A/N: Still loving the reviews. They help add to my creative thinking process. :) Hope you all enjoy this one!
The next morning Casey wakes up to the sun pouring through the open windows. As she stretches and finds Teddy's side of the bed empty she cringes at the memory of last night. Remembering Teddy's words she wonders what is going to happen now. Rolling over to get up she notices a note on the bedside table.
My dearest Casey,
I don't want you to worry too much or feel bad. Honestly, I don't know why I didn't see it earlier. Maybe I was just comfortable with you and with us. I can never repay you for helping me get over Henry and bringing me happiness in my life again, but maybe this is a start.
Casey, it is clear you love Alex and it is clear she loves you. Even though, it may be taboo to be with your stepsister go be with her. You have never exactly told me what happened between you two but if I had to guess I would say someone was running from love. Don't run from it run to it. Don't be scared Casey and don't worry about me. I love you Casey and I am sure you love me, but let's face it we are not in love with one another.
We helped each other when we needed it most, but I think that is all it has ever been. You know, filling each other's voids kind of thing. I love you as the best friend that you are to me. Who knows maybe if Alex hadn't come back into your life we may have never realized this isn't meant to be. But seeing how in love you are with her, once I figured out that is what I was seeing, I knew I wanted to feel that too. So here I am Casey letting you go be in love, because I am going to go find it too!
We can still be friends Casey, and I really hope you will remain my friend. I owe you every ounce of happiness I have in my life right now. If I hadn't met you I don't know if I would still be here. So thank you for all your help and for mending all my cracks.
With love,
Teddy
By the time Casey finished reading the letter she was crying hysterically. She was overcome with emotion. She felt sad for the loss of her relationship with Teddy, but excited about the possibility of being with Alex finally. After crying for a good thirty minutes, she got up and took a shower.
Getting dressed she didn't know what exactly she intended to do. She just put on a pair of jeans, a loose sweater and her favorite boots. Pulling her hair back and putting on a little bit of makeup she headed out of the apartment. She choose to walk she wasn't going very far and the late October chill was welcome on her skin. Reaching the large apartment building she at one time called home she greeted the doorman. It took him a minute but soon he remembered her and let her past. Going to the elevator she pressed the button to her old floor.
Stepping off the lift, she walked down the hall and stood in front of the door. She contemplated whether or not to use her keys or knock. It was only 8 am. She didn't want to possibly give Alex a heart attack. She would at least like to talk to her first. As she reached her hand up to knock the door opened and she came face to face with the blonde.
Alex's face goes from shock to excitement as she realizes Casey is standing in front of her. Standing in her running gear Alex says, "Casey, hey," but before she can get another word out Casey's lips are on hers. At first she is caught off guard, but submitting to the kiss she wraps one hand behind Casey's back and the other behind her head pulling herself deeper into the kiss and Casey. Alex kicks her door shut with her foot, as Casey turns them soon she has Alex's back pressed against it.
They kiss and lightly run their hands over each other for a couple of minutes until the desperation for air becomes too intense. As they part Casey rests her head on Alex's shoulder and whispers, "I love you Alexandra. I always have and always will." Alex wraps her arms tighter around Casey. She doesn't exactly know what to say at this moment, partially because she never expected it to happen. So instead of speaking she just holds on tight to Casey and kisses her head. The possessive manner lets Casey know that the blonde has no intentions of ever losing her again.
Finally, Alex speaks, "Are you okay Casey?" There are so many other things she would like to say and ask, but right now she needs to be sure Casey is okay before anything else happens.
"Truthfully Alex, yes I am fine. I didn't think I would be, but I am." Casey says looking into Alex's blue eyes. Reaching her hand up behind Alex's head she whispers, "Kiss me again Alex." Alex complies as Casey pulls her into another kiss. This one is filled with less desperation as they take their time to enjoy the kiss. It feels electrifying to touch and even kiss Casey again.
Breaking the kiss again, Alex pushes a stray lock of Casey's hair behind her ear. "I want to take you somewhere Casey." Alex says looking into the redhead's beautiful green eyes.
"Now?" Casey breathlessly questions.
"Yeah, is that okay?" Alex questions and Casey nods. "Great let me get dressed and we will go."
It doesn't take Alex long to get changed and when she emerges from her room she is wearing flats, jeans and a long sleeve shirt with a jacket in hand. Casey smiles at Alex's casual dress, she hasn't seen her like this in years and there is just something comfortable and familiar about it. As Alex opens the door for Casey she leans in and steals one more kiss before exiting the apartment.
Soon they are in the car and headed out of the city. As they take the familiar drive towards the Hamptons, Casey looks over to Alex. "Are you taking me to the lot?" she asks with a smile in her voice.
