Second to last chapter! Not sure if I'm going to do a future last chapter or something else.

Previously:

The first real bump in their relationship was over. They were both relieved that it was over and that they survived it.

DASEY

It was hard to believe that it was only two days until Christmas. Both Casey and Derek were so wrapped up in their own drama they had not gotten each other (or anyone else for that matter) a gift. It was decided the next morning that they would head to the mall.

Derek wouldn't say it was fun to go shopping with Casey but it was actually nice having someone else to Christmas shop with. She had made him pick out something more meaningful than a tie for his dad. She made him think about the value of his gift rather than how much it cost. Since he was on full scholarship and only had a part time job he was pretty low on cash anyways. But Casey managed to find thoughtful and yet low priced items at dollar stores or even at the thrift markets.

This whole shopping trip made Derek want to get something really special for Casey. Doubt crept into his mind about the timing. They had only just started dating. He quickly banished the thought. It didn't really matter how little time they had been dating. As far as he was concerned this would be the last time he ever dated.

"So when are we going to split up and buy each other gifts? I know you don't have one for me either." Derek toss out the question as they sat down at a table in the food court. Derek had been begging for the last hour for food.

Casey arched her brow. "Perhaps after lunch? I need a break from all this walking around in circles."

Derek laughed, "I thought you loved the mall."

Casey smirked, "Back when I used to have more money than I do now, sure."

Casey and Derek both enjoyed lunch and people watched for a bit. They were more relaxed now then they had been even before they left for holiday break. Around one they left the mall and headed back home. Casey handed her mom the kids presents and told her to not look but lock them up somewhere. She asked his dad to borrow his car so that they could split up and shop for eachother. Derek smirked as he saw his dad slip Casey a couple hundred dollars, probably to get Nora something while she was out.

Derek headed out in the prince while Casey took his dads BMW.

Casey was going in blind. Sure, Derek liked hockey and he liked girls. But trying to translate that into a Christmas prevent was difficult. She didn't want to just get him a gift card to his favorite hockey store. She didn't want to just get him tickets to see his favorite hockey team. She wanted something with meaning… but not too much meaning because that might wigg him out.

She was back at the mall. She rolled her eyes at herself and began what she had just complained about to Derek… walking in circles.

Derek on the other hand got a most grateful tip from Nora. "I would head to that new antique shop down by the Joe's diner. They have the prettiest jewelry for quite nice prices."

Derek could've kissed Nora. But he decided against that and headed out. The shop Nora spoke of was no more than five minutes away from the house. Derek pulled in and step in the shop and saw an elderly lady come out from the back. "Hello!" She called.

Derek awkwardly waved. "Hello," he said. He looked around a bit and stopped in front of the jewelry case. There displayed in front and center was a emerald teardrop pendant necklace. It was Casey's birthstone… it could not have been more perfect. "I could I see this piece please?"

The elderly lady shuffled her feet towards the counter. Derek wondered if she was sleepwalking due to her half closed eyelids. Derek started to point to the pendant but the lady turned from him and started going through a drawer behind her. Derek held in his frustrated sigh and waited. Once the lady turned back around Derek let out a notable "OH."

The elderly lady's half closed eyes were now huge bug eyes. Her glasses enhanced her eyes in a way that Derek had only seen in cartoons. "Alrighty dear, what can I get you?"

Derek finally took a moment to look away from her eyes and point to the pendant. "Uhh… Can I see this one?"

The lady nodded her head with a smile and opened the case. As she began to pull the necklace out she reached beside her and pulled out a cloth to set the necklace on. "Excellent choice," she said just above a whisper. "This girl must be the one, buying jewelry like this." Derek only nodded. "Are you going to marry this girl?"

Derek immediately looked up, shocked by the lady's question. He was young… he thought that older people were always telling young people to not get married early. The lady held his gaze and smiled. "Umm… well, yes. But not for a while."

