A/N: Thank you again for you reviews. They really help keep me pumped up and writing!
Walking into her mother's bedroom, Casey climbs onto the bed and into her mother's embrace. Seeing her daughter is upset about something Caroline asks, "What's wrong baby?"
"I kissed Alex," Casey confesses.
"Why?" Caroline asks running a calming hand through her daughters matching red hair.
"I don't know. She was upset about something and wouldn't talk to me, so I pulled her into my arms. I am not sure why, it's just felt right." Casey admits.
"So why are you so upset then?" Caroline asks holding her daughter closer.
"Mom, I was nervous that I kissed her and I pulled back, but then she pulled me closer and kissed me. It was amazing and electrifying as silly as that sounds. I started...I started to think it might turn into something more, but she suddenly stopped and walked away just saying she was sorry." As Casey reached the end she began to cry.
"Oh sweetheart, don't cry. Everything will be fine." Caroline soothes.
"Mom, I think I have feelings for her. I am so sorry." Casey confesses.
"Why are you sorry? You have nothing to be sorry for Casey. Love is a wonderful thing. Don't ever be sorry for it."
"You aren't mad?"
"Why, because Alex is your stepsister? No, not at all. You can't control who you love Casey. She isn't your sister by blood but by marriage, so no I don't care. Just like I don't care that you like women versus men. Let me ask you this Casey, if Alex wasn't Alexander's daughter would you still like her?"
"Yes, without a doubt." Casey replied with a weak smile.
Caroline pushed a red strand of hair from her daughter's eyes, "Then don't worry about anything baby. Everything will be fine. Love has a way of working itself out."
Casey frowns, "But she ran away when she realized what she was doing Mom, what if she doesn't feel the same way?"
"Casey listen to me, Alex is without a doubt in love with you. I can tell with how she drops every wall around her heart when she is with you. She can be fuming mad but get near you and calm instantly. She doesn't act that way around her friends or Al just you honey. Right now she may be running from the truth but one day she won't be able to anymore. Just hang in there baby, everything will work out when it is supposed to." Caroline says kissing Casey's head.
The mother and daughter sat together laughing and trying to plan something for Alex's 19th birthday. Despite how Alex treated her, Caroline still wanted the rebellious teen to have a nice birthday. She knew the majority of Alex's problems resulted over the loss of her real mother but nonetheless she wanted the girl to feel loved. In her mind everyone deserves to feel love.
Later that evening, Casey heard a faint knock at her bedroom door. Opening it she was met face to face with Alex. "What do you want Alex?" Casey asked still angry from earlier.
"I...I want to take you somewhere." Alex replied.
"Okay let me get my bag."
Alex shakes her head, "No, not right now. Be ready to go at 4:30 am."
"What? Why?" Casey asks confused.
"I want to take you someplace really special to me Casey. Please just be ready to go then. Dress warm." Alex says squeezing Casey's hands lightly before walking back to her room.
As promised Alex arrived back at Casey's door at 4:30 am. Casey was ready to go and happily followed Alex to her SUV. Driving to the special location Casey watched the stars as they drove towards the beach.
Arriving to an empty lot, Alex put the vehicle in 4 wheel drive and drove out onto the lot and parked just before the beach. Looking at Casey she said, "Ready?"
Casey nodded and the got out of the car. Finding a place on the beach they sat down together. Alex looked at Casey in the darkness. The sky was starting to become a bit brighter but it was still hard to see.
Taking Casey's hand, Alex began, "I brought you here because it is the most special place in the world to me. My mother bought this lot when I was a child. She always planned to build a house here for us, but never did. One day I will build that house here. Anyway, I like to come here when I want to remember happy times with her, we only had happy times here. I needed to be happy right now and I wanted to share that with you." Taking a deep breath she continued looking at Casey, "I am sorry that I can't give you what you need. If I could I would, but I can't. I am so sorry Casey."
Casey didn't say anything she just leaned her head against Alex's shoulder as silent tears ran from her eyes. They two teens watched as the sun rose off of the horizon. The colors flashing across the sky helped ease their shared pain.
Arriving back home that morning Casey went upstairs to take a shower while Alex walked into the kitchen. Seeing Caroline at the kitchen sink washing out a dish Alex walked over to her stepmother. Seeing Alex approach her Caroline set down the bowl and turned off the water.
"Caroline, I wanted to say sorry for my behavior. I am angry about a lot of things and anyway I am sorry I took the brunt of the feelings out of you. I told Casey I would try harder and well this is me keeping my word to her." Alex spoke softly.
Caroline wrapped her stepdaughter in a warm hug and said, "Thank you Alex. Don't you worry, I understand."
Alex hugged her stepmother back and walked out of the room. She went straight to her room to lie down. Looking at the ceiling, she wanted to go get Casey. She wanted Casey to hold her till she fell asleep, but she knew she couldn't anymore. As much as she wanted to be with her stepsister her father would never allow it and that killed her little by little.
Saying goodbye to their children that night, Alexander and Caroline Cabot drove to the private airport. "Al, I want to talk to you about something." Caroline started.
"Okay, go ahead." Alexander replied.
"Casey came to me yesterday upset because she kissed Alex and Alex pushed her away. Did you speak to Alex?" Caroline questioned.
Shaking his head and frowning he replied, "I knew they were getting to close. This is exactly why they need to be separated. I told her to keep her distance at least she listened for once."
"Alexander, are you saying that you told Alex to stay away from Casey!" Caroline exclaimed.
"That is exactly what I am saying, it's not appropriate for them to be together they are sisters."