"You my dear will have to wait and see!" Alex replies with a laugh.
"Aww…" Casey whines, "That's not fun. Come on Alex give me a hint."
Alex smirks at Casey's pleas, "Nope, you will wait and see."
"Fine then, you have the responsibility to take my mind off of the car ride with conversation." Casey says firmly in her best ADA tone.
In all seriousness Alex looks her way, "So how did it go with Teddy?"
Shaking her head, Casey sighs, "Alex you want to talk about that now?"
"Yeah, Casey, I want to know that I am not pressuring you into something. I want to show you how much I love you and how serious I am about this, but I need to know where you are mentally." Alex replies softly. She hopes she isn't making a mistake by asking now, but she would like to know before she gets Casey to the Hamptons.
"Well, she figured it out last night on her own. I was crying and she pieced it together." Casey paused praying that Alex wouldn't question that part further but trying to figure out how to continue. Getting her words together she continued, "So she basically said she figured it out. She could see that I was in love with you and that I didn't need to feel bad. She held me till I cried myself to sleep and then I guess left because when I woke up this morning she was gone. She left me a note saying that she didn't blame me for anything and if she was being honest with herself she knew I was never in love with her and that was okay because she was never in love with me. Yes we both loved each other, but it was more as intimate friends not soul mates kind of thing. So she told me to go be happy, to be happy with you Alex. I cried for a little bit, but once the tears were gone I knew where I belonged. I always knew, I just didn't think you wanted me the same way. I am sorry I left you all those years ago, I never understood until recently." As Casey finished she looked over at Alex. Alex had a smile on her face as she watched the road, but Casey couldn't fully read her and that made her nervous.
"Alex, what are you thinking?" Casey questioned.
Alex quickly looked at Casey and saw the redhead's nerves. Looking back at the road Alex took Casey's hand in her own and said, "I am thinking of all the ways I intend to spend the rest of our lives making the last 12 years up to you."
Relaxing into her seat, Casey and Alex drove the rest of the way in comfortable silence. As they continued on into the Hamptons Casey smiled. Turning down the familiar lane to the lot, Casey laughed, "I knew you were bringing me to the lot!"
"Let's call it an early birthday present, although it was meant for you eight years ago." Alex says as she turns into the driveway of a beach house. Parking the car near the house Alex opens the center console and takes out a set of house keys. "Happy Birthday Casey."
Casey's eyes go wide as she looks from the keys to the house. She doesn't exactly know what to say so she says the first thing that comes to mind, "Alex, you built my dream house on your mother's lot?"
"Yes, Casey. When, we use to come sit out here you would always talk about what your dream beach house would be like so I built it." Alex answers.
"But why Alex? Why build it here and then give it to me?"
"Casey, I always knew I wanted to be with you, but I thought I couldn't. After they died I was left to take care of you. I had to provide for you so I set my life about achieving that. I slipped the night of the Fourth and let my feelings take over and it killed me to push you away, but I didn't want people to think that I had taken advantage of you. I was also worried that it would tank my ability to run the corporations which in turn would hurt you. I was stupid Casey, and that Christmas you didn't come home I knew I had to make it right. I couldn't live without you. Life just wasn't worth living Casey. I had a team sent out immediately to start building the house. I had planned on bringing you here after graduation it was supposed to be your surprise gift Casey to show you just how much I love you." As Alex finishes she opens her car door and walks around and opens Casey's. Taking her hand she leads her up the stairs to the wrap around porch and to the front door. Unlocking the door she looks at the quiet redhead and says, "Welcome home Casey, I hope you like it."
Walking in the door Casey is blown away. It is exactly like she always pictured it in her head. Stairs to the left that lead upstairs and an open kitchen to the right with a big open living space with a fire place and lots of French doors and windows. It is bright with high wood beamed ceilings. By the front door there is a table with two pictures on it. One of Casey with her mom and dad playing on the beach and the other is of Alex and Casey on the beach. Going upstairs Casey finds four bedrooms one of which is the master bedroom. Walking in the master bedroom she looks around, it is exactly how she imagined it with a Juliet balcony and all. Turning around to look at Alex she notices a picture on the bedside table it is the Eskimo kiss picture of Alex and Casey.
Casey shakes her head and looks at Alex, "I can't believe you did all of this for me."
"I would do anything for you Casey. I love you more than you will ever know. I just need you to let me love you." Alex says crossing the room to take Casey in her arms. Casey looks into Alex's eyes. As green meet blue they kiss with each knowing they were always meant to be together, fate had only handed them a winding road, but it had brought them together in the end.
A/N: So Cavak does that work for romancing? :)
