Preggers, a Life with Derek Fanfic
Title: Preggers, Chapter One
Author: happy_overdose
Summary: Casey decides to get artificially inseminated.
Disclaimer: Nope
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The very moment her eyes opened that morning, her stomach twisted into a knot.
Today was a big day. Today was the day that she was going to get pregnant.
And really, now was not the time to be getting cold feet. Getting out of bed, Casey bypassed her house coat and plodded to her kitchen in her negligee, going by the room she had already cleared out to make space for the baby. She wondered briefly if she had any time to back out of it. Sure, the doctor had told her that it was entirely up to her if she wanted to do this, because other than not having anyone to supply the sperm in her day to day life, she was perfectly healthy and capable of getting pregnant.
She could wait. It didn’t matter that on her general Life Plan chart that she had had since she was about ten, she was supposed to have a husband and her second baby by now.
Casey tried to get a grip on herself. She took down the box of Special K from the top shelf in her kitchen, threw some of the contents into a bowl and added skim milk. While she munched on it, she tried to convince herself that she was not nuts.
She had been thinking about it for a while, and honestly she got where her mother was coming from. She knew she was beautiful. She was a successful writer, with multiple entries on the Bestseller list. She also knew she had lots of time in the future to have a baby. But she wanted one now. And there were no offers forthcoming, so Casey thought the next logical thing to do was to seek to have the family she wanted. Why did Lizzie get to have all the fun, with her adorable baby boy Alex? And how about Emily with her sweetheart Emma? They had both gone after the family they wanted, so why couldn’t Casey?
Her mother actually cringed, cringed at the news. Lots of women were getting artificially inseminated. How could Nora be so against it? You would think that the prospect of having a grandchild who could actually visit, as opposed to one who lived all the way in Brazil on the outskirts of the Amazon would make her happy. At least not everyone was so opposed. George had been more understanding, in his own clueless way. Lizzie and Marti excitedly grilled her about how she would want her baby to look. Simon already wanted to teach her baby hockey. Edwin texted from Toronto to say congratulations and Derek was … Derek.
“You’re going to get as big as a house!” he teased as they Skyped one day last week. He was in Amsterdam working on a new movie. Casey had laughed at his scruffy beard for ten minutes before making him promise to shave it before he came back to Canada.
“That is only one side effect of what will be the biggest transition of my life. I’m gonna be a mommy,” she told him, sorting the pages for Chapter 8 of her newest novel.
“Nah, sorry Case,” Derek shook his head, “You shouldn’t have carte blanche authority over some poor kid’s life. I can just see the poor sucker now…”
Casey glared across an entire ocean, “Shut up. You know the prospect of me being a mother is not so dire. I’m an excellent aunt and I used to babysit all the time.”
Derek shook his head, laughing, “Tell me one time that went well, and I’ll pay the kid’s college tuition.”
So Derek was in.
This morning, she chalked her cold feet up to nerves. She reminded herself that she was happy and willing to let a child into her life right now, and it didn’t matter that there was nobody to share that with right now. With a sigh, she went to get ready.
About an hour later, Emily came by while Emma was at her dad’s. Casey almost hugged her again for agreeing to provide her support through this. They headed over to the fertility clinic in Emily’s car. Before they headed in, Emily held her hand to stop her.
“This is it, Casey, the last chance for you to back out.”
“Why would I do that?” she asked, ignoring the fact that that was exactly what her thoughts were this morning, “I’m twenty eight years old, Em. I want a family of my own. I have so much love to give and nobody to give it to.”
Emily looked about to say something, but snapped her mouth closed.
“Okay,” she smiled reassuringly, pulling Casey along to the door, “Let’s go baby shopping!”
Casey giggled, happier in that moment than she had been in a while.
She and Emily pored over the catalogue of donors, even though Casey had picked her donor months before. It was kind of fun, almost like boy watching when they were in high school. Not that Casey thought it was at all important that her donor had a degree or specific physical features. She just wanted a healthy baby. With that said though, she thought her candidate had a list of great attributes.
“Ooh. Here he is,” Emily pointed at Casey’s donor, “Natural reddish brown hair. Athlete. Graduate of Queens University. No history of any diseases in his family. He’s perfect.”
Casey read the profile, nibbling her lip, “I guess. He’s got some good characteristics. And he seems like a normal guy, not pretentious as some of the others in here.”
“Yeah,” said Emily, “Like this guy. A royal title? Who’s he kidding?”
