Aww that was perfect!
Seriously it was really, really good and realistic.
I loved how Casey imagined her first time to be perfect yet unfortunatly it does hurt and Derek would loose himself being with her for the first time. He has been dreaming about for ages :p
But I felt bad for both of them, especially Derek he truely felt like he hurt her in some way or wasnt good enough for her :( Thank God for Ed, Liz and Marti for sorting them out.
Oh and George for explainig the problem to Derek in Layman’s terms.
Again a amazing job
Deanie

Very good! And I think you should write some more sequels, or just start something else. As long as you keep writing!

YAY! I AM SO HAPPY TO SEE THIS PUBLISHED.

Honestly, I’ve been so excited in ‘collaborating’ with you. I’ve never done that with anyone and anyway, I know there are like hundreds of writers out there who’re jealous of me because I got to write this with you!

(Of course we both know “write this with you” is bit of an overstatement considering that I didn’t really write anything and the story is all yours but just that I can say so is IT for me!)

And I’m glad, glad, glad that I didn’t read the story before because that helped it make it all the more fun to read the whole long story together and see how it panned out (wonderfully, might I add!) I think your idea of the whole ‘imperfect first night’ was just freaking epic. Because mostly nobody WANTS to do it. We hate to admit that our loved characters might not, in fact, be perfect even in things that matter. That maybe they love, but they’re selfish, and they don’t know what to do all the time. So, really, kudos to you for realism.

The characterization of Casey—perfect. The whole initial part of excitement and over-planning is… so her. She’s never been able to settle for what *she* believes is “less”. That makes for some wonderful daddy-angst since we know she has a bit of an abandonment/commitment issue that makes her think that if she’s not perfect then the person she loves will leave her. That’s sort of a little sad.

And then giving up after just a night is also her. I think, she’s usually happy to not try because she’s a mass of contradictions—like the excessive falling but being a dancer thing. It’s Derek who has to tell her to take a freaking chance and do what she wants without thinking about what other people want from her. To stop being so scared of change. That’s the technique he used on her in Futuritis to get her to go to Queen’s too!

AND, your addition of family is just WONDERFUL. I love the McDonald-Venturis but it’s hard to get their crazy, dysfunctional reactions right, so most of us (including me!) just wing it. But you’re a thorough writer and I love how you take stock of ALL characters that matter and not only those who are easiest. I like how you show that they’re crazy but they care and that’s what family does.

“Marti’s question of “Where’s Emu Land?” went unanswered.”

LOVE. MARTI. LIKE. CRAZY. And your freakishly epic lines!

The whole sibling-bonding thing is made of WIN. I love good-big-brother-Derek because he’s one of the most well thought-out characters to emerge out of Disney’s (Family really, I guess) workhouse. Edwin-Derek, Casey-Lizzie FTW.

And the George-Nora-Derek talk was *awesome* too, especially since you brought in all the subtle awkwardness. It can’t be easy to have your daughter and your husband’s son dating and I’m so glad you took note of that too. It’s easy to see that the fam loves the well enough to be ready to work over this roadblock which really is very cool of them, because the public always has an opinion, and they’re willing to live around that. I love them.

And the way Derek talked to her ::the deep sigh of a total romantic:: I mean, WOW, I want this guy. Seriously, I think anybody would melt after hearing that. I just absolutely loved his differentiation of “having sex” and “making love”. It really made me all warm and glowy inside.

Really, you are way too awesome for your own good!

I. Loved. This.

I am so mad at FFN because I didn't even know this fic existed. I was thinking the other day about why you hadn't posted this, and I go browsing through the fandom and I see that you posted something, and that it was this. I didn't even get the alert for it. GO DIE IN A FIRE, FFN.

Does the longness of this review make up for it's involuntary lateness?

This oneshot has the best disclaimer ever. Really.

"Casey tried to use every euphemism possible, because that actual three-letter word always made her blush."
Rofl, aww. Casey. Cutiepie.

"She brought it up to Derek at dinner one night, which was probably a bad idea because he choked on his meatloaf."
At dinner of all times, Case? Really?

Thankyouthankyouthank you for not making Derek a virgin, but not making him a manwhore either. Really, ily.

“It’s going to be perfect. I have it all planned out. I can’t wait.”
She's planned it out? Oh, dear.

Casey would wear lingerie. Even if she felt uncomfortable. Not like I have any experience in this field (nor do I want any for a long time) but linegrie can bite me. All that lace? No thank you.

Thank you for writing about an extremely awkward 'first time' experience. It's why I'm not looking forward to that whole sex thing, whenever I'll experience it. Because I know it's going to suck until I get used to it. And people wonder why I'm putting it off until I'm an antique. Hopefully a married antique.
Slaps a bit of reality into the fantasy land of fanfic. Great move.

Crying Derek is a sight I can't seem to invision. Does Mike cry in anything he's been in?

"Nora sensed right away that something was wrong."
Aww, maybe Geora aren't as clueless as we think. xP

“What’s going on?” “Nothing,” “They’re fighting,” “Fighting?” “Yeah. Casey’s sad about something,” “Whatever it is, I’m sure they’ll work it out,” “We’re right here, you know!” “Really? Because I don’t think you are, you’re off in Emo Land right now.” “Where’s Emu Land?”
LMAO. Best conversation in the fic. The McVs are just batty. I love them.

“No, it’s not. We missed you.” “I almost missed you.” “Good. So come beat me at Babe Raider and forget whatever you and Casey are fighting about.”
Edwin-Derek interaction can really be the cutest thing, sometimes.

