A/N; I actually had a TON of fun with this. It’s my longest one shot to date, and I’m actually – OMG – proud of it!! It’s another sign of the apocalypse. It’s my flashfic for Mal, and originally, it was a tie-in for one of my fics(not saying if it’s a released or unreleased fic), but I realized two things: One, that it didn’t quite work with the plot of said fic, and I didn’t wanna spoil anyone for the fic! But there are a few hints for the fic in there, but not many people will get it. At all. But if you can, I will LOVE YOU. FOREVER. AND EVER. But don’t say it in your review, please. PM me if you feel like guessing. Enjoy!

Disclaimer; I own nothing! LWD, Twilight, Phantom of the Opera? NOTHING ELSE MENTIONED BELONGS TO ME EITHER!

Note; ‘This is a thought.’ “This is a quote.” This is a flashback, or emphasis

Ring, ring!

Casey groaned in aggravation as the phone on the nightstand of her apartment bedroom rang.

She picked it up. “Hello?” She grumbled into the phone, obviously sleepy and annoyed at whatever had woken her up.

“Oh! Casey, hi, sweetie!”

Casey blinked, then switched on the lamp on the nightstand, squinting. “…Mom?”

“Yes, hi!”

“…It’s three AM. Why are you calling me?” Casey asked. “Because I almost forgot, we’d love for you to come see us.”

“Mom, I saw you a few months ago because of my birthday.” Casey laughed.

“I know, but you only saw me and Liz, since George had that case, and Edwin was sick, and Marti was playing nurse.” Nora said.

“She still does that?” Casey questioned, Nora laughed and answered ‘Yes.’

“So will you come over?” Nora asked. Casey shrugged.

“Of course I will.”

CMDVCMDVCMDV

The doorbell rang, and Lizzie’s head popped up.

“Mom!” She exclaimed, and Nora ran into the room, opening the door to the McDonald/Venturi home.

“Hi!” Casey exclaimed, hugging her mother, eighteen-year-old Lizzie ran up to her and hugged her along with her mom. “Hi!” She piped up.

Edwin came barreling down the stairs. “What’s all the noise about?” He asked, and then Lizzie and Nora broke away from Casey, showing her face. “Oh, hey Case!” Edwin said, smiling.

“That’s all I get? ‘Hey Case?’” Casey asked, faking a hurt look. Edwin opened his mouth, but was cut off, and nearly knocked over, by a twelve year old Marti.

The girl zoomed up to Casey and nearly knocked her over. She jumped up and wrapped her arms around her stepsister’s neck. “Casey Casey Casey Casey!!”

“Marti Marti Marti Marti!” Casey laughed, and Marti lowered herself from the twenty-two year old.

George had since appeared in the room, he stepped forward and awkwardly hugged his stepdaughter.

“Nice to see ya’, George.” Casey smiled, George nodded, smiling his goofy smile.

Marti bombarded her with questions, as one person stood in the doorway of the kitchen. “You forgot me.” The person called.

Casey went pale and her eyes widened. There was no mistaking that voice. None. Even though the last time he’d heard it, it was an experience she’d tried to block out. She turned to see her stepbrother walking towards her.

“Long time no see, Casey.” Derek said, extending a hand. Casey glared at him and shook it.

They hadn’t just grown apart at collage. Oh no.

“Nice to see you.” Casey said sweetly, though her teeth were gritted so hard, she might’ve chipped one. Her face obviously held the opposite expression. ‘I. Hate. You.’

Something that was only just barely half true.

CMDVCMDVCMDV

Casey and Nora stood outside of Derek’s old room, a suitcase in either of her hands. Her jaw had dropped nearly to the floor when she was faced with her mother, who was smiling nervously at her daughter in front of the room.

“Excuse me?” Casey growled, Nora not getting a chance to speak before she went off. “I’m not sharing a room with him. And I am not sharing a bed with him either!”

“Casey, honey, I’m sorry, but when you and Derek moved out, we let Edwin have your room.” Nora explained.

Casey sighed, gently placing her suitcases down by her sides. “Why didn’t you tell me Derek was going to be here, mom?” She asked.

“Because I didn’t know!” Nora exclaimed, exasperated. “George invited him and never told me.”

