Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters in this story. Except Cindy and Amanda.
The party went by in what seemed like a blur. There were people congratulating her left and right, food being passed round. Stupid little party games that made everyone laugh and lots of presents. Some of which were practical, a new set of towels, some new dishes, a bathroom set and then there were the gifts that she really didn't want to open in front of her mother not to mention Lizzie and Marti. Casey's face was red for what seemed like the last hour of the party. Until the last of the guys left and all there was, was mess.
It was just after 10, the party had gotten out of hand and lasted hours longer then it was intended to. Lizzie had gone back to Toronto hours ago so she would be there for class the next morning and Marti was gone to sleep at her friend Cindy's house. Her mother had gone to bed with a headache and here she was all alone cleaning up the mess.
Casey moved around with a garbage bag making quick work of cleaning up the used cups and plates. There was wrapping paper and napkins and other stuff she didn't really want to think about but it all went in the bag.
Once the main cleaning was done she moved on to straightening up the presents anything to keep her mind busy so she didn't think about what happened earlier that day. The last person she expected to see today was Derek. She had been trying really had to put him out of her mind completely so his presence had really thrown her for a loop.
Then there was Sam. She couldn't really blame him for his reaction; he had every reason to be mad at the both of them. She still could hardly believe that he had forgiven her. It hadn't been easy either. She had spent 2 months sleeping alone in their bed thinking about what a horrible person she was about how if she could go back she would change things or at least she would want to change things.
Then one night when she had thought all hope was lost he just showed up at the door. He looked like he had been run over by a truck and he didn't say a word he just kissed her. He made love to her that night like he hadn't done in what seemed like forever. Then when they were lying in the afterglow, as she was thinking it had to be a dream he told her that the past was the past and the minute they said I do all of that would be behind them. Then he told her that he wanted to marry her as soon as possible and all she could do was smile and kiss him and call the church the next morning.
From there things just escalated and it seemed that the last few months had been all about cake samples and wedding invitations and floral arrangements. Casey sat on the couch and started to straighten the presents. This was the first time her and Sam had been apart since that night but they had agreed that her staying here for a few days would make their honeymoon more special.
She picked up a beautiful black lace teddy that her friend Amanda had given her; she couldn't wait to wear it. She shoved the nightgown back in the box as fast as she could.
Casey looked up to see George come into the house with a slumped Derek. George was barely holding him up. When she got closer she say that Derek's face was bruised. His lip was cut and there was a gagged cut on the side of his face.
She moved to his other side and helped George get him to the couch. "My God what happened?"
"Kinda hard to explain Casey it involves man stuff. There was some football which turned into wrestling which turned into I don't know something else. Anyway they'll both be fine." George tried to explain as he yawned and headed toward the kitchen and she figured downstairs.
"Wait who else?" She was almost afraid to ask.
"Sam but he's fine. Doesn't look nearly as bad as Derek. We dropped him off first he was passed out before I even left. Edwin is staying over at your place with him."
"Oh…I'll call him tomorrow then."
"Yeah…well night Casey."
"Night." She waited until she heard the door close and lock and before turning around.
Casey looked back at Derek who was sitting on the couch with his head in his hands. She sat down on the coffee table in front of him. "I don't even know what to say."
He sat there for a minute and then looked up at her. "Nothing to say I'm fine."
Just one look at him and she knew that wasn't true. She didn't know what kind of pain he was in but the cuts and scraps she could see were pretty ugly to her. She reached her hand out and touched his gash but he pulled away from her. "Derek don't be a baby." She stood up and looked at him. "Come on lets go bandage you up."
"Really I'm fine."
"Your not now come on before I make you."
He couldn't help but smile at her take charge attitude. He reluctantly got up and followed her to the upstairs bathroom. She closed the door then remembered no one was home and thought it better to keep it open. She pushed him so he was sitting on the toilet and then went in search of the first aid kit.
Once found she opened it and made sure it had the antiseptic and bandages and then she wet a facecloth and moved in front of him. She moved his chin so he was looking up at her and then carefully started to clean his cut.
Everything was quiet until she couldn't stand it anymore. "What happened Derek?"
"Your imagination can probably figure that out on your own."
She sighed. "Well I want you to tell me."
"We were all playing flag football in the park. Everything was fine until I went to grab this guys flag and accidentally shoved Sam a little. That kinda set him off. There was yelling and shoving. I kept trying to walk away but he just kept pushing me and then well it turned into a wrestling match and then well just a fight. Dad and Ed finally broke it up."
Casey had been quiet while he explained. She knew it was a bad idea to send those to out together. They were just asking for trouble. "Did you hurt him?"
"He's fine."
"Like your fine you mean?"
