Addicted 2

"You don't find this a bit strange?" Casey asked Derek as they were getting ready for their second night at Aunt Margret's house. Lizzie and Edwin were already asleep in one of the queen beds in the room. Their day was eventful and it had worn the kids out. It wasn't even 10, and Derek and Casey were the last ones going to bed, everyone else having to pass out to the dreamland a while ago. Aunt Margret suggested they visit a few family friends in the morning, and then go over to a park for afternoon picnic. The park turned out to be closed, but the kids had ample of fun playing with the closed gate. They ended up going to a park near the river that separated Canada and USA. The shopping afterwards was eventful seeing as the mall had sale in every other store. After a dinner a friend's house, which seemed never-ending with stories and hyper kids (the friends' had two of their own, 7 and 5 – the little joy of bundles running around everywhere), the middle kids and Marti were asleep as they soon as they got home around 9:30ish.

"Find what strange?" Derek asked after he got out of his t-shirt.

"That Lizzie and Edwin shared a bed knowing we needed one to ourselves." Casey replied.

"Spacey it's been a long day. You are not going to start analyzing every little aspect of this now."

"Can we talk tomorrow then?" Casey asked, knowing she was too tired to give her full concentration.

"No. Think all you want, leave me out it." Derek said as he got comfortable in the bed and pulled Casey closer.

"This is a complication."

"I know."

Casey never got Derek to talk the next day, or the day after. She gave up, for once in her life, and enjoyed what was happening. Of course, that didn't mean she stopped thinking about it.

DASEY

"What does that mean?" Derek asked as he sat down.

"I'm going to go wake up George." Nora said as she slipped out from the kitchen and left the kids to deal with their own. Whatever this is, she thought to herself, they have to work it out on their own. And as she opened the door to her bedroom, she thought to herself, when did they grow up?

Without their knowing, their relationship has changed. They had a many clues, like the fact they can't spend a night apart, to more subtle one, like asking the other's opinion on something. They were building a strong foundation for a relationship, Nora thought to herself. She remembered few times where they showed trust for one another, took the other's feelings into consideration, and actually sat down to talk about their problems. Much like they were doing now, she realized.

Nora didn't know how having her kids be together, as a couple, would affect the family. But she honestly didn`t think she or the family would have a problem with it.

There was this one time, not long after the trip to Windsor, Casey and Derek were fighting. Of course, even after this new development in their relationship, their fighting did not cease. They were arguing about some prank Derek had pulled and Casey was in the middle of asking George to punish Derek, when Derek, out of the blue, had asked Casey if she minded if Sam came for a stay over.

"What?" She asked, confused.

"There's a hockey re-run marathon and Sam was wondering if he could stay over and watch." Derek replied.

"So you two are going to spend the night watching hockey?" Casey asked.

"Not really, it's only on till like 2 or something."

"And you're asking me this because...?"

"I don't want you nagging at me for not telling or something."

Nora was in the living at the time, and was listening in on them. She was surprised of how considerate Derek could be. He seriously didn't want to displease Casey. It was proved before too, when she asked him to do something that meant a lot to her, and he did it without messing up.

"Right," Casey said but she couldn't help but smile, "when's the big night?"

"Friday." Derek said, smirking back at her.

George shutting the bathroom door a little too hard as he came out brought Nora back from her thoughts.

"What's for breakfast?" He asked.

"Toast and pancakes." Nora replied. "But we can't go up yet." And filled George in on what was going on up stairs.

DASEY

Derek listened as Casey basically repeated what she had said to Nora that morning. He kind of understood what she was feeling, but he didn't want her taking time to herself and figuring it out. The end result would most probably not be in his favour.

"Let's go for a walk." Derek said standing up, coming around the island, and getting her up. She had said her piece, and she was just waiting for him to react to what she said. Derek knew that if he didn't want her to leave, he's going to have to break all her arguments. And he might even have to admit his feelings. Something that happens on a blue moon.

They were walking down towards the park. Casey was a little nervous, she said what she wanted to say, and was feeling a little satisfied having to gotten all that out. But she didn't think she'd be feeling nervous at Derek's silence. She wanted to know what he thought and how he looked at their relationship. But the fact that he was just holding her hand, leading her to the park without saying anything was un-nerving her to no end.

After few minutes of walking, a little clearing with a playgroup came in the sight. Derek led them to the picnic bench that was located at the corner of the park. They both sat on one side and Casey turned a little to look at him, silently asking question through her eyes as to what he was thinking.

"Derek?" After a short pause.

"I know you're confused as to what exactly we are." Derek started. Casey nodded a little to let him know that's how she was feeling. He continued after a little time, "and you have a tendency to over analyze everything that happens to you. You can't define our relationship...neither can I. But I like what we have." He looked at her then.

"I like that I wake up beside you. That you know what I'm thinking, good or bad. I like that you're pretty much the only one I can talk to about anything and have you actually understand it. Sam gets stuff but not like you do. And what I like the most...is that if...we were in a real...relationship...like a couple...that I've been faithful to you this entire time."

And he was, she realized. Her mouth slightly opened as she realized that he didn't go on a single date or asked girls out or had a random make-out with any girl willing.

"Why haven't you been with another girl?" She asked softly, after she got over her initial shock that is.

"Haven't you just heard yourself Case? Another girl...What does that tell you?"

She looked down at her feet. "That you're with me."

She felt a hand in her hair and she looked up to see Derek looking at her.

"Now do you get it?" He asked through his smirk. Her smile, when it came, was brilliant as she nodded her head yes.

"It's going to take me some time to get used to this, Derek. And when I do, I'll send you a list of what like, and what I want for our first date." She teased. He simply nodded his head yes and said, "Whatever you want princess. No more New York right?" Casey shook her head no as she got up, pulled him up and hugged him with all her strength.

DASEY

It's strange how life seems so hectic one minute and so slow in the next. This is beautiful, Casey thought to herself. And I love this song. She was listening to the country song Bless the Broken Road by Rascal Flatts. Casey wasn't the country type, but this song was amazing. She wanted this kind of love in her life. The one, whenever it came, lasted through her whole life. And every day is filled with loving looks, gentle kisses and passionate nights. There's always someone besides her – good or bad; someone she could rely on for little things as well as big ones; someone who makes her heart beat ten times faster.

And she could feel her heart start to beat faster at a thought of certain someone.

She was lying on porch swing in the backyard. It had started raining slightly, but she didn't want to go inside the house yet, and besides, she thought, she was well protected by the little room that came with the swing. She adjusted her iPod on her stomach and started rocking back and forth.

Unknown to her, Nora was looking at her form the kitchen window. Casey was happy when she came back from her walk with Derek about an hour ago. She had briefly filled Nora in on what was discussed. Nora was happy for them, and proud of herself for foreseeing the future. Somehow, she had a feeling they're going to last the distance.

"Hey," Derek said as he entered the kitchen, and smiled when he saw what Nora was looking at. "You don't mind?" He asked.

"No. Believe it or not, I actually saw this happening. And as long as you both are happy, George and I don't want anything more."

Derek nodded his head, "Thanks," he said with wealth of meaning, and Nora saw that in his eyes.

Ya, she thought again, last the distance.