“Oh, so can I go punch George then?” Casey asked, crossing her arms.

Nora tilted her head to the right, giving her daughter a tired look. “No.” She said. “Why are you so distant from Derek?” The woman asked. “You were kinda close about a year before you went off to collage.”

‘Two years, and three months into collage.’ Casey thought, but she played it off, rolling her eyes. “No, we weren’t.”

“I’m sorry Casey.” Nora said, frowning. “I can make Derek sleep on the couch, if you want.”

Casey sighed, a long silence following as she pondered. Eventually, she spoke again. “No…” She mumbled. “That won’t be necessary.”

CMDVCMDVCMDV

“So… You wanna tell me?” Lizzie asked as Casey lay on her bed, face in her pillow.

Lizzie had cut her hair a few months ago. It was slightly curly and reached her shoulders in pretty almost-curly waves. She was as tomboyish as ever, though. You had to wrestle her into a dress. And it was very difficult, might I add.

“Still? No.” Casey said. Twelve year old Marti poked her head into the room, eyes looking fun and bubbly.

“Are you bothering her again?” She asked, Lizzie opened her mouth to speak, but Marti cut her off. “Can I help?!” She yelped, but just ran into the room without an answer.

“Ugh!” Casey whined, muffled by the pillow.

Marti bounced onto the bed and poked her stepsister repetitively in the side. “Telll ussssss… Telllllll uuuussssssss!!” She called, imitating a ghost. “It’s subliminal messaging…”

“No!” Casey yelped, feeling angry and pathetic at the same time. Why, oh why must she be stuck in this house with Derek Venturi after what happened?!

“Casey, if you tell us what happened between you and Derek, it will help.” Lizzie said in an attempt to reason with her sister. Lizzie’s persuasive skills didn’t seem to work on her sister anymore, however.

“No, not really.” Casey mumbled. “I just wish I could go home. I don’t want to be here with him.”

Lizzie sighed, and gently patted her sister on the back. “It’s okay, Case. It’s only a week.”

This was no condolence. Casey groaned, face falling back down on the pillow in defeat. “This is going to be the longest week of my life!”

CMDVCMDVCMDV

Bang. Bang. Bang.

Edwin looked into his brother’s room. He was hitting his head on the desk.

“Um, bro?” Edwin asked, pausing as he stood in the doorway.

“Huh?” Derek mumbled as he looked up.

“Why exactly are you hitting your head on the desk?” Edwin questioned as he walked in. His room was much cleaner than it was when he was sixteen.

“Oh, no reason, I’m just sharing a room with my ex. Whom I happened to seriously screw up with. And I still love.” Derek explained calmly, before hitting his head on the desk again.

“Yup,” Edwin said, sitting down on the bed. “That does happen to suck. And so do headaches, so please stop hitting your head.”

“Yeah, it does. She doesn’t want anything to do with me. Nothing. Nada. Zip.” Derek said, ignoring the head hitting comment. “She hates me. As in, doesn’t like me, a whole lot. And I don’t blame her.”

“It would be a lot easier to relate with you if you told me why you guys broke up.” Edwin said, smiling a big, dorky smile, his brother glared, and not even a split second later, he was face-first on the hallway floor, Derek’s bedroom door slamming behind him. “Or not…” Edwin muttered.

CMDVCMDVCMDV

Flashback

Derek fumed as he paced around the apartment he shared with Casey.

How could she? How could she throw everything away like that? After two years. They’d just gotten into collage, and somehow, they got into the same one.

Derek cussed under his breath as he sat down on the couch. “How could she do this?” He asked no one. “How could she do this?!”

It nearly made him ill.

CMDVCMDVCMDV

Casey was half asleep on the couch, in pink PJ bottoms and a purple tank top.

She was attempting to read the first in the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer, but she was far too sleepy. “Mm…” She groaned, shaking her head in an attempt to snap herself back into consciousness.

Derek stood at the top of the stairs in a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt, watching her. God, was she gorgeous.

“Ugh, forget it.” Casey mumbled as she set the book with the apple cover down and flipped over onto her side, pulling a blanket over her. Derek walked down the stairs.