The nurse came by and Emily squeezed her hand on last time for encouragement before Casey went in.
In no time the procedure was over, and the doctor started giving her the all important talk about the fact that she shouldn’t expect to be pregnant instantly and that insemination may take a few tries. Casey tried to listen, but a part of her felt like this was it, her baby was already here.
…………………………
Casey dialed her mother’s cell number, tapping her toes on the kitchen floor and cramming crackers into her mouth.
It was three weeks since the procedure. For a second day in a row she got up to her stomach doing the Cha-Cha Slide. This morning she finally got the time to do the pregnancy test as yesterday she had to finish chapter ten before her publisher gave the royal decree for her head to be dislocated.
Nora picked up after the third ring, giving a nice formal greeting.
Two minutes later she was screaming hysterically.
“Casey I’m so happy for you!” she yelled into the phone, which Casey had to hold away from her ear.
“But I thought you were against it,” Casey finally got the chance to say.
“Oh, honey, of course I would have been happy if it had come with a husband. Any mother would. I’ll tell you the same thing I told Lizzie when she had Alexander. You have to live your own life. I have my values and hopes for you, but I can’t write your script. You have to do that for yourself.”
Casey smiled, “Thank you, Mom. That means a lot.”
“You’re welcome. Now get off the phone so I can tell my husband!”
Casey rang off and smiled. She was glad that her mother was not overly upset. Casey had wondered if she would be, since that would make now both her daughters in single parent families. She was glad to have her on her side.
Grinning, she took up her phone again and placed a long distance call to Brazil.
………………………..
Derek reached back to Canada in time for Christmas, which pleased Nora, and Casey’s third trimester, which pleased him. He couldn’t wait to tease her relentlessly about her swollen feet and big tummy. She agreed to pick him up from the airport, so he went over a few zingers on the plane, chuckling to himself so much the flight attendant who was flirting with him seemed to regret her decision.
He got through customs and headed for the arrivals section, almost too excited for what was coming.
Then he saw Casey. And every stinging remark died in his throat.
She was beautiful. Not just in the glowing way Nora and Lizzie had gotten when they were pregnant. She glowed, yes, but in such an otherworldly way that Derek wondered if he could get that effect on his next movie. She wore a short pink dress the colour of ballet slippers and her hair billowed around her face in a way he could only describe as romantic. Her batting eyelids summoned him over to her like the call of a siren. And her lips… they were plump and soft and begging to be kissed. She was beautiful, so beautiful and…
“Hey, Derek. How’s the movie coming along?”
He forgot how to speak, “Uh…um, good. Just wrapping up. You look great.”
Casey snorted, and even that was attractive, “I feel like a blimp. She’s already driving me up the wall and she isn’t even born yet.”
“Y-you’re having a girl?” Derek felt something wash over him at the thought of a little Casey, with her eyes and hair and stubborn determination and he loved the little girl already. He reached out and touched her belly, ignoring the shivers that passed over him as he felt a strong kick.
“Ow! I don’t know yet. I decided for it to be a surprise. But she certainly has Lizzie’s soccer feet. Are those all your bags?”
They gathered all his stuff, Casey relegated to the small camera bag. He insisted on driving when they got to the car, even as Casey protested that she had driven the car to the airport and was capable of driving back.
They were at the family house for Christmas one week early, Casey taking time off her next book and him being on break from the movie. They took turns treating Simon, bringing him to the mall and to ice hockey games and the movies. The teen was over the moon, since they bought him every gadget known to man. Nora told him repeatedly that he was not to expect any presents from her as he had everything he had ever asked for now. Casey and Derek ignored her when she said this, because they both knew that Nora already had a stash of presents in the basement with Simon’s name on them.
Derek and Casey barely fought, mostly because Casey was feeling too tired to fight and Derek felt himself inexplicably unable to say anything bad about her while she was in her current condition. He began to be having strange thoughts about the baby. Like… he was somehow responsible for her. As if the baby was his. Which was of course impossible.
Well, not impossible, but at least very unlikely.
Derek had donated sperm once in university. It had been to get a little money after the restaurant he was working at was closed in a health inspection. He was sure that sperm was all used up by some random woman in London. He never really waxed poetic about the kid he may or may not have out there. He just hoped wherever his little boy was, he had parents or a parent who loved him. Because, if there was a kid of his out there, it was definitely a boy.