"“She’s not talking to me.” He pulled Marti into his lap for comfort, and she gave him a kiss on the cheek."
Are you trying to kill me with overall Derek-Marti cuteography? I think you are. *shifty eyes*


“So, Derek, let me get this straight. You’re fighting about which one of you is wrong? Isn’t that a little…backwards?”
Lmao, all it takes is one person to point out how crazy Dasey is, really.

"Casey shrugged, obviously not believing that things would work out. Derek wanted to shake her."
Funny, I get that feeling when I see Dasey on my screen circling each other and they're not making out. I just want to shake something, violently. Preferably those two. Or my screen. Or Daphne.

"Derek flicked a pea at her, and she managed to look vaguely annoyed. It killed him. What had this listless creature done with his Casey?"
You've got both Derek /and/ Casey's mindless weird habits and things that bother them down to a science. Really.

“Couldn’t sleep,” “Neither could we.” “You shouldn’t be worrying about Casey and me.” “It’s our job,”
Aw.

“She’ll come around, I know my daughter. She’ll probably have a ten-step plan to work things out in no time.”
For some reason, this makes me smile.

“I’m sure you can handle this, right, Georgie?”
LMAO. I love this. If I were Nora, Derek would have a black eye.

"Somehow, the problem didn’t seem as severe now that his dad knew, and he hadn’t run screaming from the room. Yet."
I'm having this vision of George running from the kitchen running like a sissy, a la Jack Sparrow in PotC; arm flailing and all.

“I know. But even if I do that, I just…I thought she was having a good time. In the beginning she was. She put on my coat to greet me at the door, and underneath she had on—” “I’m going to stop you right there, no more details, okay?”
Pwahahahaha! I feel such second-hand embarrassment. That must be so awkward...

“I’ve been trying, but she won’t talk to me.” “That’s never stopped you before,”
So true. It never does.

“I’ve noticed that you guys aren’t entirely happy with the idea that Casey no longer wants to speak to me,” “Not at all, Smerek.”
Marti so ships Dasey. It should be canon by now.

“I don’t care if you want to or not, we are going to talk.”
Ah! There's my boy. *hug*

“But, none of this ‘babe’ junk. I want to hear you say my name.”
*dies* Casey, ily. ily and your adorkableness.

“What was that all about with my mom?” “Let’s just say, I told your mom we’ll be sleeping in the basement bedroom during our next visit,” “Der-ek!” “Ca-sey!”
Rofl, they're so stinkin' cute.

"And finally there were no barriers between them. There was no world. Nothing at all left to hide from, because this was what they’d wanted. Every fight, every harsh word, every mistake had led up to this moment where there was nothing to live for but themselves."
Lovely, WLS. Really lovely.

So yes, I loved this. You and WLS are two of my favorite writers (and LWD friends!), so I loved seeing this collab of sorts. I don't think I've ever read a fic in the LWD fandom about a realistic first time, as I said earlier and I really hope the lateness of this review is made up by the longness, as I also said earlier. xP

Loved it!

~Jo

Aw - I so love the idea of this, of their first time being, well, realistic. And I think that's exactly how Casey would handle it - so, nicely done (to both of you!)! This Gael Trouble universe is very productive - I love it :)

Ah! WONDERFUL!! AH!
AMAZINGLY, AWSOME, MINDBLOWING JOB!
I LOVED it!
I Love that she expected Perfection but got Reality! I LOVE that he fixed Reality and Gave her Perfection! Am I making sense?
It's so Honest and Wonderful, ya know?
The ending was like something BETTER than a movie! The mattress/rain reminder me of Flowers In the Attic by V.C. Andrews.
I'm glad both girls got their happy ending!... Even if it took Cathy 3 books and 2 kids,lol.

LOVED it! You had me scared Casey wouldn't come around!
Awsome! Loads of Kudoos to you!
~Crystal

That was awesome...great job to both of you!

aww that was so good! i loved the writing style and the story--how they weren't perfect the first time, because that made your story unique :)

Super! i wasn't too sure who i felt more sorry for...There's Casey who (poor girl) is bound tp prepare for it...and yeah it's a girl thing and I truly feel sorry for her...and then ther eis Derek and all that about him being concerned wheteher he did it wrong...was superb...Can't seem to blame the guy...
the whole argument about who was wrong (and this time they are not blaiming each other ) was a total WIN...
well done andn quite real...

So. Perfect.

That's pretty much all I can say. haha

I'm rendered speechless from this amazing piece of literature! haha :)

GAH. SO GOODx3

Yay for Derek and Casey!! Poor Casey though. Nothing in real life is EVER like it is in the movies.
The look on Nora's face when Derek said "Casey and I had sex last Friday" was absolutely priceless.
Super happy that they worked things out in the end. (Evil plans always work).
Can't wait to read more stories about Casey and Derek.
Update soon!
Cheers!
Loren

Aw.

Also, uber-angsty Casey! You know it's love when they're arguing about who's wrong :)

Side note: on Queen's campus there is a sexual health resource centre where they give out information and sell sex toys and such, and the volunteers are called "sexperts"... I can totally see Derek buying himself one of those t-shirts...

Awesome job guys!

I love it! I thought it was perfect! I love the way everyone reacted in the story! I think Casey's plan was totally her. And it's great that Derek realized where it went wrong! And I loved Derek talking to George and Nora! LLtPM! (And I will respond to your email later tonight!)

Ya know, I don't usually like reading sex stories, but I read this anyway because it's yours. And that was like poetry. Pure poetry. I wanted to smack Casey for being so stupid, and that's when I know a story is a success, when I feel that connected to the characters. Bravo, my dear!