A/N: Thank you all so much for the support and the forgiveness of such a long absence. All the reviews were flippin awesome.

ThirdPOV

Derek froze in his tracks.

"Dad?"

Derek heard another manly accompanied by a woman's laugh.

Derek's eyes widen even further. "Nora?" Derek heard a loud thud coming from his bedroom and knew Casey had heard him.

"Yes, Derek, can you let us in now?" Nora chuckled.

Derek whipped around and saw Casey already dressed and with fixed hair. Derek stood still and watched as Casey smirked at him and walked pass him to open the door.

"Casey?!" Both parents exclaimed.

Casey smiled like nothing and let them both in. "Hi, if I had heard you and how Derek was not answering the door I would have answered it sooner. I was in the bathroom." Casey showed them into Derek's living room for a sit. "Can I get you guys anything to drink?" They both sat with open mouths and nodded. "What would you like? I think Derek has soda, coffee, and water if you'd like."

"Water," they both said.

Casey nodded and walked towards Derek and grabbed him by his shirt to pull him towards the kitchen.

"Derek, I need you to wipe off that stupid look off your face." Casey whispered as she kissed his cheek and grabbed two glasses out of the cabinet.

She continued to fill the glasses with water when Derek uttered, "You let them in."

Casey frowned and walked pass him again, "Of course I did."

Casey handed both glasses to each parent and sat down in the arm chair. She then looked up and asked Derek with her eyes to come in. And so he followed her lead and came to sit in the living room on the floor, since there was no room on the sofa.

"So," Nora began. "Casey, what are you doing here? In Derek's apartment? Together?"

Casey chuckled and folded her hands in front of her calmly. "Well, with Derek being on the hockey team now he needed a tutor in a couple of his classes. Last week we ran into each other and he asked me to help him study. We were just finishing up when you all knocked."

"Really?" Both parents face lit up and looked proudly at Derek.

This caused him to blush and rub the back of his neck. "Well, the first couple of months I wasn't doing so well. I was distracted by college life as a whole and when grades came around— you don't want to know. I started to straighten up after that and running into Casey I asked for her help. I now have two A's and three B's."

Everyone was a bit startled when George stood up abruptly and hugged Derek. Both Nora and Casey both had tears in their eyes.

"I'm so proud of you son," George whispered.

Derek chuckled and hugged his father tighter. "Thanks, dad."

George then let Derek go and went to hug Casey. "George, he was already making good grades when he asked me to help. I didn't do that much. Derek did this all on his own."

George laughed and pulled back from the hug. "You two seem to be adjusting well. Have you two been fighting a lot?" George added with speculation.

Derek smirked and Casey rolled her eyes. "He'll never stop being that 15 year old boy who likes to prank his step-sister."

Now it was Derek's turn to roll his eyes. "And she'll always be the keener princess."

They both smile at each other and realize that's just who they were. No matter how different they were, they still came together.

"So, shouldn't you be getting to the rink soon?" Nora asked as she sipped her water.

Derek's eyes widened and he scrabbled from his spot on the floor and darted to his bedroom. Casey just chuckled and rolled her eyes.

As she stood she grabbed her purse by the door. "Well, I guess I'll see you two at the rink? I have to run back to the dorm and gather somethings."

Nora and Georges eyes again widened. "You're coming to Derek's game?" George asked.

Casey nodded. "Yes, I've been to every single one, except for a few away games that I couldn't get to."

"Why?" Nora asked slightly confused.

Casey shrugged. "I felt kind of home sick the first month away. Going to see Derek play, even though most of the time he was on the bench was comforting."

Both nodded their heads. Then Derek came out of his room, dressed and with his bag over his shoulder. He stopped suddenly in the living room. "You guys coming? How long are you going to be here?"

Casey waited for their response. George looked sadden by the question. "I'm sorry Derek, but we can only stay until the next morning."

Derek smiled widely, Casey would have to remember to ask him why he was smiling. "Hey," Derek patted his father's shoulder, "Its okay. I'm really happy you guys are here. So are you guys riding with me or Casey?"

"We'll just meet you at the rink. I'd like to rest my eyes from the long drive." George rubbed his eyes as he slid further into the sofa. Derek laughed and nodded.

Casey spoke up finally, "Are you sure you don't want to go with me?"