The lady nodded, pleased with his answer. "Good thinking. You know you remind me of my late husband. You even look like him a bit… If you're serious about this girl, well, I might be able to let this piece go for a good price." Derek perked up. It's not that he didn't want to put a price on Casey it was just that he was a young broke college student. "Are you school? Have a job?"

Derek nodded. "Uh, yeah. I go to school full time and I work part time."

The lady chuckled. "Well, you seem like fine young man."

Derek could only smirk. If only she had known him in high school. Maybe he would bring Casey by after he gave her her present and she could this lady what a terrible guy he was.

Derek left the store soon after that. The lady was true to her word and let the necklace go for a great price.

Casey, however, was not having a good time. She was struggling to the fullest capacity. She had gotten Derek a gift card to his favorite sports shop. But she didn't want that to be his only gift. She had walked around the mall more than five times and her feet were hurting. She was currently taking a break at the tables at Aunt Annie's. The pretzel she was munching on was actually really good but it still wasn't settling her stomach. She was pretty sure nothing would until she found Derek a decent gift. Once the pretzel was gone Casey got up and went once more around the mall. Still nothing. Sighed in frustration and headed towards the exit.

Once she reached the car Casey dialed Edwin's number. He was the only one who could help.

"Yellow?" Edwin answered.

Casey frowned and looked at the phone. "Did you forget how old you are Edwin?"

Edwin laughed. "Whatcha need?"

"I need help," Casey sighed. "I got Derek a gift card but I haven't been able to think of anything meaningful to get him."

"Pssh, forget meaningful. Just give him the gift card."

Casey rubbed her temple with her free hand. "I can't just get him a gift card Edwin. And if you ever get a girl just a gift card- she's going to break up with you."

"Duly noted." Edwin paused. "So you want something with some meaning behind it and symbolic?"

Casey nodded. "Yeah," Casey tried to think of the sweetest thing a guy had done for her.

And that's when Derek came to mind again. He had basically erased his past for her with the taking down of the numbers. He hit the reset button on everything.

That's when Casey thought of her own past. She had just tried to compare Derek with the other guys she dated. She knew it wasn't right but she did it anyways. She, herself, was still living and holding onto the past.

"Nevermind Edwin, I thought of something."

Casey didn't even wait to hear Edwin ask what it was. She hung up and raced home. She had brought with her two black trash bags with her incase whatever she bought was big and she needed to hide it from Derek. Now the bags would serve as a decoy. She grabbed whatever trash or big items George had in his car and shoved them all in said bag.

On her drive home Casey finally noticed the heaviness in her stomach was completely gone.

DASEY

Derek had already been home and was currently wrapping his presents when he heard Casey yell hello to Nora. He dashed to close his door and gathered his still unwrapped gifts and threw them in the closet. He grabbed a pile of dirty laundry and covered them… Not his greatest idea but it would have to do for now.

Once he piled the already wrapped gifts in his arms he headed downstairs to place them under the tree. Nora came out from the kitchen and saw him. She snuck up from behind…

"Did you get it?" She asked right next to his ear. Derek practically screamed like a girl. Nora was greatly amused- Derek not so much.

"Get what?" Derek finally asked after his heart rate came down.

"The Casey thing…" she waved her hand around and raised her eyebrows.

It finally clicked with Derek. "Yes. That lady was really weird… she called me a nice young man."

Nora let out a snort. "I guess looks can be deceiving."

"Helloo," Casey sang as she came down the stairs. She bounced her way towards Derek gave him a peck on the cheek.

"So how did it go?" He was a bit smug. He knew he had gotten the perfect gift and he was excited to see her open it.

His smirk made Casey second guess her gift. He looked way too smug and she was worried her gift would fall flat. She decided to play it off. "It went really well actually. I think everyone will be happy." And she honestly meant everyone. All the kids chipped in for a present for mom and George. Lizzie was happy to help Casey out with Edwin and Marti's gift, as well as her own. For the most part she was happy with her gifts.

