Preggers, a Life with Derek Fanfic
Title: Preggers, Chapter Two
Author: happy_overdose
Summary: Casey decides to get artificially inseminated.
Disclaimer: Nope
Derek was feeling out of sorts. For one, he was sure he had caught the leading actor’s cold and was only now getting over it. Second, the flight home had sandwiched him between two of the most annoying, talkative people on the planet. Third, for some reason, he was on his way to Casey’s house instead of his.
Needless to say, he had been surprised that Casey stole his baby name. He would have thought anything he had sullied would not be good enough for her baby boy. He wasn’t mad or anything, just slightly curious.
Derek guessed he just wanted to see the newest member of the family. He had seen pictures of course, joked with Edwin when he asked if Matt reminded him of anyone (he had said the Stay Pufft monster, but he was kidding. Matt was perfect). Checking the time, he knew Casey was probably still up, writing or refining another chapter of her book. Oh he knew her so well. When he swung into her driveway, the living room light was on. He bounded up and rapped on the door.
A faint cry sounded from inside.
Derek ignored the tiny feeling that blossomed in his heart. It had been plaguing him for a few months. His assistant called it Baby Pains. But as far as Derek was concerned, that was a misdiagnosis. It was completely normal to look at baby clothes and strollers on the internet when your stepsister had just given birth. Granted he didn’t do that with Lizzie, but maybe he was growing up.
Casey opened the door with a squirming bundle in her hands. He had already gotten so big since the last round of pictures. Derek felt the goofy smile on his face, but ignored it.
“Derek!” she sounded genuinely happy to see him, which was rare, even now when they were more or less civil, “Look Matt! Look who’s come to visit!”
“Yeah, about that…” Derek stepped into the house, brushing a kiss on her forehead as nonchalantly as he could, “I though his name was Elijah.”
She shrugged, “Too pretentious. So instead he’s Matt. Matthew Oliver McDonald.”
“M.O.M? He’s gonna hate you in a few years,” Derek taunted and Casey slapped him with her free hand.
Derek looked down at the baby. Matt stared at him, with an expression of curiosity. He was making cute cooing noises that tugged at Derek.
“Hey little guy,” Derek grinned. The baby had wide brown eyes which stared up at him. Derek reached out and grabbed him from Casey, cradling him close.
“I’m your Uncle Derek,” he told the little bundle, “I’m the guy who you’re gonna have to run to when your Keener mom starts to drive you crazy.”
“Don’t tell him that!” Casey scolded, “Matt will be able to communicate with me effectively. I read a book that teaches methods of communication with young children that are fruitful and healthy.”
Derek grinned down at Matt, “See what I mean? She’s gonna drive you batshit crazy.”
“Der-ek!”
Over the next few weeks while he was in Ontario, he went to look for Matthew and Casey regularly. He was not sure why, but he felt a connection with the baby. Casey didn’t really mind, especially since Derek was willing to change diapers. For some reason, when he happened to mention spending time with their stepsis and step nephew, his brother found it highly amusing.
“You haven’t noticed anything weird about Matt have you?” Edwin asked for what felt like the billionth time. They were having their weekly phone call since Edwin was in Toronto.
Derek sighed, looked down at Matt who was squirming on the changing table. He had just recently learned to hold his head up. Derek was so proud of him.
“Nah, he’s perfect. The only weird thing is the glazed over look he gets when his mom is done feeding him.”
Silence on the line, “You watch Casey breastfeed?”
Derek frowned at his brother, though he couldn’t see, “Didn’t you used to watch Lizzie breastfeed Alex?”
“Well yeah, but that was back when I thought I was halfway in love with her. I mean, you’re not half in love with Casey are you?”
Derek scoffed, “Are you kidding me?
But even Matt seemed able to tell that Derek’s question wasn’t an answer.
……………………………..
The movie was relocating to Paris for the final shoot. Derek had always liked Paris, but for some reason he kept looking for reasons to extend his trip home.
Like Matt’s doctor’s check up.
He hadn’t really been invited. Emily had an appointment lined up for Emma on the same day, so both moms were going in together. He just presented himself, and his rental car that could seat all comfortably, and they were off.
Emily kept giving Derek weird looks in the rear view mirror. He gladly ignored them, especially since Casey was keeping up a running commentary on the topic of the BBC programme that was playing on the radio. Emma was having a great time playing peek-a-boo with Matt. She was an adorable thing too; she had hair like her mothers and light brown eyes that shone like amber. Derek had met her father and found that she looked a lot like him, which had initially angered Derek since he denied paternity for a little while.
His thoughts shifted to Matt. He wondered where Matt’s father was now, and how he would feel about having a son. He guessed the guy would feel the same way Derek would feel about having some anonymous kid somewhere in the world; he wished the kid luck. He hoped the kid was being taken care of, fed, happy and going to school.
They got to the medical centre and unloaded the kids. Derek carried Matt’s bassinet. Emma skipped ahead and Casey took off behind her to try to get the six year old to slow down.
Emily turned around to look at Derek. He stopped, watched her eyes, which was always they way to tell how a conversation with her was going to go.
“What?” he asked, knowing some sort of interrogation was coming.
“I see you’ve taken to your step nephew,” she observed, “What is it? You feel sorry for the single mommy again?”
“What?” he knew what she was talking about, of course. He had been the one to threaten Emma’s dad to within an inch of his life when he had refused to accept paternity.
“You’re all supportive and dad-like. You cancelled your trip to come here to the pediatrician. You know something, don’t you?”
Now he was stumped, “Know something about what?”
“About Matt. Your whole family thinks you’re...”
Derek stared. What the hell was she talking about?
All of a sudden, Emily heaved a huge sigh, “Oh my goodness. You two are clueless! It’s right in front of you!”
“You wanna let me in on what the hell you’re talking about?” Derek checked on Matt, who was sleeping, “I think this little guy wants to get this check up over with and go home.”
Emily grabbed the bassinet, “Take a good look, Derek. Notice anything?”
She held Michael up for him to see. What he did notice was that she had woken him up, but nothing else.
“Does he have some sort if birth defect…”
Emily rolled her eyes, heaved another frustrated sigh, and blurted, “He looks exactly like you!”
The world slowed. A million thoughts attacked him in the space of a second. And for some reason, most of them involved him seeing this coming.
Derek was suddenly woken up to the niggling feeling he had ever since Casey picked him up from the airport all those months ago. He felt connected to this baby, in a way he thought he had no right to be. And then when he saw Michael for the first time, it was as if he committed himself to him. Had he known all along and just ignored the possibility?
“Derek?” Emily stared at him in concern, “Are you okay?”
“What do you think I should do?” he asked, looking at Matt, who blinked back silently. He had Derek’s eyes. How had he not noticed that before?
