perfect. The way their lips complemented the other's, the way they fit so well together.

Derek was the first to realize what he was doing. But unlike the night before, he felt he was allowed to do something like this now. Softly, he began to move his lips along Casey's, gently pressing them a little harder against hers. Feeling the pressure returned, he felt his heart race.

It was a very slow kiss, not nearly as fast as the one from the night before. Derek didn't mind the pace though, he was just enjoying Casey's presence, knowing that they had the rest of their lives to spend speeding things up. Noticing how soft her lips were, he couldn't help but want to taste them, to see if it was just her or if she was wearing something on her lips. Sliding his tongue across her lips, he was pleasantly surprised to find it was just her lips and that she still tasted just as good as she did the night before. It wasn't something he could describe though, it was a mix of a lot of things. But he chose to name the taste simply 'Casey'.

She wanted him closer to her. She wanted to feel his warmth, the same warmth that she felt the night before. Pulling him to her, Casey felt his arms wrap around her waist, which brought them even closer together. As the kiss deepened from the sigh Casey uttered when Derek's tongue ran across her lips, Casey tasted the same thing from the night before. It was an indescribable taste, like something she never had before. But she did and she knew what it was called, 'Derek'.

Not wanting to break the kiss, but feeling faint from the lack of oxygen, Casey moved away and rested her forehead on Derek's. She hadn't realized that she was now sitting in his lap, but she couldn't help but feel content in his arms. She felt whole and protected, his arms fitting into the angles of her waist. Sighing, she realized what she was feeling, completion.

"Case," Derek whispered.

"Hmm."

"Can you slap me?" Derek asked in an even tone, as if it was nothing.

Pulling her head away from Derek's, she opened her eyes to find his were shut tightly. Swallowing a chuckle at how he looked, she asked "Why would you want me to slap you?"

"I just want to make sure this isn't another dream, one that I have had so many times before."

Bringing her hand to his face again, she lightly pressed her lips to his once again. "If this is a dream, I don't want to wake up."

Slowing opening his right eye, Derek found himself face to face with Casey. He looked down to see that she was indeed in his lap and her arm was really around his neck. Smiling, he placed a small peck on her lips and looked into her eyes. "Me neither."

Getting off of his lap, Casey walked over to her desk and grabbed her purse. She walked back to Derek and pulled him off the bed. "Come on."

"And where are we going?" Derek asked, although he knew that he would go with her anywhere without question.

"We are going on our first date. Let's go get some dinner, I'm starved." As Casey turned to leave, she felt Derek grab her arm.

He turned her around towards him and kissed her passionately, moving a little faster than before. Leaving her breathless, he began to kiss his way across her cheek towards her ear. Placing a small, but shiver worthy kiss on her ear lobe, he whispered "Remind me to call and thank my dad later."

Pushing him off her slightly, she looked up at him. "You got the same talk didn't you?" Not waiting for a response she continued. "I should have known, they both were acting so weird all night. And I bet you got the text message too." Derek was shocked, but he nodded. "How could everyone else know and neither of us ever realize it?"

Placing his arm around her waist, he walked her out of the room towards their front door. "I guess we were both idiots." This caused a small, but playful shove from Casey. Holding her closer to him as they made their way out to his jeep, Derek continued. "I know I was originally afraid of rejection, but then I was afraid of what it would do to our family. But my dad said that he wouldn't be disappointed and said that he wanted me to be happy."

Nodding, hearing exactly what her own mother said to her, "Yup, same conversation. Do you think they practiced it?"

"Knowing our parents, probably." Derek opened the passenger side door for Casey and helped her into her seat.

"Well, aren't you just the perfect gentleman now?"

"Nope, I've wanted to do that for years, it's just ok now." Kissing her softly before closing the door and making his way around the car, Derek sat down and started the car. Sighing, Derek turned to Casey and said "We missed out on a lot of time."

Shaking her head in disagreement, Casey looked at him. "Not really. We got to know each other better. And besides, we're still young and have the rest of our lives."

Walking into the same diner that they ate at the first night in the area, both knew it would eventually become known as 'their diner'. This time though, Derek slid into the same side as Casey, draping an arm over her shoulder. The act was meant to show her off to the world as his and never wanting to let her go. Now that he had her, he would never do anything to cause her to leave.

During the meal, Casey leaned further into Derek's side. She loved his embrace, loved the way he fit so perfectly around her. It was as if he was made to complete her. Casey never wanted to leave his side, and now that she was there, she thought that she never would. Feeling him around her made her feel whole, and she never wanted to feel incomplete again.

Making their way back to their apartment, it was really late and both had class in the morning. Getting changed and ready for bed, they kissed goodnight and headed to their own rooms. Casey cleaned up her bed and safely placed her drawings away. Climbing into bed, she felt it was enormous. She never realized how little room she took up before. Rolling over, she realized it wasn't that the bed was too big, it was that it was missing something. Or rather someone.

Getting up, she made her way to her door and opened it. Standing in front of her door was a shirtless Derek. Looking over his body, she realized what she was doing. Not being able to look into his eyes she apologized.

Lifting her chin so that she would look at him, Derek gave her a small smile. "It's ok, I don't mind. But I guess you didn't see me doing the same thing." Casey noticed Derek blush as he gestured towards her own outfit. "Honestly, shorts and a tank top, how can I not stare?"

Playfully poking his chest, letting her finger linger a little longer than she normally would, she asked "What do you want Der?"

Now knowing that his nickname was not because she was annoyed he felt a smile form on his face. "Can we sleep together?"

Casey knew he didn't mean it to be dirty, but she was shocked that they really do think the same, because she was going to ask the same thing. Acting shocked, she said "I am not that easy Derek."

Looking dejected but knowing that this was all a game, Derek let his face fall as he said "Yeah I know."

Now Casey lifted his chin with her finger, bringing his face to hers. "And I know you aren't easy too. Now get in my bed, it's missing something. You."

Smiling, Derek followed Casey to her bed. Climbing in behind her, he was facing her back. Wrapping an arm around her waist, he pulled her closer to his body. She felt his bare chest against her back and knew that it was his body heat that made her feel so peaceful. Bending her knees a bit to get into a better position, she felt Derek do the same thing. Casey's body molded into Derek's, leaving no space between them. From their legs to their upper bodies, Derek formed a frame around Casey.

Sighing before feeling her lids close, Casey thought one thing . . . Perfect fit.

Derek moved his head a little, kissing Casey's bare shoulder before burying his head into her hair. Smelling the sweet smell of coconuts and apples he said one thing before falling into a peaceful sleep. "Perfect fit."