Casey was curled in the couch in sweats, a tent type tank top and a pair of socks with individual compartments for each toe. She was watching a Christmas movie with one of the kids from Full House in it and laughing at all the contrived jokes. And Derek, like a complete idiot, could not tear his eyes away from her. She was adorable, with her neat bump and her big smile. Derek had an overwhelming urge to kiss her.
Instead he handed her his sandwich.
Her smile disappeared and she hit him with a cute confused frown, “What gives?”
“Uhhh…” wow, he was really articulate these days, “You’re eating for two, remember? Gotta fuel Junior up.”
Casey looked down at his hand, and only then did he realize he had it on her tummy. The baby kicked and Derek couldn’t suppress his elation if he tried. The baby really liked him.
“Okay. Thanks,” Casey bit into his sandwich. Derek grinned.
“Hold on. I’ll get you some milk.”
He watched from the kitchen as she laid back on the couch and put up her feet, ignoring the tightening in his chest.
…………………………………
“Do you have any names picked out?” Marti asked, biting into her Christmas turkey.
Casey sat up a little straighter, “I was thinking for a girl Caitlyn or for a boy Elijah.”
“Elijah McDonald? That’s cute,” said Lizzie, home from the Amazon and looking tan and trim. Her little boy Alexander was sitting beside Edwin, stealing raisins off his plate.
Derek frowned. He thought about it. A name like Elijah made Casey sound like she was trying too hard.
Marti smiled as she ladled mashed potatoes into Simon’s plate, “I can’t wait ‘til the baby gets here. I get to be the cool aunt who gets to spoil her.”
“Him,” said Derek and they all looked at him.
“How are you so sure?” Nora asked.
Derek shrugged, “Just speculating out loud.”
“Well, I really don’t care either way,” Casey grinned, “I just want her… or him to be healthy.”
“Excuse me for saying this Casey, but it’s a bit obvious you want a girl,” said George. Nora and Marti nodded.
“I like Matthew,” said Derek, “Still biblical, but you can shorten it to Matt.”
Edwin gave him a quizzical look, “You’re thinking of baby names?”
“Is there something you want to tell us?” Lizzie teased.
“You know I thought you were getting a bit chubby,” said Simon. Derek swatted after his younger brother, who ducked.
“Uncle Derek is pregnant!?” Alex yelled in shock. Everyone laughed.
Derek was almost depressed at the thought of leaving the day after Christmas. He missed his family a lot while overseas and he wished he had more time with them. They all came this time to the airport to send him off. George told him that he was proud of him. Nora gave him a big kiss on the cheek. Lizzie wished him a safe journey back and he wished her the same for her trip back to South America. Edwin tried to make a joke which dissolved into him admitting that he would miss his older brother. Alex yelled goodbye on the top of his lungs.
And Casey.
He looked at her for what felt like an hour before finally muttering goodbye. She gave him a brilliant smile, looking absolutely gorgeous. If the family wasn’t there, and if he had any idea she would want him to, he would kiss her goodbye.
“Take care of Junior,” was all he could afford.
She nodded, “I will.”
He held her belly to feel one last kick, gave everybody one last wave and took off.
……………………………………….
Casey was getting ready to go to bed when she felt wetness trickle down her leg. She stared at the puddle at her feet for five seconds before her mind clicked into place as to what was happening. She willed herself not to panic, which was a bit hard, since she usually did it so well. But she called a taxi and it was prompt. While on her way to the hospital she called her mother and George, as well as her father. She tried to call Lizzie, but her phone kept going to voice mail, even though her sister was an hour behind. She was in the lobby when the first contractions started.
“Wooo! Heeere we go,” she said, grinning through the pain.
Her mom didn’t make it in time for the delivery. Emily was on her way, but couldn’t drive fast enough to make it either. Therefore there wasn’t anyone there to hold her hand or calm her down or tell her to push. And suddenly, she missed Derek so much her heart hurt.
…………………………………….
George was barely awake when Nora screamed in his ear that the baby had finally arrived. He cracked his eye open once when she rushed off towards Casey’s room and another time when he heard her cooing at the baby who she had brought to meet him. He looked at the tiny bundle in his wife’s arms and felt as if he had been transported back in time.
Only this time it wasn’t Abby holding the baby with the reddish brown hair and big brown eyes.
George stared and blinked. Whose baby was he here to see again? As far as his overtired brain could remember, Derek hadn’t knocked anybody up.
