Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters in this story. I'll tell you if I add any new ones.

"...and thank you for flying WestJet. I hope you enjoyed your flight and and that you enjoy your stay in London, Ontario. And if this is a final stop for you then welcome home."

Home...yeah he was finally home. Derek Venturi watched as the other passengers scrambled to get there bags and exit the plane. He just sat contently in his seat with his camera bag and laptop in tow and waited for the craziness to subside. It was nice to get a few more minutes before he had to face the fact that he was really here. If he just stayed on the plane maybe they wouldn't notice him and he could leave here again but he knew logically that could never happen. He wasn't even really sure that was what he wanted just that he felt better knowing that he wasn't quite stepping on the polished floor of the airport.

He let out a sigh as the last passenger left and the flight attendent made her way over to him and leaned in with a smile.

"Is there anything I can help you with, Sir?" She reached out and touched his arm and her smile grew a little.

He easily returned her smile with a smirk of his own. "Thanks anyway but I was just avoiding the rush." He stood and she moved out of his way as he moved out into the isle.

"Oh well it's no trouble at all." She looked over at the other flight attendents that all seemed busy with other things and then smiled back at him and handed him a card. "Just in case you wanna see the sights." With one last flirtatous smile she walked away to check some seats.

She really was a beautiful woman. Tall, blond with legs that went on for days, definitely the kinda girl that knew what she was doing. He looked at the card and smiled at the name Cindy with the little heart above the i and the local phone number delicately written. He shooved the card in his jacket pocket for later and moved off the plane.

At least things seemed to be looking up.

The trip to baggage claim seemed to take forever and finding a taxi that wasn't already busy at 1 in the morning was a hassle but finally he was sitting in front of his childhood home. He grabbed his things and payed the driver and then just stood there for a minute on the lawn absorbing it all in.

He was home...he had successfully avoided this place for 7 years and now here he stood on the front lawn and he didn't know weather he should go in or turn around and see if the cabby was still there. He wasn't even sure exactly why he was so opposed to being here but something had kept him away all this time he just wan't sure what.

As he made his way to the front door he dug in his pocket for the key that he had found two days before. He wasn't even sure if it would work at all. They may have changed the locks sense he left but sure enough when he slide the key in the lock it turned just fine and the door opened into a darkened house.

It being just passed 1:30 in the morning he understood that and was kinda glad the key worked and he didn't have to knock sense no one knew he was coming.

Derek shrugged out of his jacket and hung it on the last available hook and headed right for the kitchen. He hadn't even realized how hungry he was until he saw the fridge before and it called to him.

Suddenly the light filtered the room just as he was about to open the fridge door. He turned around slightly startled to see a very surprised look on his fathers sleepy face.

The look was quickly replaced by a wide smile.

"Derek." His father stepped forward and hugged him swiftly and then just leaned back and looked at him for a minute and then moved over to the cupboard for a glass.

"Your pretty much the last person I expected to see about to raid my fridge at 1:30 at night. When did you get in? Why didn't you call someone would have come pick you up?" George Venturi just couldn't stop smiling as he looked at his oldest son. He was home and that just felt so right.

"I just got in and didn't wanna bug anyone to come out so late." Derek opened the fridge and dug around finding a pizza box and taking it out. Flipping up the lid he grinned and helped himself to a slize of cold pizza.

"At least use a napkin." George handed one over.

"Thanks." Derek replied with his mouth full.

"Some things never change and as much as I would like to watch you finish the whole pizza I'm sure I have to get Nora down some water and get to bed. Busy day tomorrow." He filled his glass with water and then grinned one more time at Derek before going back downstairs.

Just as Derek sat on the stool and bite into his second slice he heard a crash and a loud squeal. He grinned and moved into the living room seen a figure trying to pull themselves up. He looked down at his luggage the obvious reason for this whole thing.

He lay down his pizza and helped her up. Just as he was about to let go he looked directly into the face of Casey McDonald. Her hair was mussed and over her face and her pjs were rumbled but she was still her. He hadn't layed eyes on her in 7 years. The last thing he had seen her in was a cap and gown, he hadn't even stayed long enough to see her at the party afterward and now they were looking into each others eyes and he just smirked. "Klutzilla strikes again." He said meaning it to be sarcastic but it came out kinda soft.

Once the obvious shock wore off her face it was replaced by anger. She too looked down and saw the luggage that she had tripped up in and then turned back to glare at him.

"Der-ek, I could have killed myself tripping out your stupid luggage. Why exactly is it laying in the middle of the floor?" She ranted.

Derek put a little distance between then and then smirked at her. "No how are you. No w I missed you so much." Derek lay his hand over his heart melodramatically. "I'm hurt Casey. Truly hurt."

She seemed a little guilty for half a second and then she glared at him again. "Whatever. What are you doing here anyway?" She made her way to the kitchen grabbed a glass and poured herself a glass of water and sipped it as she waited for the answer.

Derek grabbed his pizza and followed suit. "Just thought it was about time." He watched her pick off a piece of pepporoni from the pizza still in the box and then close it and put it away.

"Oh." Was really all she could think to say to that. She downed her water and dumped the glass. "Well then I guess I'll see you in the morning." With that she headed for the stairs.

He watched her go. She really could be gracefully when she wasn't falling over things.

Just then she turned and smiled at him. "And Derek don't leave your things laying around." Then she was gone.

Same old Casey and yet it didn't feel the same.

Derek plopped down on the couch and pulled the blanket from the back to cover him as he flicked on the tv. Maybe home wouldn't be so bad was his last thought as he drifted off.

Hope you like it so far and that you review and give me some feedback so I can continue and make it great.