“I think a paternity test would be good,” said Emily, sounding just like she did in high school, competent and highly organized. No wonder she was a PA for one of the country’s biggest celebrities, “I would tell Casey as well. Your whole family already knows.”
“You’re serious?” Derek was shocked, “And they didn’t say anything?”
“I think maybe they didn’t feel it was their place to say. You have to have a talk with Casey about this too, about how much you will be in her life and Matt’s life, if it turns out you really are his father.”
“Oh shit. Casey is not gonna like this.”
“Oh, give her the benefit of the doubt,” Emily rubbed his arm in sympathy. They began walking again, just as Casey came back down the hall.
“What’s wrong? Emma and I have been waiting for you for ten minutes!”
Derek looked at Casey for a long time. She didn’t have on a drop of makeup, her hair was in a ponytail and she had on gray track pants and a pink jersey sweater. She was never more beautiful.
“What?” she asked, looking from Emily to Derek, “Why do you both look like someone died?”
“I’ll take Matt," Emily declared, holding up the bassinet, “You two need to talk.”
……………………………
Casey started to worry the moment Emily walked away. She was almost beside herself with worry by the time they reached to Derek’s rental car. He seated her on the passengers’ seat and stood in front of her.
“Derek what’s wrong?” she asked carefully, hoping against hope that it didn’t involve someone dying or sick or in trouble. She had a feeling she was ovulating for the first time since Matt was born because the littlest thing set her tear ducts working.
“Well, first of all, lemme just say, it’s not the end of the world.”
Panic nearly choked her.
“What-if it’s-what happened-did you do…”
“No!” he held her shoulders, squeezed hard, “Get a grip, okay? It’s nothing bad, I promise. Actually in a way, it’s kind of great. Maybe not for you, but…”
Her eyes darted all over his face, trying to read his emotions for a clue, ‘Derek, please start making sense now.”
He took a slow breath. She could tell he was gearing up to tell her something big. Casey bit her lip. She liked surprises fine, but she could tell that, good or bad, this one was going to big.
“Do you remember when I went to that clinic back in university to donate when I needed extra cash?”
She remembered teasing him mercilessly about it. About tiny hockey playing minions running around London. But what did that have to do with anything?
“Well, our family think they know about my… a kid that may be mine.”
Horror stories in Lifetime movie format circled Casey’s mind. Was a baby that he fathered in trouble?
“Case, I said stop worrying! I can practically see the cogs turning,” he told her.
“But if you have a kid out there, and he’s in some sort of trouble, and he needs our help…”
Casey drew breath suddenly at the soft look Derek gave her.
“Thanks, but I’m pretty sure he’s okay. He’s got uncles an aunts and grandparents who love him. He’s got the best mom in the world, and he’s got the coolest dad on the face of the planet,” he couldn’t help a cocky smile, “And hopefully, if she stops wigging out, his mom will be totally cool with it.”
The frown on Casey’s face didn’t last long. She stared at Derek as realization hit her like a train.
“You’re talking about Matt?”
She was sure she had never seen him grin so wide.
“Yeah. Emily just told me that the fam suspects I’m his dad. And after I torture every last one of them, maybe you can ask our family why they decided to keep something so colossal from us.”
In the meantime Casey felt the beginnings of a panic attack.
“Oh my God!” she covered her face, “What are the effing odds! In the most roundabout way possible, you knocked me up! At least that’s what they all think! How could they not tell us?”
The smile faded, “You’re upset?”
“You’re not?!” she looked at him in confusion. As far as she was concerned, this was the worst possible thing. Not Matthew of course, she loved her son. But he was only part hers. She possibly shared the other part with her annoying stepbrother.
“I love Matt, Casey. If it turns out he’s mine…”
“Shit!” Casey cursed. She felt a tear fall down her face. She can’t handle this. This was too much.
“…Then I’ll be there for him , like a dad. I already told you I was willing to help out.”
“You made one joke about college tuition, Derek! That is hardly what a dad is supposed to do.”
He sighed, all the happiness and delight gone from his face now. Casey felt like a colossal bitch for reacting like this. But she couldn’t help it. She used to have nightmares like this, where some crazy teenage hormone would overpower them and they would have to raise a baby. It seemed like the biggest tragedy possible at one point in her life.
“We can do a DNA test, to get it over with. You don’t have to act like it’s the end of the world,” Derek snapped before turning back to the clinic.
Casey’s tears fell in earnest as she watched him walk away. Not only for the fact that her life just took a nose dive, but also because he was hurt, and it was all her fault.
……………………………..
The ride back from the doctors was really quiet. Matt was sleeping, so there weren’t even his random noises to break the silence. Emma made the mistake of whispering, “What’s happening?” before her mother shushed her.
Derek didn’t know if he had a right to be mad, but he was anyway. Casey was acting as if it was the worst thing in the world that he was Matt’s father. He couldn’t think of anyone who loved Matt more than he did. He remembered he had been a little preoccupied with Casey’s baby from the minute he saw her in the airport. His son…his son kicked when he pressed his hand to Casey’s belly. He had driven his staff crazy asking baby-related questions. For some reason, it was if he knew Matt was his. The idea was at the back of his head for a while. And now when he was feeling so elated, so overjoyed to discover that he now had a son, she had to put a wrench in it by freaking out over them sharing a kid.
Granted, teenage them would be doubled over puking at the thought. But with the passage of time, he and Casey had become…civil. He guessed they weren’t civil enough to share a child, even if it didn’t come the normal way. Though if it had, he would have rocked her world. Seriously, she had no idea what she was missing.
And…he was going off track
He glanced at her, seeing her bite into her bottom lip. She was nervous. He wondered it was because she was contemplating how to apologize to him. Served her right for taking his happiness away. He didn’t know what he had expected her reaction to be, but it had not been this. Not panic. Maybe she could have made a few wisecracks about this being typical; of course the bad boy would knock up the keener in the end. Or even revel in the surprise, the unexpectedness of him being a parent. But not full scale physical panic and vehement disagreement and disgust.
They dropped Emily and Emma at their apartment and headed for the McDonald Venturi house where they had promised to bring Matt for a visit for the day. The car was even more silent now.
Matt woke up and made a tiny baby sound.
It snapped the silence like a twig.
“You’re making a mountain out of a mole hill, you know right?” said Derek.
“In what way?” Casey asked.
“You’re acting as if there was some way we could have prevented it. It’s not like the condom burst, Casey. You couldn’t have known it was my sperm they were giving you because I chose to donate anonymously. And I know you would not give up Matt for the world. So why are you so upset?”
She took a while to answer, “Do you think I want to saddle my son with that kind of existence. The son of siblings?”
“Step siblings, Casey. It’s hardly illegal.”
“Is that how everyone else will see it?”
“Why do you care what anyone thinks?”
“Because, Derek!”
“Because what?”
She didn’t answer.