“That baby looks like Derek,” his loose lips muttered.
Nora’s smile fell.
“I was thinking the same thing.”
They stared at each other, then the baby, then back at each other. Their minds flooded with conclusions.
“Wait, wait, wait,” George was fully awake now, “Derek was hardly here. When Casey got inseminated, Derek was in Amsterdam, remember?”
Nora exhaled, “Oh good. I was not ready to open that can of worms.”
“What can of worms?” George asked, reaching for the baby.
Nora eyed him warily, like she was weighing her next words, “The Derek and Casey thing. It has been lurking behind the scenes since the day they met.”
George looked down at the baby and shrugged, “Would it be so bad if we shared a grandkid?”
Nora smiled, “You know that my grandkids are yours. But I get your point. Plus, Derek and Casey were never siblings. They will never see each other like that now or ever.”
They both stood in silence looking at the baby. Suddenly George was reminded of something.
“Wait. Didn’t Derek donate sperm at that clinic a long time ago?”
Nora’s eyes widened.
George’s eyebrows rose in surprise, then he grinned, “I guess I may be a grandpa!”
………………………………………..
Edwin was still in shock as he walked out of the hospital, pushing Casey in her wheelchair. His dad and Nora had told him their suspicions of the paternity of Casey’s baby and now that he actually saw the baby, Edwin was sure they were definitely right. They had told him not to say anything, and he wasn’t planning to, but he had to wonder how come Casey did not see the similarities between her new son and her stepbrother.
“Thanks, Ed, but I really can walk,” Casey assured him, getting out of the chair gingerly with the small baby. She walked over to the car and he followed with her bags. He loaded them all into the trunk and took out the car seat he had brought from her house to load the bundle of joy into. With the baby boy and his mom settled in, Edwin took off towards Casey’s house.
“He looks good,” Edwin commented, watching Casey as she stared lovingly at her son.
Casey smiled, “He looks amazing. Look at those eyes!”
Derek’s eyes, Edwin thought to himself. He didn’t dare say it, because his father would kill him, but how Casey couldn’t even guess was beyond him.
“So, little Elijah McDonald,” Edwin said to the baby, who blinked at him in the rear view mirror, “How do you like the place so far?”
“Oh. He isn’t going to be Elijah anymore,” Casey said casually. She tucked the blanket around her son in a nonchalant fashion.
“It’s not?”
“Nah. I was thinking…Matthew.”
Edwin stepped on the brake so hard little Matthew McDonald (Venturi) made a tiny cry. But he was fine.
“Huh?”
“I know. I stole Derek’s baby name. But you know your brother. Does he really have a chance to use it?”
“I don’t think I’m the best person to determine that,” said Edwin. He watched Casey check on the baby and wondered for the millionth time how she did not see Derek staring up at her.
“He can choose another name. This little guy just came out looking like a Matt.”
Edwin groaned. Matt came out looking like a Venturi.
……………………………….
The baby had been at the McDonald Venturi home for two weeks and all through this time, Casey felt like everybody was watching Matt. George and Nora had taken to lifting him out of his carrier and turning him this way and that. Marti’s face was always within an inch of the baby’s. Edwin and Matt had staring contests. There was something not quite right.
And she knew who to ask what.
“Simon!” she yelled. The teen stopped in his tracks, a sandwich in one hand and his school bag in the other. He was going to ‘study’ at Becky Neuman’s house. Or so he said. But from the guilty way he looked, that Venturi streak was coming out again.
“Heyyy Case,” he grinned, exactly like Edwin when he was caught. Dear God, they were all alike.
Casey walked up to him, brushed back his hair, “If you answer honestly, I’ll ignore the fact that you’re probably off to do something that is not parent approved right now.”
He sighed big. Casey ignored how adorable he looked.
“Shoot,” he told her, biting his sandwich in two.
“Everyone keeps… staring at Matthew,” she said, “Do you know why?”
Simon grinned haughtily, like he knew something she didn’t. Now that was the McDonald side of him. So was the fact that he swallowed before talking.
“They think they know who his dad is. Just speculation, of course, because even you don’t know who his dad is. But they have a good idea.”
Casey narrowed her eyes. But when he just grinned at her, she rolled them over, “I knew I should have gone to that clinic in Vancouver!”
Simon chuckled, “For the record, I saw this coming for as long as I can remember.”
He ran off before Casey could ask what the hell he meant by that.
………………………………..