Later on dinner was a very pleasant affair. The entire family looked like one of those magazine family covers from the 1950's. It was ridiculous but it was kind of perfect. They all sat around and joked with each other. At the end of the night the kids voted to watch It's a Wonderful Life. Marti fell asleep before George and Mary even got together. Edwin and Lizzie were laying on the floor slowing dozing off. Nora and George were cuddled up on the sofa. And finally Casey was sitting in Derek's chair while he sat just in front of her. She aimlessly combed through Derek's hair with her fingers as she watched the movie.

After the movie ended Derek and Casey carried Marti back to her room. Once she was placed in her bed Derek grabbed Casey hand and led her towards his room. They had to stop around the corner just to make sure no one was in the hall. They didn't want to make their family feel weird. And Derek was sure that both Nora and George would not approve of them sharing a bed.

Derek began pulling of his shirt and sweats he had on. Casey ducked out to use the bathroom and wash her face. She quickly stopped by her room and changed her clothes as well. She peeked out to make sure the coast was clear and made her way back to Derek's room. Derek was already in the bed but was watching something on his phone.

Casey climbed in beside him and moved towards him and his warmth. Derek snaked his arm around her middle and pulled her close. He turned off whatever he was watching and set his phone to the side.

"I don't wanna open our presents to each other in front of the family tomorrow." Casey mumbled as she snuggled close. Derek stiffened. Casey instantly knew why. She knew that he was thinking about her being embarrassed of them but that wasn't it. "It's not because of that. My present is kind of embarrassing and I don't want to give it to you in front of the others. I was thinking we could exchange gifts when we wake up."

Derek relaxed then. "Oh shit. Is it something naughty? Is it a picture of you naked?"

Casey slapped his chest. "No you perv."

Derek chuckled.

DASEY

Casey awoke to find Derek kissing her neck. She groaned. "Don't you dare even start something you can't finish."

She could feel him smiling against her neck and that just made it even hotter.

"What if I could finish?" Derek whispered.

Casey stiffened. She scooted a bit away. Her fierce eyes burning into him. "Our parents are probably doing the same thing."

And that was it. Derek quickly rolled away faking to hurl. "You sure know how to kill a mood."

Casey rolled her eyes. "How could you even forget about a thing like that?" Casey got up from the bed and checked for anyone in the hall and hurried to the bathroom. After relieving herself and washing her face she made her way back to her own room. She grabbed both Derek's wrapped presents and went back to his room. Derek had put on a shirt and University sweats. The sight of them made her miss university. She missed her family but she would be glad when she and Derek could have some alone time.

Luckily they would be heading back a week early due to Derek having practice. Casey walked back to her bedroom and gathered up her two presents to Derek. They were wrapped perfectly. Derek also took his time to wrap his gift… although he knew that wouldn't be anywhere near as perfect as Casey's.

Casey entered the room without knocking and found Derek sitting on the bed waiting for her.

"I need to you to open yours first," Casey proclaimed.

Derek fought back out of habit. "Why?"

Casey settled herself on the bed "Because it's not going to be anything flashy or expensive. I bought you something that you want and something that symbolic." She waited for Derek to scrunch up his nose at the word "symbolic" but he didn't.

He held out his hands and waited for his gift. She first shoved the gift card in his hands. Derek opened his eyes and smiled as he unwrapped the gift box holding the card. He was actually excited. With the holidays, Derek was actually concerned about his money leaving his wallet. He wanted to spend his money on his family but he really needed new hockey gloves.

"Thank you, you have no idea how much this is going to help." Derek fumbled for his wallet and stuck the card inside.

Casey nodded smiling. "Yeah, I noticed you were still using your hockey gloves from junior year so…"

Derek was surprised by her statement. He knew Casey went to all his games but he didn't expect her to pay that much attention. It might have been sissy, but was really touched that she noticed. Her non symbolic gift was already out shining his bought gift.

Casey shoved, what looked like a shoe box at him next. He unwrapped the silver paper and saw that it was indeed a shoe box.