“That couch gives you a back ache when you sleep on it, Case.” He said, Casey sat up half-way. “I don’t care.” She said.

“Yes, you do,” Derek corrected. “Come on, get up.” He said, now standing over her.

“No!” Casey complained, sounding like Marti when she was six. Derek rolled his eyes, and picked her up, bridal style at first, but the hoisted her over his shoulder. She squeaked in pure shock. How dare he?!

“Derek, put me down right now!” The brunette yelled. “Put me down!”

“Shut up, you’ll wake the house up.” Derek scolded as he carried her up the stairs. He kicked what used to be his bedroom door open, and he swiftly turned her over in his arms, carelessly tossing her onto the bed. She scowled, quickly hopping up, pure disgust etched on her face. If only it were real.

“I’m not sleeping in the same bed with you.” Casey growled, trying to put on her best ‘I hate you, please leave me alone and sleep somewhere else!’ face. It didn’t work. Not one bit. She was, however, ticked that he’d picked her up. That wasn’t a lie.

“’Kay, sleep on the floor, then,” Derek said, shrugging. He couldn’t let her know he still loved her. “See if I care.”

“Mature.” Casey hissed, slipping under the covers of Derek’s bed.

“’Thought you said you weren’t sharing a bed with me.” Derek said. Casey rolled her eyes.

“I’m not,” she said. “You’re sleeping on the floor.”

Derek laughed. “Um, no chance, Case,” he snorted. “My room, my bed.”

“And your floor.” Casey said. “Make use of it.”

“Nope.” Derek smirked, lowering himself onto his bed. “I’ll leave the floor alone.” He said, voice low as he slid under the covers.

CMDVCMDVCMDV

Every time.

Derek had his arm around Casey’s waist. It happened every time they were in the same bed.

Casey shifted in her sleep, which woke Derek up. He cursed in his head as he noticed where his arm was.

He lifted his arm from his stepsister’s waist carefully, and sifted through his suitcase, pulling out some random clean clothes before exiting the room and walking into the bathroom, switching on the water.

CMDVCMDVCMDV

Casey had a silk robe she’d gotten from her mom on her twenty-first birthday thrown over her shoulders. As she walked towards the bathroom, the door opened, and she was met with Derek, adjusting the shirt he’d just pulled over his head.

He smiled. No, not smirked. He actually smiled.

Casey attempted to ignore it as she walked into the bathroom, but Derek placed a hand on her shoulder, lowering his head down. “Morning.” He whispered in her ear before letting her go. It was different than every other ‘Good morning’ they’d shared as a couple.

She slammed the door in his face, and placed her back on the door, a hand on her forehead.

CMDVCMDVCMDV

Flashback

Derek’s stomach was churning as he glanced at the clock. It was ten PM already. Where was she?!

At that moment, the door opened, and Casey walked in, smiling. “Hey, Derek.” She said, sounding happy and perky, as always. “Guess who I s-”

“Where were you?” Derek asked, standing up and walking over to her.

“I was out with Em,” Casey explained. “She came over for Spring break, remember?”

“And after that?” Derek asked, towering over his girlfriend.

“Derek, you’re scaring me,” Casey said, her jacket folded over her arm, and her purse in her hand still. “What’s going on? Are you okay?”

“No, Case, I’m not okay!” Derek yelled, and Casey reeled back. “Where were you after that?!”

“With Emily! We went to a club!” Casey yelled, dropping the items in her hands to the floor. “I called you! I left a message on your cell phone!”

“No!” Derek screamed, “You weren’t with Emily!”

“Yes I was!” Casey yelled.

“Stop lying to me!”

CMDVCMDVCMDV

Casey and Derek awkwardly sat next each other at a small breakfast place around the neighborhood.

Marti was oddly quiet, scribbling something down in a notebook with a sharpie, and Edwin and Lizzie were talking to each other, making the only noise. The whole thing was very awkward.

The waitress, a very angry looking sixteen year old girl, popped up at their table. She had a wonderful fake smile, but still, the anger was visible. It was reminiscent of what Derek and Casey were going through. ‘How nice to see you! But I’m also a liar…’

“Alright, what would you guys like to order?” The waitress asked sweetly, though it was clear in her eyes that she’d just like the punch them all and flip them off.