Putting her hand to her forehead Caroline said, "You have got to fix this you have to tell Alex you were wrong."
"Excuse me?"
"You can't stop them from loving one another Alexander. You can't help who you love. Plus, they are sisters by marriage not blood, so who cares."
"I can't believe you are so fine with this." He says shaking his head.
"Well who am I to stand in the way of their happiness. Have you seen Alex around Casey? She is hopelessly in love with my daughter. Why would you want to stop either of them from experiencing that kind of love? Don't you think Alex deserves some happiness in her life?" Caroline firmly asked.
"I just hadn't thought of it like that, and of course I want Alex to be happy and feel loved. I will call her tomorrow morning and set things straight." He responded as they pulled into the airport.
"I hope you do Alexander, I hope you do." Caroline says firmly.
After their parents left, Alex took Casey out for dinner. Alex had hoped that by the time dinner was finished she and Casey would be back to normal, but that hope had proven futile. Casey seemed intent on staying more reserved and distant since Alex had informed her that they couldn't be together.
After dinner Alex again tried to bring Casey back to her normal self by taking her to see the latest sci-fi movie, but Casey maintained her standoffish persona. Finally giving up, Alex drove them home. At this point, she just wanted to go to bed and try again with Casey tomorrow.
Pulling up to the house, Alex saw her father's right hand man Donald Cragen's car in the driveway. Alex was surprised to see him at the house since her father was out of town. Frowning as she parked the SUV, she started to wonder if her father was having her and Casey checked up on now.
Walking over she icily asked, "Mr. Cragen, is my father having you check up on me now?"
"Alex can we go inside we need to talk." Don asked quietly as he saw the redhead approach from behind.
"What is it? I don't have time for games." Alex sighed at the man.
Frowning Don looked up at the teenager, "Alexandra we really need to go inside for this."
Alex suddenly hears Casey break out in a sob, turning to look at the collapsing redhead Alex can't piece together what is happening until she turns back and sees Don's face. Then it hits her like a hand to the face. "Are they okay?" She asks timidly.
Don's shake of his head answers her worst fear. Her father and stepmother are gone. It's only her and Casey now.
The next week felt like it went by in painfully slow motion. Casey and Alex were informed of the plane crash which took their parents' lives. They planned and held a joint funeral for them the same week. Donald Cragen, Alex's father's right hand man had moved in for the week to ensure the girls were properly looked after until they could go over the Will and Estate set forth by Alexander and Caroline. Everything was methodical while Alex kept waiting for the next shoe to drop. She felt like she was just passing through someone else's nightmare but it never seemed to end.
Sitting in the living room, Alex waited for the rest of her life to be told to her. In one hour's time, Alex and Casey would know what their parents' wishes were for the both of them and what would become of Alexander's corporations. Their parent's attorney was coming to the house to go over the will and estate so the girls wouldn't have to go out in public again this week. It was supposed to be helpful, but Alex felt more like she was trapped. She just wished she knew what Casey was thinking. The redhead had hardly talked since they got the news of the crash.
Every night since last Thursday Alex would wake up with Casey in bed with her. She was never quite sure when Casey would join her in the night, but every morning she would wake up with Casey in her arms. They never spoke about it, but then again Casey rarely spoke at all. As a matter of a fact, the most she'd heard Casey speak since the whole ordeal was when she gave her mother's eulogy, which was beautiful. Alex had asked Don to give Alexander's.
Finally, the attorney arrived. He shakily sat down in front of the two girls. Opening his briefcase he pulled out two letters and handed one to Alex and the other to Casey. Seeing her father's handwriting of her name, Alex shakily opens the letter.
My dearest Alexandra,
If you are reading this I am very sorry for it means that I have left you far too soon. I am sorry to leave you like this especially after losing your mother but please remain strong. Remain strong for me Alex and remain strong for your mother. When you start feeling weak remember that even though I miss you terribly I am in a better place with your mother and we are looking down on you always.
Your mother loved you more than life itself, and you look just like her. I am sorry that you and I never learned to really communicate well. I should have worked harder at it. You look like your mother Alex but you have my personality. It is for this reason that I know you have all the strength you need to make it through this ordeal.
Always know that I love you Alexandra. Always know that you have the ability to do anything you want in life. Always know you will be my daughter and I am very proud to say you are always.
Love you always,
Dad
As she finishes reading the letter she closes her eyes and tries to will away her tears, but then she hears Casey's sobs escape her. Opening her eyes she looks at Casey. The redhead has pulled herself into a little ball crying on the sofa next to her, the letter from Caroline clutched to her chest. Alex wastes no time in pulling Casey into her arms and holds her tight. She runs her hand through Casey's hair and keeps telling her everything will be okay. Finally, Casey is able to pull herself together well enough for the attorney to continue.
Alex nods for him to carry on. Clearing his throat he begins, "Ok, Ms. Cabot your father left his estate to you. He has left his corporations to you, and financial accounts are yours, along with all real estate holdings under the advisement of his associate Donald Cragen. Once you graduate with your Masters in Business they will all be permanently turned over to you and you will officially be named the CEO of all the corporations. In the meantime, the board will run the corporations but they have to update you of all business matters once a week. Now, Ms. Novak your mother left you all her financial accounts including IRA's, and stocks. However, yours is left under the advisement of your guardian until you graduate college. Your guardian is listed as Alexandra Cabot."
With this knowledge Casey sits up and looks at Alex. "Did you know?" she asks. Her voice sounds ragged from her crying. Alex shakes her head, "No I didn't."
