I'm back. Well I hope you like it. I really had a lot of my own emotions to go on and really just let her rip in this chapter. Hope you enjoy.


They were at the church now. Casey stared at the offensive building. It was the damn church where she would have to marry a man that she did not love—at least not as much as she loved Derek. She froze mid step. She wasn't sure that she couldn't make up the stairs into the church.

"Come on Casey," Emily said, taking her by the arm. "I don't think you have to worry. I'm pretty sure that Max is in there."

Casey gave a forced laugh. "Oh of course he is."

They entered the church. Casey felt tight in her chest. She rubbed her arm. It really couldn't be good if she thought she might be having a heart attack. Perhaps it was a panic attack. Whatever it was, she knew it was a sign that her equilibrium was off. It was all wrong.

But despite the screaming inside her head, she walked with her head tall and into the church.

Everyone was there. Her father kissed her on the forehead.

"The minister is all ready to go," he said.

She nodded. "Then let's do it."

The minister came over to them then and explained all that they would have to do the next day.

"Alright Casey, so this day is not about you," he said.

She frowned.

He laughed. "I'm just kidding."

He then positioned them in the right order and repeated the steps again.

Finally he declared that they were ready to run it through.

Her father laughed. "God, this guy is crazier than the guy who married your mother and me."

Casey frowned. She wasn't sure if she should keep counting the signs that were weighing against her.

She sighed as she took her father's arm. The door opened and she waited as the girls took their turns walking up the aisle. Finally it was her turn. She laughed as her father hummed "here comes the bride" as they walked to be followed by "Going to the Chapel".

She noticed all the family was there. Her mother was smiling at her. She then finally looked at the man she was supposed to be marrying the next day.

She walked down the aisle, the direction supposedly strongly marching toward. She looked up and saw Max.

Max stood there with a smile. He seemed so happy. She felt a twinge of wretchedness for all her feelings of doubt, but they still didn't leave her.

"It will all go just as smoothly as this tomorrow," the minister smiled when they were done.

They all chuckled.

Max turned to look at them. "So I guess I will see you at dinner," he said. He kissed Casey on her cheek.

Her mom and dad were talking to Lizzie while George fussed over Marti and Vicki, teasing them about something.

"Casey," the minister said.

She turned. "Yes Alan?"

"Would I be able to talk to you for a minute?"

She nodded.

They stepped aside.

"Is everything okay, Casey?" he asked her.

She frowned. "Of course."

He looked at her carefully. "Casey, I have married many couples. I can sense that there is something off. Is there anything that you want to talk about?"

She took a deep breath. "I think I'm just feeling a little nervous."

He looked at her, giving her a scrutinizing stare. "Alright, but you have the sudden urge to run, I think you better have someone with you to talk to and keep you afloat."

She frowned.

He gave her a smile. "Like I've said, I have married many couples. I'm seeing some signs of one very jittery bride."

"Casey, what name is the reservation under?" Vicki asked.

"Macdonald and Carter wedding party," she said.

Minister Alan patted her on the arm. "Do what feels right," he said quietly.

She nodded then let Lizzie come and drag her to the car.

"Oh my god, I am so hungry," Lizzie complained.

Casey laughed. "I'm hungry too except I can still taste the pizza."

Emily groaned. "Oh bloody hell; I'm just looking forward to that margarita with my name on it."

Her mom came over to them where they stood, waiting around the car.

Nora put a motherly and comforting arm around her shoulder.

"Sweetie, why don't you humor your mother and ride along with her," she said to Casey.

She nodded. "Sure mom."

She went and got into the car with her mom.

"So Casey, what's bothering you?"

Casey turned to look at her mom. "What do you mean?"

"I mean I saw the way you were really nervous as you were making the way down the aisle."

Casey sighed. "Mom, I'm scared. I'm really worried I've talked myself into something that is not necessarily the right thing to do."

"Oh Casey," her mom said.

Casey gave a nervous chuckle. "Don't worry this isn't like the time I cried break-up when I was with Sam."

Her mom shook her head. "Oh god no, Casey, I never thought that. There's a big difference between not being able to communicate with a teenage boy and being on and off again. This is the rest of your life."

She looked at her mother with relief.

"Casey, you're my daughter. I will love you forever. If you get married and these thoughts are nothing but cold feet or if you decide that you shouldn't get married and leave, I will love you either way."

