Casey took a deep breath as she pushed her way through the crowded hallway. She was going to do this, going to take the job, and move across the country again. As she passed the supply room, the door opened, and someone clapped his hand over her mouth and pulled her inside. A (sober, this time) Cappie smirked at her as he trapped her between the wall across from the door, and himself.

“Hello there.” He drawled.

“Cappie.” Casey replied, pushing against him. “What’re you doing?”

“Fighting for you, of course.” He paused to consider. “Well, not fighting for you. That would be like, running up to you as you were getting on the plane to move to Raleigh with your boyfriend, and announce to everyone that I’m madly in love with you and then beg you to stay.”

“So, what are you doing?” She asked again.

“I’m fighting you. I’m going to keep you here until you agree to stay.”

She narrowed her eyes. “Really?” Casey faked to the right, and tried to duck under his left arm, but he just shifted, and she was still trapped.

“Why?” She asked.

Cappie appeared thoughtful. “Because I don’t want you to live in the East. You look so good with a California tan, and back there, you couldn’t wear those sexy tank tops. So, I want you to stay here with me.”

“But why?” She persisted. “Why do you want me to stay?”

He pressed his lips to her softly. “I want to be with you. I want you to be with me, without any crappy boyfriends in the way. Just you and me.”

"Cappie, I want to be with you too. For real though. I can't be an afterthought."
He looked intently into her eyes. "Look at me. You're first, and you have been ever since I realized I couldn't live without you."
About an hour later, a smiling, flushed Casey made her way to Sara’s office. On her way she spotted Jason, with a black eye, and a split lip. When he saw her, he looked around fearfully, and walked away as fast as possible. Well, punching a cheating ex-boyfriend did count as fighting for her, though she’d rather have decked him herself.

Sara looked up as soon as Casey entered her office. “Casey, hello!” She cried. “I hope you’re here to take the job!”
“I can’t.” Casey said, smiling. “I just can’t leave here.”

Sara squeezed her tightly. “I’m so glad! You and Cappie belong together.”

Casey blinked. “What?”

Sara’s eyes went wide. “I am so glad you’re staying. It wouldn’t be the same around here if you were so far away.”

Casey sat down. “Wait, what’s really going on?”
Her boss sighed, and sat down next to her. “Well, your Cappie apparently called Ashleigh, who was already in contact with a neighbor, in November. Ashleigh called me when she realized Cappie still had feelings for you. So, she called me. Then, I offered you the job, in an effort to get Cappie to confess.”

Casey attempted to turn this bit of news over in her mind. “Why did Cappie call Ashleigh?”
“Oh, he was upset about Jason. I was too. He’s real unpleasant.” She laughed gently at her employee’s stunned face. “Why don’t you go home? Your Cappie took the day off of work, and I think you are in a bit of shock.”
Casey nodded absently. “Sure, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

As home she pounced on Cappie, who was sitting innocently on the couch. “I’m so happy!” She whispered in between kisses.

“I’m glad.” He whispered back.

They were in the process of undressing when the door bell rang. “Yoo-hoo!” Mrs. Brigington called. “Anyone here?”

They stared at each other wide eyed, and then sprang to action. “One minute!” Cappie yelled, pulling on his shirt while Casey fixed her hair.

As Cappie let her in, Mrs. Brigington wrinkled her nose. “I hope I’m interrupting something, but I must say, I’m relived not to see any proof of that hanky panky.” She shook her finger at the two of them. “Abstinence is key!”

They all sat down, and Casey asked, “Mrs. Brigington, how did you get Ashleigh’s cell phone number?”

“I got it out of your phone of course.” She said matter-of-factly.

“How?”
“Well.” Mrs. Brigington said, leaning forward. “After I saw how well you and your ‘bodyguard’ got along, I knew I had to ensure you both got your feelings out in the open. So, I saw your phone, slipped in my purse, and when I went to the little girl’s room, I got it out. Isn’t Ashleigh such a lovely girl?”
Casey couldn’t believe any of this. “How did you know she was my best friend?”

Cappie looked embarrassed. “I told her.”

Mrs. Brigington slapped him on the knee. “This young man likes to talk about you, girl.”

Casey slipped her hand into his. “I’m glad.” She said, smiling up at him. This went on for a while, until the elderly woman cleared her throat and asked brightly, “So, when’ll you two hop on over to a church so I can bounce a couple of kids on my knee? If it isn’t soon, I’ll have to enlist the heavy artillery. By that, I mean, of course, your friends from your ‘houses’. I spoke to a few of them. Beaver, I believe his name was, is such an amazing person!” She looked at the clock. “Well, I must be off.”

Cappie and Casey said goodbye, and walked them to the door. Just before she let herself out, Mrs. Brigington stopped suddenly, and spun around. “You have a year and a half, by the way. No longer. Get to it!”
And then she was gone.

It’s over. Did you know I originally planned on Mrs. Brigington dying? I’m glad I didn’t. Yay! I hope everyone liked it. Thank you so much to everyone who read the whole thing, and especially those who reviewed.

Please keep reviewing! I was a little disappointed with the lack of feedback on the last chapter. Thanks so much!

A quick note: When I started this, I was planning on doing a series of oneshots that would be Cappie and Casey in LA. It turned into an entire story, but I’m thinking I’ll still do random oneshots that take place after this story. On that note, I’d like to invite anyone who wants to to contribute to the LA-universe to write about it. It doesn’t to follow this timeline, and, for example, if someone does have Casey and Cappie get married, if someone does another story, they can still just be dating. If you do, please give me credit.