Casey ordered a short stack of pancakes and a bowl of grits, Derek ordered too much to remember, Marti ordered some waffles, some scrambled eggs and bacon, Lizzie had something similar to Casey’s order, Edwin, like Derek, ordered way too much, Nora asked for French toast and some eggs, and George, like his sons, had eyes bigger than his stomach.

Derek supplied some conversation, as he talked to his father and Nora about things Casey’s ears didn’t pick up on, and Marti’s fist hit the table when her inspiration for whatever it was she was writing seemed to come to a stop. “And, and, and… Ugh.” The brunette mumbled under her breath.

It wasn’t long before the food arrived, and while most at the table stuffed their faces, Casey just gently picked at her food, occasionally taking a bite at her neatly cut pancakes, and a spoonful of grits.

“Are you okay, Casey?” Lizzie asked. “You’ve hardly eaten anything.”

Casey gulped. “No,” she said. All eyes connected to her, except Derek’s. Until her next words. “I feel sick.”

He swallowed the food in his mouth and looked over to her. She really did. She was white as a sheet, nothing but a faint red tint in her cheeks. Her blue eyes looked hollow, and she just looked like she wanted to get out of there. “What’s wrong?” He asked.

“Let me up.” Casey said, ignoring his question. Only he was in the way of her getting out of their side of the booth.

“What’s wrong?” Derek repeated, more firmly., eyes boring into hers.

Casey’s hollow eyes sprung to life with anger. “What’s wrong? What’s wrong? When I finally get away from you, you come back to haunt me as the same frickin’ annoying, irritable, controlling idiot that screws everything up!” She screamed, causing several people in the small breakfast place to stare. “So, it’s in your best interest to let. Me. Up.”

Derek stared at her for a moment, then he slid out of their side of the booth, letting her up. “I hope you’re okay.” He whispered into her ear, so low, not even the people just by them could hear. Casey shuddered, but most definitely not because she was repulsed, before rushing off towards the bathrooms. There weren’t stalls, because the place was so small. She locked the door, and switched on the faucet, splashing water into her face. She snatched a paper towel up and further damaged her makeup, Derek’s voice ringing in her head from when they were seventeen, when he sweetly said to her;

“You’re prettier with no makeup.”

Casey pressed a hand to her face as she stared in the mirror.

CMDVCMDVCMDV

Flashback

“Where we you?!” Derek screamed, he was shaking her by the shoulders, now.

“Let go of me!” Casey cried, tears stinging her eyes. She let them spill over, rolling down her cheeks.

“No, I’ll tell you where you were. I saw you, Casey!” Derek yelled, completely oblivious that he was the reason she was crying. Had he realized it, he would already be hugging her.

“What are you talking about?!” Casey yelled. Derek stared at her, and then let go of her, shaking his head in disbelief.

“I saw you. At the club. With some guy. You were hugging him. You kissed him.” Derek growled.

Casey’s mouth formed a small o, and she began to speak.

“What? What’s there to say, Casey?!” Derek yelled.

“Derek, I-”

“That’s nothing TO SAY, CASEY!” He screamed, shaking violently.

“Derek, you don’t understand!” Casey said, tears streaming down her cheeks in half-fear, half-frustration.

“Don’t try to fool me like that, Casey!” Derek yelled. “We both know it’s fake!”

“Fake?!” Casey yelled. “Derek-”

“What? You just figured you’d take a break from screwing your brother?! Find someone else?!” Derek yelled, and then it dawned on him what he’d just said. ‘screwing your brother’

The words screamed at them in the silence, almost as if it were echoing.

Suddenly, Casey bolted towards their bedroom, and Derek ran after her. “Casey!” He called, but she was already reaching in the closet for a suitcase. She found one, and began tearing every item of clothing out of the closet. “Casey, you know I didn’t mean it…” Derek said. “I’m sorry, babe.” He said, trying to touch her arm.

“No!” Casey screamed, “Don’t frickin’ touch me!”

“…Case-” Derek mumbled, edging closer to her, one hand on her waist. She pushed him off her.

