Bunking With Derek

Author's Note: Future fic. Kind of AU because Nora and George do not have a baby in this. I do not own LWD. Hope you enjoy!

Chapter One

Casey McDonald stood in front of her bathroom mirror, curling her hair. She chalked the butterflies in her stomach up to having skipped breakfast. She had tried to fix herself some toast and almond butter, but the very thought of eating made her stomach churn. It wasn't like she had anything to be nervous about. She was just going home to see her family for the week. It wasn't that big of a deal. It was her family for crying out loud. But with her family, nothing was simple. She hadn't seen them in several years. After graduating from University, Casey had gone off to New York to work as an art auction buyer. She hadn't been back to see her family in three years. It wasn't as if she didn't want to see them, it's just that life had gotten in the way. She had a successful job, she was dating a great guy...coming home just wasn't really a thought to her. And if she did consider it, things always seemed to pop up.

But this week was different. Her mom and George had rented a campsite for a week of family "re-connection" as they had called it. That meant a whole week staying in a cabin in the woods without her curling iron. Casey stroked one of her curls, wondering how she'd ever make it through the week without it. It also meant seeing her family for the first time in three years. She'd corresponded with her mom and with Lizzie, but she hadn't had any contact with the Venturis. Last she'd heard, Derek was working as a sports journalist for a newspaper in Toronto. He'd been hired right after completing an internship. Lizzie had just started her first year of college, and was loving it so far. She seemed to be quite the social butterfly. Edwin had started taking business classes at the community college. Marti was in the eighth grade. Casey wondered how time could have gone by so quickly.

"Are you about ready, babe?" Phillip asked, poking his head into the bathroom. Casey turned off the curling iron and fluffed her curls. She glanced over her makeup one more time in the mirror. She needed to look her absolute best, though she couldn't really pinpoint why.

"Just about," she grabbed her makeup bag off the counter and reapplied some lip gloss, "Alright, all ready. Do you have our bags all loaded up?"

"Yeah, everything's all set. I can't believe I'm finally getting to meet your family. When was the last time you saw them, anyway?"

"About three years," Casey admitted. It sounded even worse saying it out loud. What had she been doing that was so much more important than visiting her family? Thinking back on it, she couldn't come up with anything. I need to work on my priorities...

Casey tossed her makeup bag into her over-sized purse, and followed Phillip out of their apartment. She could feel her stomach tighten. Why was she so nervous? It was just her family. They'd seen her at her worse. What was the big deal about seeing them now? Casey had never been nervous around them before, and had no reason to be now.

Her nerves didn't let up the whole car ride to the camp site. In fact, they only worsened. She kept her gaze out the passenger side window and tried to assure herself that everything was going to be fine. She had nothing to be worried about. It was just her family. Calm down, she told herself, you're going to be just fine. The Mercedes pulled up to the camp, and Casey leaned over Phillip and explained to the Ranger that she was part of the McDonald/Venturi family, and that they were there for the week. The Ranger handed Phillip a folded up map and a card with the Ranger's office number printed on it. He waved them on ahead to the campsite. The Mercedes ricketed along the gravel road until finally coming to the camp site.

There was a huge lake, and three cabins along the lake. There was also a small sandy beach with a volleyball net and beach chairs. Casey recognized Lizzie and Edwin playing volleyball together. Edwin had grown at least five inches since she'd last seen him. He now towered over Lizzie. Lizzie looked even more grown up in person. She and Edwin laughed, and for a moment Casey felt like time had not passed.

"There's Lizzie and Edwin," she pointed them out to Phillip, "Lizzie is a Sports Medicine major and Edwin is taking business classes at the community college. My parents must still be inside. And...it doesn't look like Derek is here yet."

"Who?"

The butterflies in Casey's stomach intensified and she cursed her nerves, "Derek is my other step brother. He works as a journalist in Toronto," Casey explained.

"You never mentioned him."

"No reason to," Casey unbuckled her seat belt, "Come on, let's go say hi to everyone."

Casey and Phillip pilled out of the car and headed towards the cabins. As soon as Lizzie and Edwin saw them, they abandoned their volleyball and rushed over to them. They both embraced Casey in a huge hug.

"Casey!"

"Hey guys!" Casey felt her nerves briefly vanish, "It's so good to see you. Oh my God, Edwin! When did you get so tall?"

Edwin shrugged, "I'm taller than Derek now."

"What?" Casey laughed in disbelief, "No way."

"Way. I never thought the day would come, but it did. He hates it though."

"True," Lizzie confirmed, "How are you? How was your drive? What have you been up to? Who's this?"

Casey laughed, "Lizzie, calm down. We have plenty of time to catch up."

"A week can't make up for three years," Edwin interjected, then kicked at some of the gravel.

"I'm sorry guys," Casey pulled them both into another hug, "really I am. I...I don't even have a good reason for not coming to visit. I've been a sucky sister these past few years and I'm sorry. But that's going to all change! I'm here now. And you'll definitely be seeing more of me after this. And this," Casey tugged on Phillip's sleeve, pulling him closer, "is Phillip. He's my boyfriend."

"Nice to meet you," Edwin jutted out his hand, "Edwin Venturi, stepbrother."

"Nice to meet you too," Phillip shook his hand.

"I'm Lizzie," Lizzie butted Edwin out of the way, "Sister."