"No he's actually fine. He got in a few good shots that's all then it was over."
"Oh."
She finished with the washing and got the antiseptic and squished a little on her finger. "This may sting." He moved back slightly at her touch.
She moved so she was kneeling before him. "Don't be a baby. If Marti can take this stuff after she hurt her knee then you certainly can. I thought you were suppose to be big strong Derek?" She laughed softly.
"Do not mock me Casey McDonald." He teased.
She laughed a little more and then moved to place the ointment on his lip. Her finger stalled when his lips gently kissed the end of her finger.
She looked up into his eyes that moments before held laughter but now were far from it. She knew were the look lead and she couldn't go there again. Quickly Casey stood up and moved to the first aid kit and closed it putting it back under the sink where she found it.
When she stood back up she felt hands on her hips. Her eyes closed as he moved his body completely against her back. He leaned in and whispered in her ear. "It's been 9 months sense I touched you and yet I still remember the softness of your skin." His voice was husky and full of need. He softly kissed the nap of her neck as she moved it to the side so he had better access.
He turned her around in his arms after a few minutes and lifted her chin. "Casey open your eyes. Look at me."
"I can't...Derek we can't…I…"
He ran his thumb along her jaw. "I know all the reasons why this is wrong but yet here I am again." He kissed the side of her face and the corner of her mouth and then looked down at her again. "Casey if you can honestly tell me that you don't think about me at all, if you don't think about how it feels to kiss me, how it feels to be held by me then I'll let you go right now and you can just move on from this moment and go one with your happy little life. Just tell me Casey and we can stop."
Casey opened her eyes and looked into his. That was her mistake she knew because as soon as she say the genuine emotion in his eyes not just rare lust she was gone. "I don't wanna lie."
That was all it took for his lips to take hers. He pulled her more firmly against him and kissed her like his life depended on it, like he had dreamed about for the long months since he went back to his sad little life.
He soon realized this wasn't one sided. Casey gave as good as she got. He kissed her hard as his hands wandered down her body lifting her legs and pulling them up around his waist. Then he moved her backwards out of the bathroom and towards his open bedroom door. The entire way there his lips didn't leave hers. He closed the door with his foot and quickly made his way to the bed.
They tumbled onto it in a mess of arms and legs. Her shirt soon landed on the floor followed soon after by his. There were hands and mouths going everywhere, exploring and tasting. Touching one another in ways that they had only dreamed about.
Casey spun them so she was on top stratling his hips. She grinned down at him as she took off her bra and let it join the shirts on the floor. Leaning in she took his lips again. After that it was a wrestling match for control. The remainder of the clothes went flying across the room soon they both explored every inch of the other not wanting to miss anything.
When he finally did take her it was the most amazing experience of her life. She had had sex before, in fact she had had great sex before but this was on a different level. This was fire and ice all at the same time. It was like he knew her body, knew how she was going to react to everything and anticipated every need, every itch.
When they finally came down she couldn't move, couldn't hardly blink. He laid down next to her and tried to catch his breath.
Soon enough though the gravity of the situation hit her and she just turned away from him. Laying there and trying to figure how all of this had actually happened. She felt him pull the covers over them and then snuggle in to her. She was weak in the moment and just wanted comfort so she let him. She moved as close as she could back to him and let him hold her.
Just as sleep was finally over taking her very tired body she just faintly heard him whisper the words that complicated things even more. "I love you Casey." Before she could even form a thought her body went limp and she feel into a deep sleep.
Casey woke up early the next morning to find herself in Derek's bed. She sat up as the events of the previous night came to her in a rush. She has slept with Derek and he loved her. She turned over to look at him but only found an empty bed. She looked at the clock and saw that it was barely after 7 and again looked back to the other side of the bed. But this time she saw the envelope on the pillow with her name scribbled on it.
She sat up completely making sure that her chest was covered and then opened the envelope taking out the piece of paper and reading the scribbled note.
"Case, I left this morning. I started driving back extremely early this morning and will probably be half way back to New York by the time you read this. I watched you sleep last night and realized something. If I stayed there and let you wake up in my arms I wouldn't be able to let you go. I wouldn't be able to let you marry Sam and I know that no matter what is between us he's the one that can give you the stability that you always wanted. Knowing me I would probably screw things up even worse anyway so I did what I thought was best. Case I wish you all the happiness in the world. Love you, Derek.
Casey read the note a few more times and then got up and got dressed and made her way out to her room. She got changed in her pajamas and got back in bed not really wanted to face the world just yet.
Well there you have it folks. Hope you enjoyed.
It's two days until the wedding people.
Thanks for all the reviews and keep them coming. I want your comments and opinions.