“I know why,” Derek snapped, “Because you’re hung up on the fact that Derek Venturi, that cocky, obnoxious jerk you knew in high school knocked up perfect princess Casey.”
She glared at him, “That’s not…”
He held up a hand, “Don’t even deny it. Nobody has a problem with us being parents. Emily doesn’t have a problem. Our family doesn’t have one either, unless they definitely would have said something by now. You are the one with the problem. You wanted your baby’s father to be a fairytale prince. If you think I won’t be a good dad for Matt well you’re wrong. Because I would be the best dad I can be for my son. I love him. Nothing you say will change that.”
Casey sighed, “I know you love Matt, okay? That was never in question. Let’s just…let’s stop at the pharmacy after the visit with Mom and George and buy one of those home DNA kits and be sure before anyone gets their hopes up.”
Derek looked over at her. He knew she meant him. She was hardly going to get her hopes up that he was Matt’s father.
They reached their old neighbourhood soon after and unloaded Matt and his baby bag. As soon as Nora opened the door, her broad grin changed into a frown.
“Crap. You two found out.”
“Oh yes we did,” Derek confirmed, not realizing that he and Casey were making the same exact expression that meant there was trouble in store.
…………………………………………..
They bought the DNA test kit when they made their way home. Taking the instructions one by one, they took the samples and sent them off to a lab through the mail. After Casey put Matt to bed, she came downstairs to see Derek standing in the same place she had left him in. The look of determination on his face made her guess what was coming.
“You have a long flight tomorrow,” Casey reasoned, “You should go home and get some rest.”
“We need to talk,” he told her, grabbing her arm and leading her to her pretty antique accent chair. He pushed her into the seat and put his arms on either side of her, barring her in.
Casey felt like a prisoner, and she lashed out, “Der-ek!”
“I don’t wanna hear it. We really need to talk.”
“We’ve already talked. The DNA test will be back in a week or two. Once I have the results, I’ll talk to you and we can decide about Matt… if he turns out to be yours.”
At this point, Derek had all confidence that Matt was one hundred percent his. He loved the little boy, always had, always would. He knew the connection he had with Casey’s son went beyond an uncle/nephew relationship.
“I wanna know. Is it so terrible, so awful that I’m Matt’s father? Do you really hate me that much?”
Casey sighed and rolled her eyes.
“I don’t hate you, Derek. Of course I think you would be a good father. But… don’t you think this will all be a little weird for Matt, growing up with parents who act like we do?”
Derek stared at her, “How do we act?”
“Like two wild cats fighting over territory. We always have to one up each other, and we always bicker and fight. I don’t think Matt deserves that. He should have a dad that respects his mother, and doesn’t think pranks are a suitable means of communication.”
Now Derek was upset, “I respect you. I respect the hell out of you Case. I respect you so much that it hurts.”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean!”
“Okay,” Derek sighed, “You want Matt to have parents who respect each other, right?”
“Right,” Casey nodded, “Parents who get along, who actually like each other.”
“I like you fine.” Derek gave her a smirk that was all show, “You’re the one who doesn’t like me.”
He came to within a whisper away from her face, the closest she had ever been to him. Casey gaped.
“I…”
“You know what? For Matt’s sake I think we should kiss and make up. Won’t that be healthy?”
“Sure, I…”
Derek closed the tiny space between them, trapping her lips under his. He was surprise by her response; he was expecting a hard sharp slap, followed by yell of his name, split down the middle the way she liked saying it. But this… this was much better.
Their current position was awkward. He pulled her out of the chair as he straightened and had her flush against him before she could protest. But from the way her arms wound around him and she pressed into him on her own accord, he didn’t get the feeling she was planning to.
They only parted out of a mutual need for air. Derek watched as Casey’s eyes sparkled and her chest heaved with shallow breaths.
“So,” he was finally coherent enough to say, “Now that we get along, how do you feel about me being Matt’s dad?”
Casey’s expression changed suddenly. She pushed away from him and ran up the stairs. And for once, Derek decided to leave her alone.
……………………………..
“I can’t do this.”
Emily gave Casey a big hug. She could feel the shivers going up and down Casey’s spine. The lab results still sat at the table, unopened.
“Come on,” Emily let her go and grabbed the bottle of wine that sat beside her, filling Casey’s glass, “You can just do it quick, like ripping a band aid. You’ve come this far, what’s one more step?”
“This step feels more like a leap off of a steep cliff,” Casey groaned. She took the letter up. It felt heavy, for something that only had ‘You are/ are not the father’ written in bold type. Her hand shook.
“What I don’t get,” said Emily, sipping her wine, “is why you think it would be so terrible if Derek is Matt’s father. You remember how he was when Emma was born. And even you admitted how great he and Edwin were when Alex was born. Derek isn’t the worst potential dad you can think of, is he?”
“Well, no,” Casey smiled. Not by a long shot, actually. Derek had always been good with kids, ever since Marti. Of course there were some things that he taught his younger sister that still worried her family. But all in all, Derek did right by Marti. And, as Emily mentioned, Emma and Alex only benefitted from having him in their lives. So why was she so against having Derek as Matt’s father?
Decidedly, she was not opposed it. What Casey was feeling was actually… guilt. She knew in the back of her mind this was her fault. Why did she go to the one clinic she knew Derek had gone to in college? Why did she pick the one candidate that had so many things in common with Derek? Did she deliberately, as disgusting as it sounded, seek out Derek’s sperm?
Emily saw the grimace on her face and misinterpreted it, “Come on, Casey. This doesn’t have to change anything. You and Derek being co-parents does not mean anything other than him having custody of Matt. And you already leave the two of them together enough for that not to be weird. Come on. If you want, I’ll rip the Band-Aid for you.”
“Would you?” Casey smiled gratefully, handing Emily the envelope which was promptly ripped up. The document was unfolded and Emily scanned it quickly before taking a deep breath.
“Okay. Here goes.”
………………………………
Derek was online reading emails from his editors in California about the progress they had made so far when he saw the popup alerting him to Casey wanting to chat on Skype. Derek’s heart exploded in his chest, as it did every time she had contacted him since he kissed her in her living room.
She had not mentioned it again. And maybe that was for the best. It would never ever be like that between him and Casey. Matt might grow up with parents who were civil to one another, but he would not have parents who were in love.
Derek tried to convince himself that having parents who weren’t in love didn’t hurt him any. Then he remembered how much he would always appreciate Nora for bringing his father back from the brink, how much it had reassured him that love was real, just seeing them with each other.
Derek put his thoughts aside and brought up his Skype page. His heart leapt across the Atlantic as he caught sight of Casey’s tear-streaked face and shaking shoulders.
“What? What happened?”
Casey’s sob tore at him, “Nothing. I’m- I’m fine.”
“Then why are you putting Niagara Falls to shame?” he asked.