“I said don’t touch me!” She yelled, running into the bathroom and pulling everything that was hers off the counter, dumping the contents into the suitcase. She zipped it up and rolled it out of the bedroom, Derek followed her, and Casey continued to talk to herself in a demented chant. She grabbed the jacket and purse she’d dropped, and turned walked to the door. The brunette faced Derek. “I saw my cousin in the club I was at with Emily. He’s always been really close to me. We’ve been best friends in a way for a long time. Since childhood. I said hi. We talked. I hugged him, and gave him a kiss goodbye, like I do with all my friends.” Casey explained, voice shockingly steady and calm for a girl with tears pouring down her cheeks. “I hope you know what you’ve screwed up. Oh, wait, apparently, what you’ve screwed is your sister.” She growled. “Goodbye, Derek.”

She turned, and exited the apartment, and he could hear her footsteps. He could hear the sob as she pressed the down button on the elevator.

CMDVCMDVCMDV

A familiar sob escaped Casey’s mouth as her back pressed up against the door, tears flowing freely down her cheeks in rage with herself. She really hated herself at the moment. Why did that have to happen?!

“Why do you still love him?” Casey asked herself. “Why do you still want to be with him after all he’s done to you?”

Nobody answered her. Because she didn’t know. She had no clue why she loved him so much, after every screwed up thing he’d said to her. After the rage and controlling behavior he’d exhibited. But she still loved him. So much. Too much…

“I just want to hate him so much, but I can’t… Why can’t I?”

CMDVCMDVCMDV

Even with her makeup fixed, it was no mask of the crying she’d done. Derek looked like he’d seen a ghost when he saw her. He popped up from the seat, instantly feeling guilty, and she slid in, him sitting back down after her. By now, Casey’s food was cold, but she wasn’t hungry at all anymore, so it didn’t matter.

But everyone else had finished their food. The waitress popped up, and handed them the check. “Take your time.” She said, quickly zooming off.

CMDVCMDVCMDV

8:29 PM

Casey cursed as she fished through her suitcase for a book she couldn’t find. “Where is it?” She yelled.

“Are you okay?” A voice called from the doorway. It was Marti.

Casey turned. How the little girl had grown. She was still silly little Marti, but she was a little quieter when she wanted to be. She had a thing for writing. She was also very tall for her age. She was about five foot three. “Yeah, Marti, I’m fine.”

Marti did nothing but sit on her Smerek’s bed and stare down at Casey with ‘that’ look on her face. She’d always been very perceptive.

“Okay,” Casey mumbled. “So I’m not okay. I’m terrible. I’m stupid. I’m still in love. Happy now?”

Marti grinned a beautiful grin. “Very!” She exclaimed in pure glee. Casey frowned. “Allow me to rephrase,” the nearly thirteen year old said. “I’m glad you finally admitted it. You’ll never not love him, Casey.”

Casey allowed her neck to stop supporting her head as she leaned her head back. “But I don’t want to love him anymore! I shouldn’t!” She whined.

Marti smiled. “I know you don’t want to. I’m going to pull in a typical fanfic for some random love-hate pairing into this – you want to hate him. A whole lot. But you can’t. Because you’re just that meant-to-be.” Marti explained. “It’s simple, Casey. You guys got together before, one of you screwed it up, or whatever the reason it is you broke up, and now you’re separated. But that doesn’t stop what you feel for him. And that doesn’t stop what he feels for you. Even if neither of you want to feel it. You just can’t help it.”

No one knows love like a child.

CMDVCMDVCMDV

Flashback

Casey’s small little green Acura sped off towards her friend’s house.

She really was in no state to drive, as the needle on the speedometer slowly rose. Tears coated her cheeks. “How could he say that?” She asked herself.

“Does he really hate me that much?” “Does he really think that?” “Why’d he freak out like that?” “How could he possibly think I was cheating on him?!” “How can he not know I love him too much to do that?” “Do I hate him?”

Questions buzzed in her mind while anger and depression drove her closer to her friend’s house.

Once she reached the tiny apartment just outside of Toronto, she ran up to the number she knew as her friend’s apartment number, suitcase trailing behind her. She knocked on the door, and the girl saw the tears in her eyes.

