Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters in this story.

The anniversary party came and went and then as said Derek left London Ontario and made his way back to New York, back to his job, back to what he laughingly called a life.

Everyone at the office was happy to see his return from Jack the big boss man, to his colleagues, to the clients. Yes if there is one thing for certain it was that Derek did good work and that people loved him.

He quickly found himself yet again buried in work and it wasn't such a bad thing when he thought about it. When he had a camera in his hands, when he could capture the beauty of the world on film he was lost in that world. He had no time to think about what had happened at home. No time to think about how he betrayed the best friend a guy could have asked for, no time to think about the girl that tied him in knots and then left him to find his own way out. No this was much better. He was sure of it.

Derek popped the top of this beer and sat down in his recliner, flicking on the hockey game and settling in for a relaxing night. About thirty minutes into the game he quickly realized that relaxing was not really something that he was going to be able to do.

He finished his now very warm can of beer and tossed the empty making his way to the room that he had daubed his workout room. He sat down on the bench and picked up the weights at his feet lifting them one after the other to his chest and then down again. He moved on to the treadmill after a half an hour and ran, ran away from his problems, ran until the only thing on his mind was the ache in his muscles.

He turned off the treadmill and walked legs shaken into the shower and then headed for bed, exhausted and wore out. Falling into yet another sleep filled with dreams of Casey and what could have been.

Casey laid her bag down on the couch and looked around their new apartment. They had been there for just over a week now and although it was beautiful it was yet to feel like home.

"Sam, are you home?" She yelled to the obviously empty apartment. She sighed and felt guilty that she was a little glad he wasn't around. She made her way to the bathroom and took down her hair, making quick work of running a bubble bath. She grabbed some towels and took off her clothes easing her way in.

Her muscles ached from running around like a gofer at work. Days like this she felt more like an assistant then a copywriter, albeit junior copywriter. Just as she was about to lean her head back and relax she noticed the diamond that glittered in the bathroom light. The ring seemed to mock her as she stared at it as memories of last Friday night came back to her.

Nora and George just seemed so happy. It was like they were in this little bubble for two and nothing could disrupt them. She had watched them go and talk to everyone in attendance. The biggest smile of the night lit up her mothers face though when she opened the gift from Derek.

It turned out he had gotten them a karaoke machine, something that her mother had been wanting for what seemed like forever. They didn't waste much time setting it up and singing a duet for all to see. People took turns singing song after song and clapping for everyone. Then her mother insisted that Sam and she must sing something together. Nora picked the song 'I got you babe' by Sonny and Cher. They smiled as they made her way up there and sang their hearts out. Sam didn't have the best voice in the world but it didn't seem to matter.

Once they were done he took her hand and made her bow low. Then Sam told everyone they had an announcement to make. It had been really sweet how he pulled her close and told the whole place how much he loved her and now she had finally agreed to make an honest man out of him and become his wife. She had smiled looking at everyone but the second her eyes had met Derek's the smile became forced and fake. She watched as he stared at her for what seemed like an eternity and then left.

She didn't see him after that. When they all met up at the McDonald-Venturi house the next day he was already gone. Everyone seemed bummed that he wasn't around again but they all expressed the fact that they knew he wouldn't be back forever so it was understandable.

Casey took off her engagement ring and placed it on the small table next to the tub so it didn't get wet and then slipped down farther into the tub and closed her eyes.

She wasn't sure how long she was in there when she felt hands on her shoulders. She looked up to see Sam's face smiling down at her. "So what do you say, got enough room in there for me?"

Casey smiled and sat up and moved out of the tub. "Actually I was just getting out." She took the towel he offered and dried her body and then wrapped it around her. Taking a second towel she wound up her hair and moved out of the bathroom and into there bedroom.

She quickly found pajamas and started to pull them on when Sam stopped her movements before she got her tank top on, pulling her up against him from behind. His hands ran around her body and rested on her stomach as his began to kiss down her neck. "I missed you all day you know."

Casey didn't move out of his hold but didn't participate she smiled a sad smile. "I love you Sam."

"And I love you too Case. We are gonna have the best life together." He spun her around and went to kiss her mouth when he noticed the tears that were beginning to stream down her face. He reached up and wiped them about with his thumb. "Casey what's wrong?" She turned her face away but he refused to let her hurt alone. "Look at me, did I do something wrong?"

"No..." She trailed off for a minute and then so soft he almost didn't hear she whispered. "...I did."

She moved out of his arms and pulled on the rest of her pajamas and then started to brush her hair but the tears were still falling. He took the brush from her hands and turned her to look at him. "Casey, look whatever it is it can't be that bad. We can get through anything remember."

She smiled a small sad watery smile. "I don't think we can this time."

"Casey, you're scaring me. Sit down and talk to me. Tell me what happened and then we can go from there." She let him lead her to the edge of the bed. He sat down next to her and moved so they were facing one another, taking her hands in his.