Nora shook her head, "Nah, I think I'll rest my eyes as well. A nice hour nap will do us both good."

Casey nodded and walked out with Derek. Once down in the lobby his apartment Derek caught Casey's wrist and pulled her to him. "Are you okay?" Derek whispered.

Casey smiled into his jersey at his thoughtfulness. "Yes, you looked more shocked than I was when they showed up. I guess you lying skill is starting to rub off on me."

Derek chuckled darkly. "I hope that's not the only thing that's mine that's rubbing off on you."

Casey laughed loudly but pushed against Derek's chest and shoved him away. "Pig!" She yelled and turned her face away to hide the blush.

Derek smirked and pulled her back to him again. Casey dropped her head trying not to show how much he affected her. But Derek would have none of that. Derek took her chin and made her look up at him. Casey willingly looked at Derek and found a genuine smile. "We will deal with this however you want to. If you don't want to tell them just yet, fine. If you do, I pray that my dad and Nora don't kill me."

Casey was taken back by his statement. She hadn't even considered telling their parents about them yet. They haven't even been together for that long. It wasn't that she didn't trust their relationship, she wanted to give their parents time to think of them as friends who happened to fall in love.

"I don't want to tell them yet." Casey whispered as she looked into Derek's eyes. "I want them to get used to the idea of us as friends first. If they start associating us together then I think it'll be an easier transition to accepting us as a couple."

She held her breath as she waited for Derek's response.

Derek at first was a bit sadden by Casey's response. But he could definitely see her point with their parents associating them together. They're parents would only be here for less than a day. They would be able to show them how well they could get along.

Derek finally snapped out of his thoughts and look down at Casey. "I think that's a good idea. We can show them how well we get along now." Casey nodded. But then Derek smirked. "However, I hope you don't mind not being able to kiss me while they're here."

Casey narrowed her eyes at him. "I bet I could last longer than you can."

Derek's eyes danced with mirth with the thought of a challenge. "Oh, Case, you really don't want to push me into this."

Casey smiled widely, "Well, how about one last kiss before we have to part?"

Derek jumped at this but as soon as his lips were almost brushing Casey's she pulled away. "Oh Derek, you are going down."

Derek stood with his mouth open as she continued to walk out the apartment building. Finally snapping out of it he grabbed his bag and walked out of the building and to the rink. For the first time ever he wasn't so sure he could win a bet.

DASEY

Casey wanted to kiss Derek so badly but her pride and realizing she had the upper hand had caused her to pull away. She had never felt such an adrenalin rush as she did with Derek. She smiled the whole way back to the dorms. Kennedy was there shoving her face with roman noodles.

Casey lifted an eyebrow in response. "College student and roman noodles, how cliché."

Kennedy rolled her eyes but then frowned. "I thought you and Derek would be going to the rink together. I'm surprised you're here at all- seeing as how tonight was supposed to be the first night."

Casey flopped down on her desk chair, "Oh it was." She said while wiggling her eyebrows. "But, uh, we had some visitors."

Kennedy still confused continued with her questions, "What? Did his teammates walk in on you two?"

Casey shook her head. "No one walked in on us. Well, not really." Kennedy stared at Casey waiting for an explanation. "It was our parents."

"NO!" Kennedy gasped.

Casey nodded and rubbed her temples to ease the headache she felt coming on. "Yeah, my mom and his dad showed up just as I was about to touch his—"

Kennedy gasped so hard this time she started choking on her noodles. Casey suddenly alarmed went and clapped Kennedy on the back and encouraged her to keep coughing.

Once settled Kennedy slapped Casey on the arm, not hard, but enough to get her point across. "You did not!"

Casey rolled her eyes and laughed. "Yeah, it was in the heat of the moment. He, um, he went… you know, down…"

"CASEY MCDONALD!" Casey blushed and coughed to hide her embarrassment. "Start from the beginning please!"

Casey retold the story of yesterday and waited for Kennedy's reaction.

"Whoa," Kennedy said carefully. Not really the reaction Casey was looking for. Seeing her disappointment Kennedy continued. "Why no Casey freak out?"

Casey sighed a deep breath and shrugged. "I don't know. He makes me feel at ease. Even when our parents showed up I was cool, calm, and collected. But Derek was freaking out, afraid to say anything in case of saying the wrong thing."