“Oh no.”

CMDVCMDVCMDV

9:46 PM

The menu of the Phantom of the Opera DVD popped up on the screen of the TV at the exact moment Derek walked by.

Casey selected the option that said ‘Play’. Derek attempted to sneak away. But he failed. “You. Sit. Now.”

Derek said nothing as he walked over to the chair that replaced his chair, which was sitting at what used to be his and Casey’s apartment. “Yeah?” He asked, looking over to the gorgeous brunette on the couch in her PJs. He couldn’t help but stare.

“You’re gonna watch Phantom of the Opera with me.” She said.

CMDVCMDVCMDV

“It’s over now, the music of the night!” Gerard Butler sang, beginning to smash the mirrors with the candle stick.

Casey blew her nose into a Kleenex, bawling her eyes out. “Stupid Christine!” She whined, weakly tossing the balled-up tissue at the TV. “She loves the Phantom. You know she loves the Phantom! But she left with that stupid pretty boy!” Casey exclaimed.

Derek tried to ignore the fact that Casey was crying. Right there. Beside him. Tears… Ugh. Scary!

“Um, okay.” Derek mumbled. “I’m just gonna, you know, go… Now.”

Casey frowned, and he stood and began to walk up the stairs. But Casey piped up again. “Do you remember the last time we watched this?”

CMDVCMDVCMDV

Flashback

Derek had his arm around Casey’s shoulders as she sobbed at the end of Phantom of the Opera. “Stupid Christine!” She cried.

Derek kissed the top of her head. “It’s just a movie, Case.”

“Your point?” Casey questioned. “Erik and Christine were, like, epic love.”

Derek snorted. “Epic love?”

“Epic love.” Casey repeated, nodding in confirmation. “You are the Phantom to my Christine.”

Derek raised an eyebrow. “You’d leave me for some pretty boy?”

Casey smacked his arm. “No. I’m talking about my version,” she corrected. “The one where she says ‘Screw you, pretty boy’ and runs off with the Phantom.”

“Ah, okay.” Derek smiled, leaning down to kiss her.

CMDVCMDVCMDV

Derek turned to face Casey. “I remember.” He said.

Casey couldn’t help the smile that graced her lips.

It was like the room was frozen in time. No one moved. It was so quiet.

“Good night, Casey.” Derek said, turning back to walk up the stairs.

CMDVCMDVCMDV

Derek paced the hallway. “I love her. I freakin’ love her. I shouldn’t love her.” Derek scolded himself. “I’m such an idiot. Such an idiot!”

“You are,” Casey corrected from the top of the stairs. Derek’s face flushed. Thankfully, it was too dark in the hallway for Casey to see. “A complete idiot.”

Derek frowned. Casey walked forward, and leaned against the wall opposite him.

“A complete idiot.” She repeated.

Derek stepped forward, closer to her. “And why’s that?” He asked.

“Well,” Casey began. “You screw up relationships that could’ve lasted forever. You’re a pig. You don’t know when to quit…” She said. Derek now had his hands on her bare arms, trailing them up and down, making her shiver. “Some of the reasons I hate you…” She mumbled, her arms around his waist now.

“You know,” Derek said, fingertips brushing lightly against her hips. “You say you hate me.”

“And I do.” Casey lied, the words spilling out of her mouth with ease.

“But I refuse to believe that.” Derek mumbled, one hand lifted up to her face. Casey’s eyes fluttered between his eyes and his lips.

“I want to believe it…” She mumbled. “But I can’t.”

Derek swooped down, pressing his lips to hers, and she responded very fast. She wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him back. Derek lifted her up, and she wrapped her legs around his torso, never breaking for a moment as he silently carried her to their room.

CMDVCMDVCMDV

Derek awoke the next day, full recollection of what had happened last night. But Casey wasn’t in the bed beside him. He could hear her singing, though. With the water running.

He slipped out of bed, tossing on the first pair of pajama-esque pants and a t-shirt he could find. He exited the room, and entered the bathroom. Casey didn’t seem to notice. He walked over to the shower, and peeled the shower curtain back lightly. “Good morning.” He said, and Casey nodded weakly. Memories flooded their heads of how they used to greet each other every morning. Derek brushed his teeth, ignoring the fact that he hadn’t eaten yet.