Suddenly Emily came into the frame, “Hey, Derek. Congratulations are in order I guess. You’re the father.”
Casey’s sobs broke the sound barrier.
“Somebody’s not thrilled,” was all he could get out. He had hoped she would get over this by now. Was he really that bad?
“No! Don’t think that!” Casey defended, “These aren’t sad tears. I’m crying because…I was really being stupid, Der. You’re really good with Matt, and I know you love him. That was never in doubt. I’m really sorry for acting so awful to you. Can you ever forgive me?”
Derek smiled, “Yeah, sure. So I’m the father.”
Casey nodded, and Derek was glad to see the smile on her face.
“Congratulations, Derek,” she sniffled, “I’m sorry that it’s going to be his first birthday before you see him again. But we’ll Skype you tomorrow when he’s awake. I promise.”
Derek smiled. She was doing more than promising to Skype. She was promising that he could be a part of Matthew’s life. He was grateful to her for that.
“Alright. I got to get back on set. See you tomorrow.”
She waved, “Bye, Der.”
“Bye, Daddy,” Emily joked.
They signed off and the smile on Derek’s face had nothing to do but expand. He was a dad. He turned to the crew milling around and getting ready for the next scene.
“I’m a father!” he yelled.
“Yeah,” his boom operator Bryon said, his voice dripping with sarcasm, “And I’m dating the lead actress.”
“Good luck with that,’ Derek patted his shoulder, giving as good as he got, “You, her and her WWF champion husband will all be happy together.”
The peril on Bryon’s face was totally worth it.
……………………………………..
Casey’s fingernails were nubs. She had bitten them down to the skin in the space of a week. It had nothing to do with the small party she had planned for her son’s first birthday and everything to do with the guest list.
Of course it had to do hugely with the fact that this was the first official family gathering after the Big Paternity Test Results. Casey could not help referring to it in capital letters in her head. Of course she had to invite Matt’s father. And she had to invite her family and close friends. Matt’s little friends from day care would be in attendance, but so would the more important people in his life.
Including his father.
Oh God!
Why was she this nervous? She had seen Derek on Skype countless times since the BPTR without anything being remotely awkward. She emailed him video of Matt’s first steps and everyday photos of their son in the park and his first day at day care. They had been dealing with this well. He still teased her, sent prank gifts to her, told her too much of the truth about herself. He was still the best with Matt, though he openly told the little boy how much he loved him now, and had even introduced himself to Matt as his father a few months ago.
(That one had caused Casey a few minutes in the bathroom hollering and bawling until Matt pushed the door open and flung his little arms around her. She was so grateful for him in that moment, it almost made her forget her guilt.)
Casey felt overdressed. Were a shift dress and five inch heels appropriate for a baby’s birthday party? Not even a little bit. But looking this good made her feel in charge of the situation and her emotions.
But thinking of the amount of running he was going to have to do brought her to her senses. She changed into stylish jeans, a cute blue top and flats with Dr Scholl’s insoles to preserve her feet for the day.
Matt’s guests started arriving shortly after. His aunt Marti was in her element with running around the back yard with him, taking him on the slide that Casey had ordered for the party and helping him to frozen yogurt when his mother said no.
“Marti!” Casey yelled when the young woman deposited a messy Matt into his high chair, “You’re terrible. I hope you know you’re cleaning him up.”
“Oh, don’t worry,” Marti grinned, wiping down Casey’s son like he was a car windscreen, “Matt and I are just having a whale of a time.”
“Well, don’t have too much fun,” Casey warned, “I don’t want him to be conked out before everyone gets here.”
“No danger of that,” Marti pointed out as the door opened as everyone piled in. Lizzie and Edwin’s blubbering over Matt was almost twin-like in its execution. Nora and George hugged and kissed Marti and Casey. Simon remembered to greet his sister before asking where he could plug his game console. Alex, who rushed in after everyone, made quite an entrance by announcing that there was a huge slide outside in fluent Portuguese.
Casey was happy to see everyone, but Lizzie still noticed the way she looked at the door over Nora’s shoulder.
“He’s parking the SUV,” she told her big sister.
Casey groaned and chewed on the nubs again. Of course all of the people in the room knew what was going on and they all had put in their two cents over the last few months. And they had given really good advice. Still, Casey was nervous. Truth be told, she felt like the guy in the Jennifer Aniston movie that hijacked his best friends pregnancy. Instead, she got herself pregnant under false pretenses. And there was no way she was going to tell him. No way. She was going to bring her secret to the grave, especially since she had been in denial about it for so long. She just had to act as if she was in denial for all of her life. That wouldn’t be too hard.
They had all been talking and eating and catching up when the door opened. Derek walked in. Casey’s breath caught.
He looked amazing. He had a tan from the Mediterranean where he had been on location. Italian tailored clothes and loafers, designer sunglasses and unbelievably perfectly messy hair. He smiled at everyone in the room, then his smile faded when he looked at her.
Time slowed down. It gave her enough time to look at him. He hadn’t changed one bit. She wasn’t sure how much she had expected him to change in half a year, especially since she had seen him so much over the internet.
“Hey Case,” he smiled, and for some reason Casey’s heart leapt.
“Hi Derek,” she sounded just like a breathless lovesick female. She had no right to.
“Um, Lizzie?” Edwin’s voice cut the tension like a samurai sword through cheese, “Would you like to accompany me to the slides?”
Lizzie took his hand, “Sure! Coming, Alex?”
“Yay!” Alex ran off in front of them.
“We’re gonna get the presents out of the car,” Nora announced, grabbing George. Marti and Simon slunk off to find somewhere to set up the video games.
Casey and Derek were left staring at each other.
“Mama!” Matt yelled to get his mother’s attention. She turned to him, realizing that her son had that ‘you’re ignoring me’ look on his face.
“Sorry, honey,” she lifted him out of his chair.
She felt Derek come closer and soon the two of them were kissing Matt and saying little assurances.
“He’s so big,” Derek said in awe. Casey looked up at him and saw the emotions play across his face.
She felt the tears tickling the corners of her eyes.
“What is this on your shirt, Little Man?” Derek asked, taking his son and planting a big noisy kiss on him, “We should get you changed. You have guests coming!”
“He has extra clothes laid out on the bed. Check his diaper please!”
“Got it!”
Casey stopped herself from going after them three times before they came back out. Derek was blowing raspberries on their son’s tummy and had the little boy giggling. She couldn’t help it. She grabbed her digital camera from the counter and snapped a picture of them together, both laughing and looking so incredibly alike.
Derek looked up at the whirr of the camera and smiled, “Get in here.”
“Huh?” she questioned as he grabbed her hand.
“Take a pic of all of us!” he laughed, holding her close. His excitement was infectious. Casey’s smile was genuine when she turned the camera around and held it up and took a picture of all of them.
