a/n: so here is the end of this story. Special thanks to all my reviewers and readers. And a huge shout out to fishyfin1 for editing my chapters. Thanks so much for helping me make the story even better.
disclaimer: I own nothing
Chapter 12: Epilogue
"And for studio A, group jazz dance, ages 8-9 the award is…"
Derek cheered. Screaming actually, as loud as he could, clapping his hands urgently together.
"Derek, he hasn't said the award yet," Casey whispered the same time the announcer turned to the audience.
"Again, jumping the gun," he said.
It was clear that Ella and Lily did not appreciate the interruption as they both glared out to the audience even though they couldn't see Derek because of the stage light shining down on them.
"I don't care. This is the first time I actually get to see them compete," he whispered back to Casey just as the announcer said that the award was gold.
Derek cheered again, along with Casey, Sam, Sabrina, Anna, Jason, Adam, and Ben. Casey looked at her friends as she cheered. She couldn't believe that only a little while ago, they were in a court room, watching and taking turns on the stand, testifying against Darrin.
Sometimes it felt unreal to her that Darrin did this. No matter how much she told herself that the Darrin she knew never existed, a random memory would pop up in her head and she would be reminded of how kind he acted. At least once a day she would wish that Darrin was actually who he pretended to be but as she listened to his stepfather and mother also testify against him, she got a sense of who he really was.
His life before university, one that he never shared with anyone, scared Casey a little bit. Darrin's mother had explained that when she remarried, Darrin became obsessed with his new stepsister, Casey. At first, Casey was flattered and since they were both seniors in high school, almost eighteen, their parents didn't stop them from dating. It was only when Casey broke up with him and started dating someone else that Darrin went crazy.
As his mother tearfully explained on the stand, she knew that he was heartbroken when they broke up but didn't realize how much he obsessed about her until it was too late. She had no proof at the time but she knew in her heart that he killed Casey, the boy she was dating, and the unborn son that she was carrying at the time. She kicked him out, never wanting to see him again. This explained so much to Casey about why Darrin had such an obsession on her.
After hearing this, late at night, Derek turned to Casey and tightly hugged her. At her confusion, he thanked her, claiming that if it weren't for her, he might have gone as crazy as Darrin when Clara dumped him. Casey tried to deny this but Derek had gotten all his memory back by this time. He had remembered all those times he tried to sneak out of the house late at night to go to Clara's and Casey stopped him. She followed him everywhere, stopping him from doing anything stupid. She had always been there for him and Derek would never forget that.
Even now, when he was cheering at the dance competition, he kept glancing at Casey, loving the way she smiled. She seemed to glow more now then ever, since she was, once again, pregnant.
Once the competition was over, Derek picked up both Ella and Lily, giving them both a kiss and telling them how proud he was of them.
"Dad! Don't kiss us in public!" Ella cried.
"Sorry, I'm just so proud of you two," Derek said as they walked out of the building.
"We all are, proud of everyone," Casey added, looking at both her girls, then Liza.
When they reached the vehicles, Casey heard someone call her. Looking back, she saw Clara run up to her. Behind her were her husband and two daughters.
"Casey!" she said hugging her.
Although they had talked many times on the phone and sent countless e-mails, they hadn't seen each other in years.
Casey hugged her back before they both looked at Derek.
"Hey Clara, how are you?" Derek asked.
"Good, you?" she replied.
"A bit embarrassed. Sorry about that whole 'run away with me' thing," he said.
"Hey, it's in the past. Never to be mentioned again," she quickly forgave him.
"Would you like to come over, we were just going home to order some pizza," Casey offered.
Clara shook her head. "Sorry, we have to head home before it gets too dark."
"That's fine. Another time then," Derek said.
"And soon," Casey added, giving Clara another hug before they parted
It didn't take long before they arrived at the house. As Derek pulled up into the driveway, he saw Emily standing up from her sitting position on the porch steps as well as the guy beside her. Derek looked at Casey.
"Did you know she was back?" he asked her.
Casey shook her head. After the trial and Darrin's life sentence, Emily left Canada, deciding to travel Europe for a while. Casey had no idea that Emily was back in Canada.
As they climbed out, Ella, Lily, and Ben ran up to Emily, shouting her name at the top of their lungs.
"Hey," she said, hugging all three of them before looking at Derek and Casey. By this time, Sam, Sabrina with their children and Anna with Jason had arrived and were walking up the driveway.
"Sorry, I should have called but my mother was driving us insane and we needed to get out of the house quickly," she said.
Every adult nodded slowly. Everyone was cautious of the man beside Emily, all protective of her, since she was the one that got the biggest shock about Darrin.
Seeing everyone's gaze, Emily looped arms with the guy beside her. "Everyone, this is John, I met him in England before I came here and met Darrin. We broke up but rekindled when I went back to Europe. We're getting married," Emily said holding up her ring to show everyone.
No one said anything. Not knowing what to say.
"Don't worry, I've known John for about a year and had three background checks on him before I said yes."
"You're faith is impeccable," John said as everyone broke out in smiles, hugging him and welcoming him. As long as he wasn't psychotic, they were happy for Emily.
As Casey ushered everyone inside and pulled out snacks she looked around, catching Derek's eye and they shared a smile. She couldn't believe that this was her life now. So different from the one she had to live for the past five years. Now, she was able to slow down and enjoy life.
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