Thanks for the reviews and I'm glad that people are still hanging on. Being sick at the holidays really throws your momentum off but I'm glad that there are people still reading, though it would be nice to hear about it from people, oh well, anyways, enjoy the new chapter.
Casey woke up and stretched. She turned to see the bed empty. She sighed as she got up. She wanted to stay in bed a little longer but knew she should really get up and get going on the quickie wedding that she and Derek were planning.
She walked out to the veranda where she found her fiancé on his cell phone.
He gave her a smirk and finished his call.
She leaned down to kiss him. "Hey lover," she smiled as she sat down between his legs.
"Hey you," he said, pulling her close to him.
They enjoyed the moment, just holding each other. Finally they got up and went for brunch then went to get all the legal papers so they could get married the next day. They were done with plenty of time to meet the family at the villa.
"Casey!" Nora exclaimed when she spotted her walking up the stairs from the gardens.
"Mom," she said when she hugged her mother in response.
Soon she and Derek were enveloped in hugs from everybody.
"Alright, why don't we get you all checked into your rooms," Derek said, making his way to the front desk with George.
Nora put an arm around her.
"Are you truly happy?" she asked her quietly.
Casey gave a bright smile. "Probably the happiest I have ever been."
Nora gave her a motherly smile. "That's all I want to hear. I told you that I was going to support you in whatever you chose to do."
"I doubt that this is what you had in mind though," Lizzie laughed from behind them.
Casey turned to look at her sister.
Nora shook her head. "It doesn't matter. I could tell that you were concerned about marrying Max and I felt that I needed to tell you in the event that you couldn't go through with it I would be there for you."
"You're here now and that's what really matters most to me," Casey said, looping arms with her mom.
Her dad came and kissed her on the forehead. "This is probably the best decision I've seen you make yet," he smiled.
"And I'm glad that we're here to see it," George said as he came back over to them.
"That's why everything was taken care of," Derek said as he rejoined the entire group. "Alright, so everyone check out their room, adjust to the heat and we'll meet up in a few hours for dinner."
Everyone nodded in agreement and dispersed.
Casey went back to the room with Derek.
He held her hand tightly.
"What's up?" he asked as he led her onto the veranda and pulled her down onto the lounge chair with him.
She sighed contently. "I'm just happy. I'm here with you. We're going to get married tomorrow and we have our family here to share in the joy of it."
He glanced at his watch. "Well, almost all of our family is here. My mom said she would be in later this evening."
Casey smiled brightly. "Oh Derek, I can't believe how much trouble you went through."
He shrugged. "It's only right that we have our family here to share this day with us. They were there for all of our relationship, good and bad. Now they can see us come together in what should be one of the best things—
"So far," she smiled as she leaned up and kissed him.
"Do you regret it?"
She shook her head. "No, I can't. That's why everything kept leading me back to you. All my memories of us haunted me and I just knew that there was no way that I could marry him. I just couldn't do it."
He leaned down and kissed her. "I can relate to that. I hated that you were going to marry him. My coach threatened to bench me."
She frowned at him. "I didn't think that—you know, I just assumed that you were a little tired, perhaps deep down I knew that it was my fault that you weren't at the top of your game."
He cocked a brow. "So, you admit that you did watch my games."
She blushed and bowed her head. "If I couldn't watch them then I watched them on tivo."
He chuckled. "Oh Case, I have corrupted you."
She laughed. "I do believe that is true. You ruined me for all others."
He smirked cockily. "Good thing I rescued you then because you ruined me for any other woman a long time ago."
He started to kiss down her neck and stopped any further words from being said. He kissed across her rib cage to her naval.
"Come," he whispered and guided her to her feet and took her to the private pool they had.
He pulled her into the water with him and slowly he slid off her clothes and tossed them to the side of the pool and she helped him out of his swim trunks and his tank.
He smiled in appreciation of her beautiful dancer's body then kissed her passionately.
She laughed and swam from his grip.
They commenced in a playful game of tag that resulted in some rather interesting foreplay and finally Derek couldn't take it any longer and had her on the steps of the pool. She came with him in the flurry of hot passion and thrilling excitement and clung to him afterwards, trying to catch her breath.
Eventually they dragged themselves from the pool and took a brief nap together before they went to meet up with the family for dinner.
Casey found herself being stretched suddenly. She smiled as she looked up at Derek's face as he put his arms back down then wrapped it around her. He kissed her nose.
"We should get up," he said holding her close.
She snuggled closely into his side. "Do we have to?"
He chuckled. "Come on, up we get," he said sitting up.
She moaned as she pouted but eventually put out her hand which he grabbed to help pull her out of bed and onto her feet.