Author: happy_overdose
Summary: Casey decides to get artificially inseminated.
Disclaimer: Nope
Derek was feeling out of sorts. For one, he was sure he had caught the leading actor’s cold and was only now getting over it. Second, the flight home had sandwiched him between two of the most annoying, talkative people on the planet. Third, for some reason, he was on his way to Casey’s house instead of his.
Needless to say, he had been surprised that Casey stole his baby name. He would have thought anything he had sullied would not be good enough for her baby boy. He wasn’t mad or anything, just slightly curious.
Derek guessed he just wanted to see the newest member of the family. He had seen pictures of course, joked with Edwin when he asked if Matt reminded him of anyone (he had said the Stay Pufft monster, but he was kidding. Matt was perfect). Checking the time, he knew Casey was probably still up, writing or refining another chapter of her book. Oh he knew her so well. When he swung into her driveway, the living room light was on. He bounded up and rapped on the door.
A faint cry sounded from inside.
Derek ignored the tiny feeling that blossomed in his heart. It had been plaguing him for a few months. His assistant called it Baby Pains. But as far as Derek was concerned, that was a misdiagnosis. It was completely normal to look at baby clothes and strollers on the internet when your stepsister had just given birth. Granted he didn’t do that with Lizzie, but maybe he was growing up.
Casey opened the door with a squirming bundle in her hands. He had already gotten so big since the last round of pictures. Derek felt the goofy smile on his face, but ignored it.
“Derek!” she sounded genuinely happy to see him, which was rare, even now when they were more or less civil, “Look Matt! Look who’s come to visit!”
“Yeah, about that…” Derek stepped into the house, brushing a kiss on her forehead as nonchalantly as he could, “I though his name was Elijah.”
She shrugged, “Too pretentious. So instead he’s Matt. Matthew Oliver McDonald.”
“M.O.M? He’s gonna hate you in a few years,” Derek taunted and Casey slapped him with her free hand.
Derek looked down at the baby. Matt stared at him, with an expression of curiosity. He was making cute cooing noises that tugged at Derek.
“Hey little guy,” Derek grinned. The baby had wide brown eyes which stared up at him. Derek reached out and grabbed him from Casey, cradling him close.
“I’m your Uncle Derek,” he told the little bundle, “I’m the guy who you’re gonna have to run to when your Keener mom starts to drive you crazy.”
“Don’t tell him that!” Casey scolded, “Matt will be able to communicate with me effectively. I read a book that teaches methods of communication with young children that are fruitful and healthy.”
Derek grinned down at Matt, “See what I mean? She’s gonna drive you batshit crazy.”
“Der-ek!”
Over the next few weeks while he was in Ontario, he went to look for Matthew and Casey regularly. He was not sure why, but he felt a connection with the baby. Casey didn’t really mind, especially since Derek was willing to change diapers. For some reason, when he happened to mention spending time with their stepsis and step nephew, his brother found it highly amusing.
“You haven’t noticed anything weird about Matt have you?” Edwin asked for what felt like the billionth time. They were having their weekly phone call since Edwin was in Toronto.
Derek sighed, looked down at Matt who was squirming on the changing table. He had just recently learned to hold his head up. Derek was so proud of him.
“Nah, he’s perfect. The only weird thing is the glazed over look he gets when his mom is done feeding him.”
Silence on the line, “You watch Casey breastfeed?”
Derek frowned at his brother, though he couldn’t see, “Didn’t you used to watch Lizzie breastfeed Alex?”
“Well yeah, but that was back when I thought I was halfway in love with her. I mean, you’re not half in love with Casey are you?”
Derek scoffed, “Are you kidding me?
But even Matt seemed able to tell that Derek’s question wasn’t an answer.
……………………………..
The movie was relocating to Paris for the final shoot. Derek had always liked Paris, but for some reason he kept looking for reasons to extend his trip home.
Like Matt’s doctor’s check up.
He hadn’t really been invited. Emily had an appointment lined up for Emma on the same day, so both moms were going in together. He just presented himself, and his rental car that could seat all comfortably, and they were off.
Emily kept giving Derek weird looks in the rear view mirror. He gladly ignored them, especially since Casey was keeping up a running commentary on the topic of the BBC programme that was playing on the radio. Emma was having a great time playing peek-a-boo with Matt. She was an adorable thing too; she had hair like her mothers and light brown eyes that shone like amber. Derek had met her father and found that she looked a lot like him, which had initially angered Derek since he denied paternity for a little while.
His thoughts shifted to Matt. He wondered where Matt’s father was now, and how he would feel about having a son. He guessed the guy would feel the same way Derek would feel about having some anonymous kid somewhere in the world; he wished the kid luck. He hoped the kid was being taken care of, fed, happy and going to school.
They got to the medical centre and unloaded the kids. Derek carried Matt’s bassinet. Emma skipped ahead and Casey took off behind her to try to get the six year old to slow down.
Emily turned around to look at Derek. He stopped, watched her eyes, which was always they way to tell how a conversation with her was going to go.
“What?” he asked, knowing some sort of interrogation was coming.
“I see you’ve taken to your step nephew,” she observed, “What is it? You feel sorry for the single mommy again?”
“What?” he knew what she was talking about, of course. He had been the one to threaten Emma’s dad to within an inch of his life when he had refused to accept paternity.
“You’re all supportive and dad-like. You cancelled your trip to come here to the pediatrician. You know something, don’t you?”
Now he was stumped, “Know something about what?”
“About Matt. Your whole family thinks you’re...”
Derek stared. What the hell was she talking about?
All of a sudden, Emily heaved a huge sigh, “Oh my goodness. You two are clueless! It’s right in front of you!”
“You wanna let me in on what the hell you’re talking about?” Derek checked on Matt, who was sleeping, “I think this little guy wants to get this check up over with and go home.”
Emily grabbed the bassinet, “Take a good look, Derek. Notice anything?”
She held Michael up for him to see. What he did notice was that she had woken him up, but nothing else.
“Does he have some sort if birth defect…”
Emily rolled her eyes, heaved another frustrated sigh, and blurted, “He looks exactly like you!”
The world slowed. A million thoughts attacked him in the space of a second. And for some reason, most of them involved him seeing this coming.
Derek was suddenly woken up to the niggling feeling he had ever since Casey picked him up from the airport all those months ago. He felt connected to this baby, in a way he thought he had no right to be. And then when he saw Michael for the first time, it was as if he committed himself to him. Had he known all along and just ignored the possibility?
“Derek?” Emily stared at him in concern, “Are you okay?”
“What do you think I should do?” he asked, looking at Matt, who blinked back silently. He had Derek’s eyes. How had he not noticed that before?
