I'm so glad that people are so involved in this story. This is the result of my channeled emotions and I am glad that I have the chance to share my baby with everyone out there. Please review after and let me know what you think…


The Venturi-Macdonald house was quiet that night. Except in Casey's room where she was caught in the throes of her mixed and tormented thoughts. She was dreaming, that was to be sure. But she was also very caught up in memories, where it seemed like reality and fantasy were all tied together because her fantasies had always included what she had had with Derek.

She awoke to a rose resting on her pillow just in front of her face.

She smiled as she picked up the rose. It was her favorite kind, Black Beauty. It was the richest red, almost black in some light. To her red roses always symbolized great love and passion.

She sat up then noticed a vase full of the Black Beauties. She smiled. He had remembered after all. Today was their one year anniversary. They were in their senior year and Casey was very very hopeful for the future.

She got up and decided she needed to look her best. She grabbed a shower and got herself all primped up.

Derek had stared at her everytime he had spotted her when she was at school. She of course had chosen to wear his favorite mini skirt with her boots and one of the tops he had said look hotter than babe raider.

She went with Emily to the mall after school for that perfect outfit for their anniversary date.

Derek knocked on her bedroom door in the midst of flurry of activity. Emily had been trying to do her hair and make-up while Lizzie was drilling Casey on where she was going and what she had gotten Derek.

"I'm not ready yet," she called out.

"Reservations are at 6," he stated.

She rolled her eyes. When had she ever let them be late for reservations? She almost laughed out loud. "Yes dear."

Emily laughed. "Alright Casey, blot your lips."

At twenty to six Casey descended the stairs to an awestruck Derek. She was wearing one of the new baby doll style dresses that ended mid thigh. It was black with a pink bow at the waist. Her hair was pulled back at the side of her neck in long curls.

"Casey, you look amazing," he said as he grabbed her jacket and took her out to his car.

He took her to the restaurant they had their first official date to. It was great. She was caught up in everything that she almost forgot to give him his gift at dinner.

She handed him a card.

He opened it and dropped his mouth open.

She had one of her friends from her old school who was a fantastic photographer take some seductive pictures.

"Casey Macdonald, I never knew you had it in you."

She smirked. "Well, you know, I guess you're rubbing off on me."

He stroked her arm. "You make it difficult for me to not just take you right here on this table. That's how bad I want you," he said in a low voice.

She leaned over and kissed him, nipping his lips with her teeth. "you will just have to wait."

He groaned. "You're killing me here."

She smiled.

He chewed on his lip then stood. "I can't give you your gift here," he said. She looked at him curiously then followed him out after Derek dropped some bills into the folder with the receipt.

They went to their park and he sat with her on bench overlooking the city. He had put his jacket around her shoulders and was rubbing her arms.

He leaned over to kiss her passionately. They sat there kissing, the glow of city below their only light with some street lamps back behind them.

"Casey," he whispered as he started kissing down her face to her neck.

"Mmm," she moaned.

"I want to give you something now."

She turned and looked at him with bright eyes.

"So this past year has been interesting," he started.

She laughed. "I'll say."

"I'm just glad that we have managed to survive through some of the hardships that were bound to come our way."

She nodded. "That's because we were there to brave it together."

"Yes, I do remember the battle we had with our parents."

She blushed.

Casey and Derek had been caught coming in from a date holding hands. They told their parents that they were dating. Of course they blew up because they know had their hormonal teens dating each other under their roof. Casey had declared that since Derek was improving in school and that she was sincerely happy for the first time in years, even more happy than starting dance again after moving in with the Venturis that the parents should just be happy for them.

Casey fought long and hard for them alongside Derek, following their rules—mostly. If they had an empty house then they took advantage of it.

Finally Nora seeing them as young and romantic convinced George that the kids were grown up and they would just have to accept them.

"You are a vixen—my vixen," he smiled as he reached into one of his pockets to pull out a small box.

She stared at it.

"Alright, to find out what is in this box, you're going to have to take s guess."

She arched a brow. "I'm supposed to guess what my present it?"

He laughed. "Alright, you don't have to guess what it is—I want you to guess what it means."

A frown etched her face. "What?"

He smirked before taking her chin and kissed her.

"I wanted to get you a gift to prove that yes, Derek Venturi is capable of buying a gift for a girl and not going to fight and break up with you and get back together with you to avoid it."

She laughed as she remembered the Valentine's day she had wanted Max and he wanted Kendra but hated buying gifts.

"So I looked everywhere for not just a gift but a promise to you that I mean everything I say and do for you."

She gave him an appreciative smile while she tried to hold back the tears of joy she felt.

He then opened the small box to reveal a purply green heart ring.

"This is a promise ring to you that I want us to celebrate many years together. I want to take this journey as far as it will take us."

She gushed as she grabbed him and kissed him.

"It's beautiful."

He slid it on her fourth finger on her right hand. "It's a mystic topaz. A new stone, unique and beautiful."

She held her hand up and gazed at it. She then turned to him again. "I love it—I love you!"

He grinned as he pulled her in for a passionate kiss. "Forever and a day Case, forever."

She bolted up. "Oh my god," she muttered putting her head in her hands. "Oh my god, what am I doing?"

She took a deep breath as she let her eyes settle in the darkness of her bedroom. She looked down at the engagement ring Max had given to her.

He had proposed to her the previous year when she had been cranky and scouring his apartment for some Advil to give some ease to her migraine. They had been laying on the bed and he said he had something for her. He opened a box to reveal this square diamond. He had gone on and on about it being a ring from his great uncle and it having never been worn and if she didn't like she could pick out something different. She finally calmed herself to ask him to ask her.

It wasn't a particularly romantic moment but she tried to glamorize it the best she could and was excited about being engaged.

Without thinking her hand shot to the chain around her neck. She had worn the chain practically forever. Absentmindedly she started playing with the ring that hung on the chain.

The action calmed her as she tried to shake the dream of her and Derek's first anniversary out of her head.

What was wrong with her, here she was in her old room at home because she was about to get married to Max, someone she had been with for two and a half years, and she was torturing herself with memories of Derek and her. She was grasping her promise ring that she had never been able to part with like it was some kind of life line.

Now she had to ask herself something. If she was supposedly happy in her new life with Max, then what was she doing holding the past so tightly in her hands?

Maybe that was it, maybe she had been lying to herself about her happiness. Her happiness was an illusion and so deep a lie that she convinced herself and everyone else that it was true.

She lay back down, still holding onto the chain and the promise ring. "I thought you had promised me forever and a day Derek," she whispered into the darkness. "Why am I marrying someone else?"


I might have to duck from all the flying objects that are bound to be thrown virtually at me since I keep leading you all on with these great memories with Derek and her tormented thoughts of Casey as she realizes that she really is about to get married to Max. so hold on for the ride, it might be a little bumpy, but its always worth it. Please review!! Let me know what you think, love it, hate it, or want to tell me I'm driving you mad with the wait? Post it! Laterz :P