A/N: And we're back, this time with an edited chapter. I just wasn't liking the way the chapters sounded without at least a day to think about it and a little bit of time to review. Y'all know how that goes. Anyway, in our last chapter, we found out what Derek was up to: a junior executive assistant at some studio in California. Casey, we're about to find out. Enjoy!

"And what about you, Casey, huh? What have you been doing?"

Derek's voice was tinged with derision, and Casey felt her defenses go up. Who does he think he is, judging me like this? He knows nothing about my life.

"I, Derek, work for a solicitor," Casey said primly, tossing her hair over her shoulder.

"A solicitor? I thought you worked at a law firm outside of London."

"I do. A solicitor practices law. It's an English term."

"So are you a solicitor?"

Casey cringed a little before answering. "No, I'm not."

"Wait, so the big, bad Casey McDonald has been lying the entire time? Making us believe that you have this awesome life across the pond when you're really doing … what, exactly? What do you do?"

Casey lapsed into silence and looked down at the bench, ashamedly listening to Derek berate her. Casey, you're being childish, she chided herself. Just tell him what you do. It's not a big deal.

No, it is a big deal! she argued silently. Your life has been in the tubes since he left you. You know it, but no one else does … do you really want them to know that? Come on, you're Casey McDonald! You don't fail! And if you do, you hide it!

But … her good angel started to argue.

But nothing, her demon shot back. No one knows what's been going on with you, really, and you're going to keep it that way.

But you love him, her good angel said. You always have and you always will. He knows more about you than any other person. You have to trust him. Even if he's being a jerk right now. You were kind of harsh.

Casey drew in a deep breath to steady herself. "Derek?"

"What?"

"I think I'm ready to talk."

Casey walked up the front stairs to a small rowhouse, her arms loaded down with groceries. She was almost to the front door when one of the handles snapped and spilled the contents of the bag onto the ground. Sighing, Casey retrieved the runaway cans from the foot of the stairs and stacked them in her arms as high as she could. She fumbled for her key, jammed it into the lock, and tripped through the door. "Honey, I'm home!" she called.

Silence.

With another loud sigh, Casey walked into their kitchen, dropped the bags onto the counter, poured herself a glass of wine, and flopped onto the couch. This was becoming a habit, buying all the ingredients for dinner and then just drinking wine instead of eating a meal. There was no reason for her to cook—by the time Greg came home from work, he was too tired to eat anyway. Most of the time, he had already eaten, so even on the rare occasions that she did cook a meal, she still ate alone. Those were on the days that he was even in town.

Seventy percent of the time, Greg was in one dangerous Middle Eastern country or another, so Casey was left to fend for herself. She was bored and anxious most days—she applied for a Common Professional Examination course at East Anglia, and she still had months left before they would tell her if she was accepted. It was too late in the year for her to find a real job—no professional workplaces hired right before Christmas—and she didn't have a work permit anyway. Yet.

I'm missing Gavin's birthday again this year, Casey mused. Five. I can't believe he's so old! I wonder if he'll know who I am next time I see him.

With Greg's help, Casey was able to get a job at the coffee shop on the Air Force base. It wasn't a dream job by any means, but it did give her something to do during the day. Plus, she made a few girlfriends, girlfriends that kept her sane when Greg was gone.

Casey received a letter in May of 2015, exactly five years after Derek stormed out of her life, from the University of East Anglia. It was a large, thick package, mailed first class post and stamped with the university's crest in the top left-hand corner. When Casey saw it, she snatched it up and excitedly started tearing at the seal. With trembling hands, she pulled out the top sheet of paper. Casey scanned the first line, blinked, and read it again.

"Love, that's wonderful!" Greg said, his voice crackling over the line. He was in some remote location in some unknown country at the moment, and he had called her as soon as he got her email labeled "URGENT!!!!!!" "When do you start?"

"In August," Casey answered. "Will you be home by then?"

"Case, you know I can't tell you that," Greg said, reprimand in his voice. "I'll be back when I get back."

Casey sighed. "I know, honey, but I miss you so much! And I really wish you were here. I'm so bored and lonely without you!"

"I know, love, I'm sorry. Why don't you go visit your family for a little bit?"

"No," Casey growled. "I'm still mad at them."

"Still?" Greg asked.

"Still. Besides, I can't afford the trip. I can barely afford the CPE class. Actually, I don't know if I'll be able to. Only if I save up. A lot. Every penny. That means no new clothes between now and August, and maybe a little after August"—

"Casey," Greg said, cutting her off, "you're rambling again. And don't worry about the cost. How much is it?"

"Um …" Casey scanned the page, "…oh. Wow. It's over 7,000 pounds a year." Casey felt tears welling up in her eyes. "Damn it, Greg, I can't afford that!"

"I can."

Casey felt her spirits rise. "What?"

"I can afford it, Casey. I'll pay for it. It's only for a year, and yeah, it's a lot, but we can take out a small loan, put it in my name, and we'll pay it off over the next few years.

"Besides," Greg added, "after you finish the course, you'll be a lawyer, and you'll be rolling in the big bucks."

"Well, actually, Greg, I have to join an Inn and finish a one-year vocational course, and then I have to do something called pupilage … wait a second." Casey stopped herself. "You're really going to pay for my school?!"

"Wait a second," Derek interrupted. "This guy paid for your school?"

"Yes, Derek, he did," Casey answered huffily. "He also pays for our house. Now can I finish my story?"

"Yeah, sure, whatever, Case. I'm just surprised at you. The Casey I knew would never have let a guy pay for her school … the Casey I knew would have figured it out on her own. Then again, the Casey I knew wouldn't have dropped out of Harvard Law to jump the pond and chase some guy. So what do I know?"

A/N: Interesting twist ... Casey moved in with the Air Force guy! It sounds serious, but is it? More to come ... thanks for reading!