“Casey” Derek called.

“Yeah?” Casey asked, her voice sounding strangled.

“I’m sorry.” Derek said. “I’m sorry for what I did, and what I said.” He continued. “I never meant any of it. Ever. Not one word. I was just so mad at the thought that… Yeah. But, I should’ve never lost it like that, Case. I love you. I always have.”

Casey said nothing in reply. To be honest, it still hurt, what he said.

Derek sighed, and began to walk out the door, but Casey called him over. Derek looked back, and walked back. Casey poked her head out of the shower, nothing inappropriate showing as she extended her arm, pulling him closer to her, lightly kissing him. “I love you, too.” She whispered after she broke the kiss.

Derek smiled like a kid in a candy shop at those words, gently kissing her forehead before exiting the bathroom.

Casey slipped her head back in the shower, she hot water pouring over her skin. She sighed. There was no going back now.

CMDVCMDVCMDV

One year later

Derek and Casey found themselves mauled by their family as they walked in the McDonaldVenturi house. Thirteen year old Marti hugged Derek so hard he nearly fell over.

It was winter break, so Edwin and Lizzie were home, too.

“Welcome home, you two!” Nora exclaimed. “Did you drive her here, Derek?”

Derek nodded. “Casey’s car broke down.” He said. Not even a lie. It did. Their plan was to go in their own cars, and at different times.

The beaming glow on Casey’s face was incapable of being hidden. Even Derek seemed to be beaming.

“How ya’ doin’, bro?” Edwin asked, smiling.

“Great.” Derek said, smiling as he noogied his little brother, who whined.

Lizzie hugged Casey tightly. “I’ve missed you!” Lizzie exclaimed, and Nora joined the hug.

CMDVCMDVCMDV

5:37 PM

All that day, Derek and Casey had been bombarded with questions. They all sat in the living room, and when it finally quieted down a bit, Casey leaned over to Derek. “Should we tell them now?” She whispered, Derek nodded. “Just don’t take out the list. Please.” Derek begged, Casey giggled.

The two stood up, and all eyed them.

“Towards the end of high school, me and Casey were dating.” Derek started suddenly. Nora instantly locked eyes with Casey. “About three months after we got to collage, we got into a bad argument, but we won’t be talking about that.”

Lizzie cursed at the top of her lungs. “I will continue to pester you about that, Casey!” She exclaimed, and Casey laughed.

“So, we broke up. It was really bitter,” Derek continued, his arm around Casey’s waist now. “Which is why that trip over here lat year was so bad at first. But we… Um, made up-”

Casey laughed. Derek glared, then continued. “-After that, and we were together. And, um…”

Casey smiled brightly, placing a hand over her stomach, she beamed over towards Derek, and then looked at the rest of the blended family. “I’m pregnant.”

Lizzie, Marti and Nora shrieked in joy, mauling Casey once again, as George and Edwin laughed, hopping up to congratulate Derek.

The pregnancy seemed to take every shred of attention to the lies and deceit from those years ago. That they’d lied to their parents so easily, and no one but their siblings knew.

Six months later, in May, baby Gabrielle Amanda Venturi was born.

‘Happily ever after’s are nothing but a bunch of crap. No one’s ever really happy forever. There’ll always be a bunch of bumps along the road.

A/N; Squee! I know you said ‘make is angsty’, Mal, but I could not resist giving my Dasey a happy ending! I got so attached to them in this fic. That’s my problem, I let my love for the ship get in the way of the plot. But it’s not always a bad thing! It’s why Casey didn’t die in ‘Meribelle’. And a bit of the timeline doesn’t fit in the prompt, but I kinda had to adjust it… Anywho! I hope you liked it, Mal.

Mal’s original prompt: 2. Casey and Derek have a rough past. They dated for nearly two years at the end of high school, but just after they graduate, a bad night happened. Only the two of them know what happened. They haven’t told anyone, even under severe questioning from Lizzie, Edwin, and Marti. Now it’s four years later. They’ve both graduated collage and are forced back into the house where everything started and was destroyed. Tell about that bad night. Make it angsty!