Casey woke up bright and early on Saturday. She got up, took a shower, got dressed and headed downstairs for breakfast. The kitchen was empty.

"Huh. I guess that I'm the first one up," thought Casey.

She turned on the stove, turned on the stereo, put on her favorite CD, took some eggs out from the fridge and started cooking breakfast.

***

Derek woke up with a start. He just had the weirdest, probably craziest dream ever.

In the dream, he was coming down the stairs and spotted Casey sitting on the couch watching TV. He thought of this as the perfect opportunity to scare her but thought better of it. Derek walked over to the TV and turned it off.

"Der-ek!" complained Casey angrily.

Derek continued to stare at her.

"Der-" started Casey, but she got cut off.

Derek covered her mouth with his and started to kiss her. She kissed him back with no hesitation. The weirdest and craziest part about this was that Derek was enjoying every minute of this to the fullest. Realizing this, Derek woke up.

Derek groaned. Why on earth would he have a dream like that about his stepsister? And like it? And okay, they're not blood-related but still! Derek groaned once again and got out of bed. It was too early for him to be up but after a dream like that, he doubted that he would be able to go back to sleep. He stretched and went downstairs.

While going down the stairs, he heard music and recognized Casey's CD.

"Oh look. The Princess is up," thought Derek.

But for some reason, he felt glad that he would get to spend some time alone with her.

He jumped the last steps, walked towards the kitchen and froze at the entrance. Casey was dancing her way through making breakfast. Her hips moved from side-to-side, she would twirl and her body would just move, be in synch, with the beat. Well, she was a dancer.

Derek didn't understand. Usually, he would feel repulsed watching his stepsister dance but now, he couldn't take his eyes off of her. As the song ended, Casey gave one final twirl and stopped face-to-face with Derek. She froze, wide-eyed and Derek felt embarrassed for getting caught staring.

"Oh. Derek. You're up," said Casey, surprised.

"Thank you, Captain Obvious," replied Derek, sitting at the island.

"I don't mean that. I meant that you're early. Way early. What gives?" asked Casey, returning to the stove.

"Oh. I had a weird dream," answered Derek, surprised at his honesty.

"Oh? What was it about?" asked Casey curiously, setting a plate in front of Derek.

"That's, none of your business," replied Derek, as Casey placed some eggs on his plate.

"Fine. Whatever," said Casey, rolling her eyes as she sat down with an omelet.

They ate in silence, only the sound of Casey's CD breaking it. Derek refused to tell her the content of his dream. He'd make her freak out more than usual, which usually, he'd get a kick out of. But today, he didn't want that. He got up, went up to the fridge, took out a carton of milk and took a large swig out of it.

"Der-ek!" came Casey's sharp voice.

Derek winced but quickly regained his composure.

"What?" asked Derek, wondering why he was bothered by annoying Casey.

"How many times do I have to tell you not to do that? We make food with that milk!" exclaimed Casey angrily.

"How many times do I have to tell you, Princess, that I don't care?" asked Derek, putting the milk away.

"Don't call me Princess, Der!" demanded Casey, using the nickname he hated.

"Call me that one more time, Case…" threatened Derek.

"Or what, Derek? Call me Case?" demanded Casey.

"I…Never mind," replied Derek.

Just then, Marti came in.

"Hi, Casey! Hi, Smerek!" exclaimed Marti happily.

"Hi, Marti!" greeted Casey with a smile.

"Hey, Smarti! What're you doing up this early?" asked Derek, picking her up and setting her on the island.

"That's my question!" exclaimed Marti.

"She's always up early," explained Casey smugly.

"I couldn't sleep," explained Derek to Marti.

"Oh. Okay," said Marti.

"Edwin!"

They all looked at the ceiling. They winced when a huge crash came from upstairs. They looked at the door leading to the basement that led to their parents' bedroom. Not a sound. They breathed a sigh of relief. They didn't need their parents involved.

"Well, looks like Edwin and Lizzie are at it again," remarked Casey.

"So early!" exclaimed Marti, shaking her head.

Derek sighed and walked towards the entrance of the kitchen. He leaned against the doorway and waited.

Casey and Marti looked at each other. What was Derek doing?

Suddenly, Edwin came barreling down the stairs and ran into the kitchen. Derek grabbed Edwin's shirt collar and pulled him back. Casey understood what he was doing and placed herself in front of Derek.

"Edwin! Get back here!"

Lizzie came charging down the stairs and ran into the kitchen. Casey threw her arms around her little sister and kept her from destroying Edwin.

"All right you two, settle down," said Casey.

"Not until I pulverize him!" yelled Lizzie, struggling to break free.

Edwin hid behind his brother but Derek pulled him back.

"All right, Edwin, what did you do?" asked Derek, keeping a firm grip on Edwin.

"I didn't do anything!" exclaimed Edwin, fearing for his life.

"Liar! He went through my stuff looking for my diary!" exclaimed Lizzie angrily.

"That's terrible! Wait. You have a diary?" questioned Casey.

"Yeah, for a while now. I've found out how helpful it is," replied Lizzie.

"I was trying to find out some information on you and Jamie," said Edwin

"There's nothing between me and Jamie! He's just a friend!" exclaimed Lizzie furiously.

Derek and Casey looked at each other and nodded. They let go of their siblings and Lizzie chased Edwin around the kitchen and out the back door.

"Well, looks like when they'll be back, Edwin's gonna be black and blue," said Derek.

Casey giggled and Derek stared.

"Did I…just make her laugh?" thought Derek, his heart accelerating.

"Yeah, that's true! I'd better take out the first aid kit!" giggled Casey cheerfully.

Ignoring Derek's stare, she turned to Marti.

"So, how about I make you breakfast?" asked Casey sweetly.

"Yay! Cereal! Coco Puffs!" exclaimed Marti excitedly.

"Okay," said Casey, taking out the cereal box.

Derek watched her take out a bowl and pour cereal in it. He walked towards the fridge and took out two cartons of milk. He threw the one he drank out of in the sink, opened the new one and poured milk into Marti's bowl. Casey blinked as Derek put the milk away.

"Wait. Derek's being helpful? That's weird. That's unlike him. Then again, he's not completely himself this morning," thought Casey, taken aback and staring at Derek's back.

Derek felt Casey's gaze on him and blushed.

"Why am I blushing? Derek Venturi never blushes or feels embarrassed," thought Derek nervously.

"Derek? Is something up? You're acting a little weird. I mean, weirder than usual," said Casey worriedly.

Derek slowly turned around and Casey stifled a gasp.

"Derek's blushing! Now I know something's up!" thought Casey, alarmed.

"I-I'm fine. Really. Or maybe I'm just tired, since I woke up early this morning. I think I'll go back to bed. Yeah, I'll go do that!" said Derek, rushing out of the kitchen and up the stairs.

He entered his room, slammed the door shut and fell on his bed.

"What's happening to me?" wondered Derek out loud.

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