"Come on sleepy head, a quick shower and then we'll get dressed and make our way down to meet everyone."
Once they were showered and dressed, they made their way down to the lobby of the hotel villa to meet up with their family.
Derek had his arm around her when they joined everyone.
"Hey you two," Denis said as stood beside Amy, his girlfriend of six years. She was a soap opera actress and had come on the morning of the would be wedding to find the complete chaos of the aftermath.
"Hey Dad," Casey said as she gave him a hug and kiss on the cheek. "Thanks for helping out with you know, everything."
He gave her a smile. "Casey, all I can say is that I was surprised Derek and you managed to be apart as long as you did. Max was a great enough guy but he could never quite compare to Derek."
Casey felt her cheeks flush.
"I'm just glad that we're here for this great moment when you two get married tomorrow. I'm also glad that you're happy. I know that it had to have been a very difficult situation to walk out on a wedding and a big decision because well a decision that effects the rest of your life is always a difficult decision that you want to be sure about."
He squeezed her in a warm hug.
"So are we off?" George said as they joined the rest of the family.
Derek nodded as he came over to Casey's side and took her hand.
"Wait, wait," someone said from back by the stairs.
Derek turned to smile at his mother. "Finally made it," he grinned.
She hugged him and kissed on the cheek, doing the same for Casey.
"Well, it's a little more difficult for me to get away last minute," Abbey said as she looped arms with Marti.
"we're glad that you made it," Casey smiled. "All of you, we realize that its very last minute and it has been a rather interesting week to say the least, but I am so glad that you'll be here to see us get married."
A couple taxis showed up to take them to the restaurant. They went into the restaurant and practically took over the place with all them sitting together for dinner.
Derek and Casey sat in the middle. George and Nora sat across from them, Edwin and his girlfriend beside them, Lizzie and Jamie just off the side. Marti sat beside Peter, her serious, but don't let her hear you say it, boyfriend, with Denis and Amy just by them. Emily and Sheldon were there too, sitting by Derek's mother.
Casey looked around the table and was amazed by the effort that Derek had done to make the impulsive decision to get married a beautiful experience. They had their family and they would finally be able to right the wrong they had done to each other by separating and almost marrying the wrong man.
They enjoyed the dinner and then found the family wanting to give toasts to the occasion.
"I want to say that I am so grateful for the chance to be here to witness this momentous occasion," George said, looking down at the two them as he stood with Nora. "It was sudden but we could not be more happier for the two of you."
"yes, and I want to thank you Derek for bringing us down here so we could be apart of something we had all prayed and hoped for," Nora said.
There were cheers and Abbey and Dennis both gave toasts along the same lines.
Once they were done with it they made their way to the beach where there was a huge bonfire by an American group of friends who were enjoying a party on the beach.
"you three are going to be my bridesmaids, right?" Casey asked Emily, Lizzie, and Marti while they were sitting on a log with a drink.
"of course," Lizzie grinned. "I just knew when I was driving you to the airport that you two would get married."
Casey smiled.
"I'm just glad that you came to your senses. I knew that you wouldn't truly be happy with Max. He's a nice enough guy but he didn't stir your soul like Derek does," Marti said.
"I'm just glad that it means for the time being you'll be back in the area. I will miss having the excuse to come down to New York, but it will be great to have you that much closer," Emily grinned.
"Plus, we got ourselves pretty beach style bridesmaids dresses as soon as we got the call from Derek that we should come down to see you get married," Lizzie laughed.
Casey laughed and hugged each of them. "oh you guys are the best."
"So, are we going to find a place to get our hair and makeup done tomorrow?" Marti asked.
Casey grinned. "absolutely."
"Now, the question is, are you going to be formal and spend the last night as a single woman with your best girls or do you plan on being with your fiancé?"
Casey pouted.
Derek laughed as he joined them. "Maybe I should say that she should spend the night with me because you might just run for freedom and never get married."
Casey smiled sweetly at him. "I don't think you have to worry about that. I ran away from my last wedding because I was still in love with you. It's hard to marry someone you don't truly love. You're my soulmate. Nothing could stop me from marrying you tomorrow."
He kissed her while the girls gushed about their sappy sweetness.
"alright, you go with the girls then. I'll see you tomorrow," he said, kissing her one more time.
She kissed him and then let the girls take off with her for the night. She was getting married the next day and she had never felt more excited in her life.
So, the wedding is next. Hope you enjoyed the story and that there was enough information on Amy, I realize that I suddenly introduced her but I couldn't help it. I'm not that sure I like this chapter that much, but oh well, its done and the wedding is next. Please review and let me know what you think!!