"Come on, let me introduce you to my parents. And Marti. You'll love them," Casey followed Lizzie and Edwin towards one of the cabins.

"Our parents are staying in this one," Edwin pointed to one of the cabins, "It's the nicer one. With...a king size bed! I'm so jealous right now."

"Yeah, we have twin bunk beds in our cabin," Lizzie shuddered, "And this one still snores like a motor boat!"

"Do not!"

Casey was glad to see that some things had not changed. They headed into the cabin and George and Nora lit up as soon as they saw Casey. They both hugged her and shook hands with Phillip.

"Casey, it really has been too long," George shook his head, "Please don't take another three years to come see us."

"I won't," Casey promised, "I've missed you all so much."

"Lizzie, why don't you help Casey and Phillip get settled in their cabin. It's the one to the right. You'll be sharing it with Derek."

"Sharing?" Phillip raised an apprehensive eyebrow.

"Is that a problem?" Nora eyed Casey. Casey felt as though she could just melt under Nora's gaze.

"Um...no problem at all!"

"Good. It's just how it has to be guys. I'm sorry. Lizzie, go help them get settled. Edwin, go tell Marti to come on inside. She's been swimming for too long and I want her to get all dried off and changed for dinner."

"Sure thing."

Lizzie and Casey walked next to each other with Phillip behind them.

"Casey," Lizzie leaned in towards her sister, whispering, "You staying gone for three years...that didn't have anything to do with Derek, did it?"

"Of course not," Casey laughed, but her pitch was slightly too high, "I have just been busy with work. Which I know is a terrible excuse, but it's true. I'm sorry, Lizzie."

"It's okay I guess. We just miss you."

Lizzie unlocked the cabin and Casey and Phillip walked inside. There were two queen beds pushed to either side of the one room cabin. Casey couldn't help but wonder how this was going to work out. She could tell Phillip was not at all pleased at having to share a cabin with Derek, but neither was she.

"The outhouse is behind Mom and Dad's cabin," Casey realized that Lizzie called George 'Dad.' That was new. "It's not as bad as it sounds, promise. There's your fridge. Mom and Dad already put some things in there for you guys but most of the food for the week is in their kitchenette. It's a bit small, but I'm sure you'll manage. Edwin, Marti, and I are all bunking together. It hasn't been too bad. Except I may throttle Ed if he doesn't stop with the snoring."

Casey laughed, "I'm sure we'll manage just fine, won't we Phillip."

Phillip was eyeing the two beds, "Uh...sure."

"When will he be here?" Casey asked, hoping her voice wasn't giving away her nerves.

"He said he'd come this evening," Lizzie shrugged, "It's already four. I can text him if you want."

"You have his number?

"Of course I have his number. You don't?"

"Why would I want Derek's number?"

"To talk to him?" Lizzie eyed her sister suspiciously. Then, "Wait a second. Don't tell me you haven't spoken to Derek in those three years. Case!"

"What?" Casey tried to act as nonchalantly as possible, "It just didn't cross my mind to talk with Derek. Besides, what would we even have to talk about? What do you even have to talk about?"

"We talk once a week. Sunday nights are our phone call nights just like Wednesday nights are our phone call nights. We talk about how school is going for me and my new friends. He gave me relationship advice once..."

"Derek? Now that's a riot," Casey scoffed.

"I can't believe you two haven't had any contact in three years," Lizzie shook her head.

"Hey, she didn't even mention she had another step sibling to me," Phillip jutted in. Casey could just slap him for that. Lizzie glared at Casey.

"You didn't tell your boyfriend about Derek?"

"Why would I?"

"Why wouldn't you?" Lizzie shook her head, "Really. You're unbelievable."

Casey wondered what the big deal was. So what if she had left Derek out? It wasn't like he was that big an influence on her life. After they parted ways, she just didn't see the point in keeping in touch with him. For years she'd wanted him out of her life, and she'd finally gotten that chance. So she was going to, and had taken fully advantage of that fact. Besides, it was kind of nice having Derek out of her life. She really didn't miss him.

Too much.

"I'm going to let you guys unpack and get settled," Lizzie headed back outside to go find Edwin and Marti. Casey glanced around the cabin, trying to figure out how to make this work.

"It is small," Phillip noted.

"It'll be smaller with Derek in here too."

"Maybe I shouldn't have come," Phillip kicked a dead june bug under one of the beds, "I mean, I feel like I'll be in the way."

"No! If anything, Derek will be in the way. I know it's not the most private set up, but if you'd like we can hang a curtain down the middle of the cabin. At least for some privacy. It'll be fine. Really. We can make this work. We can hang the curtain up, and it'll just be for a week, Phillip. We can survive a week, I am sure. Derek's probably grown up a lot and I have too. We aren't teenagers anymore. We are both young adults in our twenties. We can be mature about this."

"If you say so..." Phillip sounded apprehensive, "I'll bring in some of the bags. Why don't you start making up the bed."

Casey unfolded the linens that were on the foot of their bed and began to make up the bed. It definitely would be interesting having to share a cabin with Derek for the whole week. At least Phillip would be there. And they were a lot older now, so maybe things would be different. Casey couldn't help but wonder if this was some cruel joke that George and her mom had concocted to punish her for not visiting sooner. That had to be it.

It's just one week, Casey told herself, shaking a pillow into its case, we can do this.