Kennedy laughed, "I would've paid to see that!"

Casey sighed and then laughed at her memory. "We made a bet." Kennedy frowned. "They're leaving in the morning. We sort of bet who could last the longest not kissing."

Kennedy rolled her eyes, "Only in a Casey and Derek relationship." Casey smirked. "Shouldn't you get going?" Kennedy asked while looking at her watch.

Casey jumped up and quickly grabbed a sweater and a blanket and was out the door.

Once at the rink Casey snuck in through the side door and headed towards the locker room. Casey was just in time to see the players walk down the hall towards the rink. She spotted Casey and quickly grabbed him and shoved him into the dark hallway.

"Case? What's going on? Is something wrong?" He asked looking around and glancing over her.

Casey smiled. "Nothing is wrong. I just wanted to see how you were doing."

Derek smiled a nervous smile. "I'm okay. Not a lot of jitters."

Casey looked at him knowingly. She brought his forehead down to hers. She reached beneath his shirt and felt his abs. Casey moved closer to him and rubbed herself against him. Derek threw his head back and let out a deep groan as he gripped her butt tight. Even though all his padding just the thought of Casey rubbing herself on him he was popping a boner.

Casey knew he would be hard and began to undo his pads and shove the down. Still not kissing him, she stood and straddled his left leg and she pulled him completely out from his boxers. She wasn't excepting it to be so soft and hard at the same time.

Derek couldn't hold back the moan that escaped him when Casey finally wrapped her hand around him. He leaned his forehead against hers once again and they both watched as Casey slid her hand up and down around him. Derek gripped her butt and rubbed her back and sides.

He couldn't hold back any longer, "Fuck this bet."

He gripped Casey's chin and kissed her hard. Casey felt the shivers all through her body as she kissed Derek back. Derek kneaded her butt as she grinded against his leg as she pumped him. With Derek kissing her this gave Casey a chance to experiment with what she had in her hand. When she would pump fast Derek would pull her close and grip her hair tight. When she pumped slow he grinded against her hand wanting more friction. When she touched further down he moaned loudly. But his weakness, was when she slide her thumb over the underside of him right where the base met the head. Derek would gasp and pull her closer to kiss her hard. She really liked figuring out what he liked.

"Case," Derek whispered as he gasped. "So. Close."

Casey had never felt such power. She wanted to bring Derek to place he had brought her earlier in the day. She pumped faster and gripped him a bit tighter.

It didn't take him long finish between Casey experimenting and kissing her. He finally reached his climax gasping her name and finishing all over her hands. Casey wasn't sure what to do so she looked around for a bathroom as Derek pulled up his pads.

Derek grabbed her other hand and lead her towards the women's bathroom. Casey thought he would wait outside but he pushed the door open and walked inside with her. She was still in shock as he led her over to the sinks and grabbed some soap to wash her hand for her.

Derek didn't want her to be grossed out so he took it upon himself to wash her hand. But also because he was grateful. Once he dried off her hand pulled her off the ground and hugged her tight.

"Thank you," he whispered into her ear.

Casey smiled and kissed the side of his neck. "Just remember, I won the bet."

Derek laughed loudly and set her down on the floor. "Of course, princess." He began to kiss her again but she pulled back.

"Derek, you have a game."

"Oh shit," Derek pulled back completely and rushed out the door of the bathroom.

Casey chuckled and began to leave the bathroom before Derek rushed back in and kissed her.

"I love you," he whispered against her lips. It was the first time he had ever actually said it to her. Last night he mentioned love it was when she had ask to kiss him. But he never really came out and said it.

Derek had just told her he loved her. Casey's heart was pounding and she could feel her palms starting to sweat as she took in a deep breath. She was looking down and gathered all her courage to look him in the eyes.

His eyes told her all she needed to know. She had never seen the look he was giving her right then. Casey tripped over her thoughts for a second more and smiled gently.

"I love you, Derek," she whispered only loud enough for him to hear it.

Derek couldn't hold back the excitement he had felt then. He grin so widely his cheeks hurt. He scooped up Casey and swung her around in the bathroom. When he finally set her down he softly rested both of his hands against her cheeks and kissed her. Not too softly but not hard.