“I think a paternity test would be good,” said Emily, sounding just like she did in high school, competent and highly organized. No wonder she was a PA for one of the country’s biggest celebrities, “I would tell Casey as well. Your whole family already knows.”
“You’re serious?” Derek was shocked, “And they didn’t say anything?”
“I think maybe they didn’t feel it was their place to say. You have to have a talk with Casey about this too, about how much you will be in her life and Matt’s life, if it turns out you really are his father.”
“Oh shit. Casey is not gonna like this.”
“Oh, give her the benefit of the doubt,” Emily rubbed his arm in sympathy. They began walking again, just as Casey came back down the hall.
“What’s wrong? Emma and I have been waiting for you for ten minutes!”
Derek looked at Casey for a long time. She didn’t have on a drop of makeup, her hair was in a ponytail and she had on gray track pants and a pink jersey sweater. She was never more beautiful.
“What?” she asked, looking from Emily to Derek, “Why do you both look like someone died?”
“I’ll take Matt," Emily declared, holding up the bassinet, “You two need to talk.”
……………………………
Casey started to worry the moment Emily walked away. She was almost beside herself with worry by the time they reached to Derek’s rental car. He seated her on the passengers’ seat and stood in front of her.
“Derek what’s wrong?” she asked carefully, hoping against hope that it didn’t involve someone dying or sick or in trouble. She had a feeling she was ovulating for the first time since Matt was born because the littlest thing set her tear ducts working.
“Well, first of all, lemme just say, it’s not the end of the world.”
Panic nearly choked her.
“What-if it’s-what happened-did you do…”
“No!” he held her shoulders, squeezed hard, “Get a grip, okay? It’s nothing bad, I promise. Actually in a way, it’s kind of great. Maybe not for you, but…”
Her eyes darted all over his face, trying to read his emotions for a clue, ‘Derek, please start making sense now.”
He took a slow breath. She could tell he was gearing up to tell her something big. Casey bit her lip. She liked surprises fine, but she could tell that, good or bad, this one was going to big.
“Do you remember when I went to that clinic back in university to donate when I needed extra cash?”
She remembered teasing him mercilessly about it. About tiny hockey playing minions running around London. But what did that have to do with anything?
“Well, our family think they know about my… a kid that may be mine.”
Horror stories in Lifetime movie format circled Casey’s mind. Was a baby that he fathered in trouble?
“Case, I said stop worrying! I can practically see the cogs turning,” he told her.
“But if you have a kid out there, and he’s in some sort of trouble, and he needs our help…”
Casey drew breath suddenly at the soft look Derek gave her.
“Thanks, but I’m pretty sure he’s okay. He’s got uncles an aunts and grandparents who love him. He’s got the best mom in the world, and he’s got the coolest dad on the face of the planet,” he couldn’t help a cocky smile, “And hopefully, if she stops wigging out, his mom will be totally cool with it.”
The frown on Casey’s face didn’t last long. She stared at Derek as realization hit her like a train.
“You’re talking about Matt?”
She was sure she had never seen him grin so wide.
“Yeah. Emily just told me that the fam suspects I’m his dad. And after I torture every last one of them, maybe you can ask our family why they decided to keep something so colossal from us.”
In the meantime Casey felt the beginnings of a panic attack.
“Oh my God!” she covered her face, “What are the effing odds! In the most roundabout way possible, you knocked me up! At least that’s what they all think! How could they not tell us?”
The smile faded, “You’re upset?”
“You’re not?!” she looked at him in confusion. As far as she was concerned, this was the worst possible thing. Not Matthew of course, she loved her son. But he was only part hers. She possibly shared the other part with her annoying stepbrother.
“I love Matt, Casey. If it turns out he’s mine…”
“Shit!” Casey cursed. She felt a tear fall down her face. She can’t handle this. This was too much.
“…Then I’ll be there for him , like a dad. I already told you I was willing to help out.”
“You made one joke about college tuition, Derek! That is hardly what a dad is supposed to do.”
He sighed, all the happiness and delight gone from his face now. Casey felt like a colossal bitch for reacting like this. But she couldn’t help it. She used to have nightmares like this, where some crazy teenage hormone would overpower them and they would have to raise a baby. It seemed like the biggest tragedy possible at one point in her life.
“We can do a DNA test, to get it over with. You don’t have to act like it’s the end of the world,” Derek snapped before turning back to the clinic.
Casey’s tears fell in earnest as she watched him walk away. Not only for the fact that her life just took a nose dive, but also because he was hurt, and it was all her fault.
……………………………..
The ride back from the doctors was really quiet. Matt was sleeping, so there weren’t even his random noises to break the silence. Emma made the mistake of whispering, “What’s happening?” before her mother shushed her.
Derek didn’t know if he had a right to be mad, but he was anyway. Casey was acting as if it was the worst thing in the world that he was Matt’s father. He couldn’t think of anyone who loved Matt more than he did. He remembered he had been a little preoccupied with Casey’s baby from the minute he saw her in the airport. His son…his son kicked when he pressed his hand to Casey’s belly. He had driven his staff crazy asking baby-related questions. For some reason, it was if he knew Matt was his. The idea was at the back of his head for a while. And now when he was feeling so elated, so overjoyed to discover that he now had a son, she had to put a wrench in it by freaking out over them sharing a kid.
Granted, teenage them would be doubled over puking at the thought. But with the passage of time, he and Casey had become…civil. He guessed they weren’t civil enough to share a child, even if it didn’t come the normal way. Though if it had, he would have rocked her world. Seriously, she had no idea what she was missing.
And…he was going off track
He glanced at her, seeing her bite into her bottom lip. She was nervous. He wondered it was because she was contemplating how to apologize to him. Served her right for taking his happiness away. He didn’t know what he had expected her reaction to be, but it had not been this. Not panic. Maybe she could have made a few wisecracks about this being typical; of course the bad boy would knock up the keener in the end. Or even revel in the surprise, the unexpectedness of him being a parent. But not full scale physical panic and vehement disagreement and disgust.
They dropped Emily and Emma at their apartment and headed for the McDonald Venturi house where they had promised to bring Matt for a visit for the day. The car was even more silent now.
Matt woke up and made a tiny baby sound.
It snapped the silence like a twig.
“You’re making a mountain out of a mole hill, you know right?” said Derek.
“In what way?” Casey asked.
“You’re acting as if there was some way we could have prevented it. It’s not like the condom burst, Casey. You couldn’t have known it was my sperm they were giving you because I chose to donate anonymously. And I know you would not give up Matt for the world. So why are you so upset?”
She took a while to answer, “Do you think I want to saddle my son with that kind of existence. The son of siblings?”
“Step siblings, Casey. It’s hardly illegal.”
“Is that how everyone else will see it?”
“Why do you care what anyone thinks?”
“Because, Derek!”
“Because what?”
She didn’t answer.