Casey smiled at her mom. She would have hugged her if she were not driving. "Thanks," she said quietly.

Once they arrived and parked, Casey hugged her mom once she was out of the car.

"Thanks mom," she whispered.

Her mom gave her a tight hug. "No worries sweetie. I know you will make the right decision for you."

Casey gave a weak smile. "I know in the end I will just have to follow my heart. I just don't know what my heart truly wants me to do."

"You have to have some kind of idea."

Casey gave a shrug. "I think that my doubts are saying something but I think there is more to it than I am giving credit to it."

Nora hugged her again. "Oh sweetheart, I know this is not easy and not the best time to be suddenly having doubts about this next step of your life."

Everyone else arrived at the restaurant to have everyone greet each other excitedly. Almost everyone was there. Casey found herself seated next to Max. He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek.

She gave him a smile but she felt like she was throwing herself through a storm of inner turmoil. She suddenly felt like she knew she was so caught up in a lie that she didn't know how to get herself out.

She had gotten together with Max after she bumped into him coming out of a class when she was attending a seminar at NYU. He was there on an athletic scholarship for football. They decided to go for coffee to catch up and the next thing she knew they were going out.

They were decent friends but somehow she always felt like there was something missing. That missing something was becoming pretty vital right now. She was recognizing that now and was terrified about this acceptance.

Casey fiddled with her engagement ring. She took a deep breath and felt her hand switch over to her comfort zone. She was twirling Derek's ring around her finger.

They were driving back from a movie date.

He was holding her hand and driving.

She was fiddling with the promise ring he had given her.

"Hey there sexy, what are you thinking about?"

She looked over at him. "Not much. I was just thinking about what it will be like in a few years when we're going home to our own house."

He grinned. "That's not a bad dream—so who's this guy you're sharing it with?"

She laughed. "Oh you know, this guy who is trying to become a pro hockey player. He shows me all the consideration in the world. He lets me be me and knows how to endure all the days with me that might be overwhelming to some."

He laughed. "God Case, sometimes you think too much. Though I do dig the future vision you've got going."

They arrived at the house and they went in. George was going over some of his paperwork for the case he was working on. He gave them a smile.

"Dad, shouldn't you get some sleep?"

George stretched as he looked at his watch. "I suppose I need to get some sleep at some point, but I sill have some work to do."

Casey gave a shrug. "Don't mind us, we're just going to change and then watch some tv."

Casey went up to her room to change from her skirt and sweater into red flannel pajama pants and a white camisole. She went over to Derek's room. He was staring out the window.

"Hey," she said.

He smirked as he turned to look at her.

"Oh my god, it's snowing!" she exclaimed as she joined him at the window.

He put an arm around her.

"Oh, it's so beautiful," she said as she watched the snow fall and slowly cover the ground with white.

He kissed her on the forehead and smiled. "Alright, let's go cuddle on the couch and watch some tv as the snow falls."

She leaned up and kissed him. "Sure lover boy."

They went back down to the living room. Casey pulled a blanket over them as they cuddled.

Soon Casey fell asleep, laying on Derek.

"hey sweetie," he whispered some time later.

She stretched. "Hmm?"

"come on, let's go to bed," he said as he nudged her up.

She groaned.

He chuckled as he lifted her. "Alright sweetie, I guess I'm taking you to bed."

She smiled. "I think I could get used to this."

He carried her up to her room and laid her down on her bed. He was about to leave when she groaned and pulled him down beside her.

"Stay," she yawned.

He smirked as he kissed her on the forehead. "Cant get enough of me?"

"I guess not."

He lay beside her, holding her hand. He kissed her hand, right over the promise ring.

"Love you Casey," he whispered.

"Love you too Derek," she whispered as she cuddled close.

"Love you Case," Max said.

She gave him a faint smile.

He turned to talk to his dad.

She was twirling the promise ring around her finger when she felt eyes burning on her.

She looked up to lock eyes with…

"Casey," he said.

"Derek," she said quietly.

He was staring at her, his gaze burning on her and her fiddling fingers.

She blushed when she realized that he had caught her playing with the ring that Derek had given her.

He arched an eyebrow as he took a seat across from her.


Okay, so let me know what you think. I know I'm cruel to taunt you by just bringing Derek in at the very end. My bad, I guess I might have to start ducking again. But now she has him right in person, which means, well, I will let you guess until the next chapter. Please, please review to let me know what you think :D