They only made out for a couple of seconds before Casey pulled away and swatted his arm. "Derek! You have to go play! What if the game is over and coach kicks you off the team and then you'll lose your scholarship and then you'll have to leave—"

Derek silenced her with another kiss but pulled back and looked at Casey's watch. "They've only been playing eight minutes." Derek then smirked at her. "I'll just have to tell coach that I was getting some help with my pre-game jitters."

Derek ducked quickly enough as Casey swung at the back of his head.

"Later," he whispered against her lips and left the bathroom.

Casey just sighed and rolled her eyes as she walked out of the bathroom and into the stands where her mom and George were waiting.

"Casey! I thought you had tricked us by saying you go to his games. But you're here!" George yelled over the crowd. "You haven't missed anything. Derek hasn't been on the ice yet but he just came out not too long ago. I guess he still has those pre-game jitters, right Casey?"

Casey choked on her hot chocolate as she tried to hide the blush on her face. Good thing George was oblivious. However, her mother, not so much.

DASEY

Derek's winning goal came with just ten seconds left in the game. The crowd went wild! Queen's was now in first place in their conference. Granted it was only the beginning of the season, Queen's had never held first place before.

Casey looked at her parents and saw their eyes shining and wide smiles. At that moment she sent a silent prayer to the universe and whatever else was out there that they would accept her and Derek. Casey turned her head back to the rink as Derek and his team made a victory lap- sticks in the air.

As Derek passed their section he gave a very cheesy point towards his parents and his girl. His girl. Yeah, he liked the sound of that. Almost as good as princess.

Derek quickly showered and received several back slaps from the team. After declining several to go out Derek finally waved them off, explaining that his parents were there. He finally emerged from the locker room to see a part of his family standing there waiting for him.

"My boy!" George cried out as soon as he seen him. George gathered his son in a big hug and clapped him on his back. "You were simply amazing! I have never seen you play like that!"

Derek shrugged, "I know."

George and Nora laughed while Casey rolled her eyes. "Well, I am going to treat everyone to a nice dinner. You both deserve it." George announced.

George wrapped and arm around Derek and led him out of the rink. Casey hung back with her as they walked a few feet behind the men.

"So," Nora began. She wrapped her arm around Casey mirroring George and Derek's position. "How's school?"

Casey smiled cautiously. "Really good. I wish you could meet my roommate Kennedy. She's taught me a lot over the past couple of months. I don't flip out much over my grades."

Nora's eyebrows rose in response. "Wow, next time perhaps I'll bring Lizzie and we four can have a girls day out." Casey nodded but Nora didn't stop there. "And then perhaps you can tell me how you and Derek happened?"

Casey stopped dead in her tracks as she watched the men walk further away towards the parking lot. Nora stopped with her daughter and waited. Casey slowly turned towards Nora with a deer in the headlights look.

"How did you know?" Casey frowned. She had thought they were careful, and her mom was only here for a couple of hours. Were they that obvious?

Nora shrugged. "It was the vibe you two gave off. George is oblivious but I picked up on it right away. You came out of Derek's room with a glow and a calmness I've never seen you possess."

Casey's eyes began to water. "Really?"

Nora nodded, "That and Derek looked guilty as hell."

Casey laughed and wiped her eyes quickly. "I told him to buck up but he panicked. I should've know you'd pick up on it." Once composed Casey looked towards her mom. "Are you angry?"

Nora took a deep breath and sighed. "No, you can't help who you fall in love with. And by the looks of things everything seems to be going okay?"

Casey nodded. "Yeah, so far so good." Casey twiddled with her fingers. "I am worried… about what the future holds though. Are we going to make it?"

Nora placed her hands on her daughter shoulders firmly. When she finally made eye contact she spoke. "You cannot worry about things like that because they will drive you two apart. If you think like that it will cost you the most precious days you can't get back."

Casey paused to think about this. She didn't want to forget her first days with Derek. She knew she had to live in the moment with Derek.

Later dinner pasted quickly with discussions of home and college life.

Nora took this time to observe Casey and Derek. They seemed so comfortable with each other. They shared private moments while they didn't think they were looking. Nora knew then. Even though she had told Casey not think about the future, she knew that Derek would be in Casey's future no matter what. Just never as a brother.

A/N: Have you ever stayed for 48 hours studying for midterms? I do not recommend it. Anyways, please review. Next chapter is going to be even more exciting.