“I know why,” Derek snapped, “Because you’re hung up on the fact that Derek Venturi, that cocky, obnoxious jerk you knew in high school knocked up perfect princess Casey.”
She glared at him, “That’s not…”
He held up a hand, “Don’t even deny it. Nobody has a problem with us being parents. Emily doesn’t have a problem. Our family doesn’t have one either, unless they definitely would have said something by now. You are the one with the problem. You wanted your baby’s father to be a fairytale prince. If you think I won’t be a good dad for Matt well you’re wrong. Because I would be the best dad I can be for my son. I love him. Nothing you say will change that.”
Casey sighed, “I know you love Matt, okay? That was never in question. Let’s just…let’s stop at the pharmacy after the visit with Mom and George and buy one of those home DNA kits and be sure before anyone gets their hopes up.”
Derek looked over at her. He knew she meant him. She was hardly going to get her hopes up that he was Matt’s father.
They reached their old neighbourhood soon after and unloaded Matt and his baby bag. As soon as Nora opened the door, her broad grin changed into a frown.
“Crap. You two found out.”
“Oh yes we did,” Derek confirmed, not realizing that he and Casey were making the same exact expression that meant there was trouble in store.
…………………………………………..
They bought the DNA test kit when they made their way home. Taking the instructions one by one, they took the samples and sent them off to a lab through the mail. After Casey put Matt to bed, she came downstairs to see Derek standing in the same place she had left him in. The look of determination on his face made her guess what was coming.
“You have a long flight tomorrow,” Casey reasoned, “You should go home and get some rest.”
“We need to talk,” he told her, grabbing her arm and leading her to her pretty antique accent chair. He pushed her into the seat and put his arms on either side of her, barring her in.
Casey felt like a prisoner, and she lashed out, “Der-ek!”
“I don’t wanna hear it. We really need to talk.”
“We’ve already talked. The DNA test will be back in a week or two. Once I have the results, I’ll talk to you and we can decide about Matt… if he turns out to be yours.”
At this point, Derek had all confidence that Matt was one hundred percent his. He loved the little boy, always had, always would. He knew the connection he had with Casey’s son went beyond an uncle/nephew relationship.
“I wanna know. Is it so terrible, so awful that I’m Matt’s father? Do you really hate me that much?”
Casey sighed and rolled her eyes.
“I don’t hate you, Derek. Of course I think you would be a good father. But… don’t you think this will all be a little weird for Matt, growing up with parents who act like we do?”
Derek stared at her, “How do we act?”
“Like two wild cats fighting over territory. We always have to one up each other, and we always bicker and fight. I don’t think Matt deserves that. He should have a dad that respects his mother, and doesn’t think pranks are a suitable means of communication.”
Now Derek was upset, “I respect you. I respect the hell out of you Case. I respect you so much that it hurts.”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean!”
“Okay,” Derek sighed, “You want Matt to have parents who respect each other, right?”
“Right,” Casey nodded, “Parents who get along, who actually like each other.”
“I like you fine.” Derek gave her a smirk that was all show, “You’re the one who doesn’t like me.”
He came to within a whisper away from her face, the closest she had ever been to him. Casey gaped.
“I…”
“You know what? For Matt’s sake I think we should kiss and make up. Won’t that be healthy?”
“Sure, I…”
Derek closed the tiny space between them, trapping her lips under his. He was surprise by her response; he was expecting a hard sharp slap, followed by yell of his name, split down the middle the way she liked saying it. But this… this was much better.
Their current position was awkward. He pulled her out of the chair as he straightened and had her flush against him before she could protest. But from the way her arms wound around him and she pressed into him on her own accord, he didn’t get the feeling she was planning to.
They only parted out of a mutual need for air. Derek watched as Casey’s eyes sparkled and her chest heaved with shallow breaths.
“So,” he was finally coherent enough to say, “Now that we get along, how do you feel about me being Matt’s dad?”
Casey’s expression changed suddenly. She pushed away from him and ran up the stairs. And for once, Derek decided to leave her alone.
……………………………..
“I can’t do this.”
Emily gave Casey a big hug. She could feel the shivers going up and down Casey’s spine. The lab results still sat at the table, unopened.
“Come on,” Emily let her go and grabbed the bottle of wine that sat beside her, filling Casey’s glass, “You can just do it quick, like ripping a band aid. You’ve come this far, what’s one more step?”
“This step feels more like a leap off of a steep cliff,” Casey groaned. She took the letter up. It felt heavy, for something that only had ‘You are/ are not the father’ written in bold type. Her hand shook.
“What I don’t get,” said Emily, sipping her wine, “is why you think it would be so terrible if Derek is Matt’s father. You remember how he was when Emma was born. And even you admitted how great he and Edwin were when Alex was born. Derek isn’t the worst potential dad you can think of, is he?”
“Well, no,” Casey smiled. Not by a long shot, actually. Derek had always been good with kids, ever since Marti. Of course there were some things that he taught his younger sister that still worried her family. But all in all, Derek did right by Marti. And, as Emily mentioned, Emma and Alex only benefitted from having him in their lives. So why was she so against having Derek as Matt’s father?
Decidedly, she was not opposed it. What Casey was feeling was actually… guilt. She knew in the back of her mind this was her fault. Why did she go to the one clinic she knew Derek had gone to in college? Why did she pick the one candidate that had so many things in common with Derek? Did she deliberately, as disgusting as it sounded, seek out Derek’s sperm?
Emily saw the grimace on her face and misinterpreted it, “Come on, Casey. This doesn’t have to change anything. You and Derek being co-parents does not mean anything other than him having custody of Matt. And you already leave the two of them together enough for that not to be weird. Come on. If you want, I’ll rip the Band-Aid for you.”
“Would you?” Casey smiled gratefully, handing Emily the envelope which was promptly ripped up. The document was unfolded and Emily scanned it quickly before taking a deep breath.
“Okay. Here goes.”
………………………………
Derek was online reading emails from his editors in California about the progress they had made so far when he saw the popup alerting him to Casey wanting to chat on Skype. Derek’s heart exploded in his chest, as it did every time she had contacted him since he kissed her in her living room.
She had not mentioned it again. And maybe that was for the best. It would never ever be like that between him and Casey. Matt might grow up with parents who were civil to one another, but he would not have parents who were in love.
Derek tried to convince himself that having parents who weren’t in love didn’t hurt him any. Then he remembered how much he would always appreciate Nora for bringing his father back from the brink, how much it had reassured him that love was real, just seeing them with each other.
Derek put his thoughts aside and brought up his Skype page. His heart leapt across the Atlantic as he caught sight of Casey’s tear-streaked face and shaking shoulders.
“What? What happened?”
Casey’s sob tore at him, “Nothing. I’m- I’m fine.”
“Then why are you putting Niagara Falls to shame?” he asked.