She looked down for a few minutes not really sure how she was gonna start this, but now that she had she knew there was no turning back. "Sam you know how much I love you and how much I would hate to hurt you in any way but..." She trailed off reached a hand up and wiping the tears.

Sam just sat there and waited for her to continue. He swallowed over the lump in his throat having a good idea he was not gonna like what she was about to say. "Casey, tell me the rest." He just couldn't stand the silence.

She hiccupped around the tears and finally looked him in the eye. "I...I...I kissed someone else." She said it very softly but he heard her. He heard the moment the bottom fell out of his world.

He just looked down at their hands as he listened to her cry and it broke his heart. "Just once?" Was the first of many questions he needed the answer to.

"Twice."

He took a deep breathe, trying to ring in his emotions. "So it wasn't just a slip." He already knew that answer to that from the look on her face. "Did it go any farther, did you sleep with him?"

She looked at him shocked. "No...No you have to believe me I wouldn't...I couldn't...Sam."

He let her hands drop from his and looked up before his eyes returned to hers. "I want to believe you Casey but you can see how after what you just told me I could be a little skeptical."

She didn't reply she just looked down not able to see the hurt in his eyes any longer.

Sam got up and put some distance between them. "God, I don't even know what to ask, what do say to this. I really didn't think that this could ever happen to us Casey. I thought that you felt about me what I do about you."

She jumped up and went to him touching his arm. "I do Sam. I love you so much. I made a mistake ok. You have to know that. I hate hurting you like this but┘I really do love you."

"Well you have some funny way of showing it that's for sure." He moved away from her not able to be so close to her at this time. He paced a little and then looked back at her. "I thought that after what happened with Emily you would know how much it hurts to find out the person you love betrayed you. Do you remember how that almost tore us apart, do you remember how hurt you were. We weren't even together that long at that time and still..." He paced some more. "And that wasn't even true."

Casey thought back to the time late in there college years when her and Sam had been together almost a year when her best friend betrayed her. She came on to Sam and Casey had caught this. At the time she hadn't believed Sam when he said he was innocent and it had tore her up inside. She had done that to him and this time she couldn't plead innocent because she was guilty and she hadn't told him the worst part either, the part that if he wasn't already shattered would take him there.

She let him pace some more not really knowing what to say or do at this point. She just needed to wait for him to process.

Then he stopped again. "When did this happen?"

"A few weeks ago."

Then he paced again for about ten minutes before he dropped into a chair looking completely mentally and physically exhausted. He sat there with his head in his head leaning forward.

"I don't really know if I want to know this but I don't think I'm gonna get past it. Casey who was it?"

Casey swallowed and then wiped the rest of the tears from her face. She moved to him and knelt in front of him touching his face. "I think that we shouldn't go there. It won't help you to know so let's just drop it."

He looked at her as anger appeared on his face for what seemed like the first time during this whole ordeal. "Casey, tell me." He said really slowly.

She closed her eyes for a second and then stood up. "I can't tell you." Now he was mad. He got up from his chair and moved to her turning her to face him and looking her in the eye. "You owe me this much Casey." She just looked at him like she was gonna cry again. "Was it Mark from work?" She shook her head. "What about Jeff from the book store he always looks at you like he would like to get down your pants." He laughed at that but there no humor it. She shook her head again and tried to move away but he held her in place. "Casey tell me, just tell me damn it."

She looked down again not able to look at him while she said it. "Derek." She closed her eyes tight and willed the moment to be over.

She felt him let go of her and move away from her at this point. She didn't want to look at him but she just couldn't help it. He was standing there like he had been hit by a bus.

She moved to him and reached out for him but he evaded her touch. "Don't." He moved away from her and then anger seemed to fill him again. "You guys were laughing at me weren't you?"

She looked at him like he was insane. "Of course not."

"You were laughing at just how stupid I was. It's hilarious right. Oh that Sam he trusts his girlfriend, trusts his oldest friend, and trusts that they are not screwing him over behind his back. Yup, hilarious, isn't it."

"No...no it isn't like that."

"Then what's it like Casey. You didn't just want to hurt me you wanted to find the worst possible way to do so. Is that how it is?"

"No, of course not." She reached for him again but he moved out of the way.

"Don't Casey. I can't do this right now."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean I can't have you touching me, I can't look at you, I can't even be in the same house as you. I have to get some air." With that he moved to the room door.

"Wait, Sam, are you coming back?"

He turned to look at her one last time with a sad smile. "You really don't want me to answer that question right now Casey." With that he left her in the bedroom.

She could hear him open and close the closet and then slam the front door behind him.

Once he was gone she fell to her knees and let the tears flow.

Well there you go people, she told Sam. The question is what happens now. Don't count out either Sam or Derek because it's not over yet folks.

Hope you all enjoyed it and your gonna review. I just love to hear from you.

What do you think should Sam forgive her?