Casey placed a hand on the top of the box before he had a chance to open it. "I noticed your walls right away. I was seriously dumbfounded that you did that. I know how much those trophies meant to you. I know that they were a huge part of your high school life and I was willing to accept that. But when you took them down… I couldn't let you do it for nothing. So I'm giving you this so that we can burn it together. I know it's stupid but…"

Derek knew instantly what it was when she began talking. Derek was shocked to say the least. As he opened it his suspicions were confirmed. Inside the shoe box were her memories. They were memories of all her old boyfriends. Mostly the good. Derek had come across the box before while pranking her back in high school. Back then he never thought anything of it. It was a box of memories and it was a silly girly thing. But now looking at it it honestly made him think twice about. It didn't occur to him that taking down the numbers would have that much impact on Casey. He knew what it meant for him to take them down but he didn't expect Casey to see through it right away.

Looking down at the box he saw Casey smiling with her arms wrapped around all her previous boyfriends. It was clear to see that Casey was all in for these relationships but the guys not so much… even Sam. She was always willing to jump in with both feet and try. He knew that it would be difficult for them to be together. And he knew it would be the hardest thing for her to do. She had to be extra cautious with him due to their relationship of being step-siblings. Casey was putting a lot on the line for him. And his was one big way for her to show him.

All this time thinking Casey sat across from him on the bed in silence. She watched Derek as various emotions ran over his face. Finally he seemed to come to. He looked up at her with a sadden expression.

"I'm really surprised," Derek said. He knew how much these good memories meant to Casey. Even if the relationship ended badly she wanted to remember the good times. She always tried to think of the positives. And she was willing to throw all that away… for him. Just as he was for her. God… he really was turning into a sissy. But Casey was worth it. "Thank you. I know how much this box means to you. And I know it's not easy for you to let this go but that's what make it so impactful. So thank you," he whispered.

Derek set the box to the side and pulled out his gift from behind him. "So, it probably wasn't a good idea for you to go first. I mean, my gift is nothing compared to yours. My gift feels like a cop out… but I had to go through some trails. There was this creepy old lady with bug eyes… and… well, I'll tell ya later." Derek handed the gift over.

Casey smiled excitedly and began to unwrap. The wrapping paper revealed a candy box. Now she was confused. The word prank flared in her mind. Now she was pissed. Even though her gift wasn't that great she knew that it was better than a box of candy.

Derek began to laugh. Then Casey pounced. She straddled his waist to hold him down .Then she grabbed the nearest pillow and began hitting him. This only made Derek laugh harder. "It's… NOT…. a PRANK!" He yelled in between hits with the pillow. "Stop HITTING ME! AND LET ME SPEAK!"

Casey stopped, not because Derek asked her to but because she was out of breath. Clearly Derek was too. "It's not… a prank." He caught a few more breaths. "The bug eyed lady didn't have any boxes so I had to improvise. You have to open it."

Casey narrowed her eyes at Derek but moved off his waist. She opened the tapped candy box and looked inside. Inside was something wrapped in green tissue paper. Casey unwrapped the tissue paper and let out a soft gasp. Casey was tearing up. Derek must have wanted to throw her off with the whole "maybe it wasn't such a good idea that you went first." Casey had never seen anything so beautiful. It was her birthstone and it was a perfect emerald.

"Derek… this must have cost you a fortune!" She held it and examined it closer. "I can't take this!" She grabbed the pillow again and hit him with it. "You should be saving your money!"

Derek laughed again. He grabbed her waist and pulled her down to lay next to him. "Well… I don't really want to tell you the price. You might not like it…"

Casey thought about his comment. "Did you get a good deal? It's obviously real so I'm going to complain."

Derek hesitated for a moment. "It's from a antique shop."

"Oooo," Casey said. "That's so cool. Was there a story behind this?"

"The bug lady kind of made it seem like it… I bet if we go back she'll tell you about it."

Casey nodded and slipped the necklace over her head. It hung right over her heart. Perfect.

Needless to say Derek and Casey stayed in bed until Marti knocked on their door ten minutes later. The rest of Christmas was pretty freaking perfect.