Suddenly Emily came into the frame, “Hey, Derek. Congratulations are in order I guess. You’re the father.”
Casey’s sobs broke the sound barrier.
“Somebody’s not thrilled,” was all he could get out. He had hoped she would get over this by now. Was he really that bad?
“No! Don’t think that!” Casey defended, “These aren’t sad tears. I’m crying because…I was really being stupid, Der. You’re really good with Matt, and I know you love him. That was never in doubt. I’m really sorry for acting so awful to you. Can you ever forgive me?”
Derek smiled, “Yeah, sure. So I’m the father.”
Casey nodded, and Derek was glad to see the smile on her face.
“Congratulations, Derek,” she sniffled, “I’m sorry that it’s going to be his first birthday before you see him again. But we’ll Skype you tomorrow when he’s awake. I promise.”
Derek smiled. She was doing more than promising to Skype. She was promising that he could be a part of Matthew’s life. He was grateful to her for that.
“Alright. I got to get back on set. See you tomorrow.”
She waved, “Bye, Der.”
“Bye, Daddy,” Emily joked.
They signed off and the smile on Derek’s face had nothing to do but expand. He was a dad. He turned to the crew milling around and getting ready for the next scene.
“I’m a father!” he yelled.
“Yeah,” his boom operator Bryon said, his voice dripping with sarcasm, “And I’m dating the lead actress.”
“Good luck with that,’ Derek patted his shoulder, giving as good as he got, “You, her and her WWF champion husband will all be happy together.”
The peril on Bryon’s face was totally worth it.
……………………………………..
Casey’s fingernails were nubs. She had bitten them down to the skin in the space of a week. It had nothing to do with the small party she had planned for her son’s first birthday and everything to do with the guest list.
Of course it had to do hugely with the fact that this was the first official family gathering after the Big Paternity Test Results. Casey could not help referring to it in capital letters in her head. Of course she had to invite Matt’s father. And she had to invite her family and close friends. Matt’s little friends from day care would be in attendance, but so would the more important people in his life.
Including his father.
Oh God!
Why was she this nervous? She had seen Derek on Skype countless times since the BPTR without anything being remotely awkward. She emailed him video of Matt’s first steps and everyday photos of their son in the park and his first day at day care. They had been dealing with this well. He still teased her, sent prank gifts to her, told her too much of the truth about herself. He was still the best with Matt, though he openly told the little boy how much he loved him now, and had even introduced himself to Matt as his father a few months ago.
(That one had caused Casey a few minutes in the bathroom hollering and bawling until Matt pushed the door open and flung his little arms around her. She was so grateful for him in that moment, it almost made her forget her guilt.)
Casey felt overdressed. Were a shift dress and five inch heels appropriate for a baby’s birthday party? Not even a little bit. But looking this good made her feel in charge of the situation and her emotions.
But thinking of the amount of running he was going to have to do brought her to her senses. She changed into stylish jeans, a cute blue top and flats with Dr Scholl’s insoles to preserve her feet for the day.
Matt’s guests started arriving shortly after. His aunt Marti was in her element with running around the back yard with him, taking him on the slide that Casey had ordered for the party and helping him to frozen yogurt when his mother said no.
“Marti!” Casey yelled when the young woman deposited a messy Matt into his high chair, “You’re terrible. I hope you know you’re cleaning him up.”
“Oh, don’t worry,” Marti grinned, wiping down Casey’s son like he was a car windscreen, “Matt and I are just having a whale of a time.”
“Well, don’t have too much fun,” Casey warned, “I don’t want him to be conked out before everyone gets here.”
“No danger of that,” Marti pointed out as the door opened as everyone piled in. Lizzie and Edwin’s blubbering over Matt was almost twin-like in its execution. Nora and George hugged and kissed Marti and Casey. Simon remembered to greet his sister before asking where he could plug his game console. Alex, who rushed in after everyone, made quite an entrance by announcing that there was a huge slide outside in fluent Portuguese.
Casey was happy to see everyone, but Lizzie still noticed the way she looked at the door over Nora’s shoulder.
“He’s parking the SUV,” she told her big sister.
Casey groaned and chewed on the nubs again. Of course all of the people in the room knew what was going on and they all had put in their two cents over the last few months. And they had given really good advice. Still, Casey was nervous. Truth be told, she felt like the guy in the Jennifer Aniston movie that hijacked his best friends pregnancy. Instead, she got herself pregnant under false pretenses. And there was no way she was going to tell him. No way. She was going to bring her secret to the grave, especially since she had been in denial about it for so long. She just had to act as if she was in denial for all of her life. That wouldn’t be too hard.
They had all been talking and eating and catching up when the door opened. Derek walked in. Casey’s breath caught.
He looked amazing. He had a tan from the Mediterranean where he had been on location. Italian tailored clothes and loafers, designer sunglasses and unbelievably perfectly messy hair. He smiled at everyone in the room, then his smile faded when he looked at her.
Time slowed down. It gave her enough time to look at him. He hadn’t changed one bit. She wasn’t sure how much she had expected him to change in half a year, especially since she had seen him so much over the internet.
“Hey Case,” he smiled, and for some reason Casey’s heart leapt.
“Hi Derek,” she sounded just like a breathless lovesick female. She had no right to.
“Um, Lizzie?” Edwin’s voice cut the tension like a samurai sword through cheese, “Would you like to accompany me to the slides?”
Lizzie took his hand, “Sure! Coming, Alex?”
“Yay!” Alex ran off in front of them.
“We’re gonna get the presents out of the car,” Nora announced, grabbing George. Marti and Simon slunk off to find somewhere to set up the video games.
Casey and Derek were left staring at each other.
“Mama!” Matt yelled to get his mother’s attention. She turned to him, realizing that her son had that ‘you’re ignoring me’ look on his face.
“Sorry, honey,” she lifted him out of his chair.
She felt Derek come closer and soon the two of them were kissing Matt and saying little assurances.
“He’s so big,” Derek said in awe. Casey looked up at him and saw the emotions play across his face.
She felt the tears tickling the corners of her eyes.
“What is this on your shirt, Little Man?” Derek asked, taking his son and planting a big noisy kiss on him, “We should get you changed. You have guests coming!”
“He has extra clothes laid out on the bed. Check his diaper please!”
“Got it!”
Casey stopped herself from going after them three times before they came back out. Derek was blowing raspberries on their son’s tummy and had the little boy giggling. She couldn’t help it. She grabbed her digital camera from the counter and snapped a picture of them together, both laughing and looking so incredibly alike.
Derek looked up at the whirr of the camera and smiled, “Get in here.”
“Huh?” she questioned as he grabbed her hand.
“Take a pic of all of us!” he laughed, holding her close. His excitement was infectious. Casey’s smile was genuine when she turned the camera around and held it up and took a picture of all of them.