Hi! This is my first story. I've been lurking around here reading up a storm for months now, and this idea just came to me out of the blue, so I figured I'd give this writing thing a try. :) Also, I wanted to find a way to make up for the lack of Dasey hints in AVDC, so if you haven't seen that yet, I suggest you watch it before reading this. Oh, and I know it's probably improper grammar to say Venturi's instead of Venturis', but that just looked wrong. So yeah. I think that about does it for my first author's note!

Reviews welcome!

Brandi

Disclaimer: I own nothing but George's brother's bait and tackle shop. Anyone in the market for a good lure? ;)

Aunt Madge's Favorite Christmas

As soon as I saw their faces when they greeted me at the door, I knew they hadn't gotten my letter. But George, being the nice boy that he is, insisted that I stay. Some people just don't appreciate a good fruitcake, I guess.

I do feel a little out of the loop. You'd think something like a new wife would prompt George to at least call his favorite auntie. Everyone's so busy nowadays that I shouldn't be offended, I suppose. Well, except for George's brother in Winnipeg. He's never busy.

I just could not stand to spend yet another Christmas listening to him talk about his bait and tackle business. I mean really, how can he expect me to get excited about little sparkly things on hooks?

So I came to the Venturi's. Or rather, the McDonald-Venturi's. Nora and her girls really are very sweet. But there's something strange about the oldest one. Starting with the way we met. Well, it wasn't really her fault that no one told her I was there; that's not what I meant by strange.

No, there was something else entirely. The way she rolled her eyes whenever Derek's name was mentioned. How she balked at my request to bring Derek downstairs, but went up to get him anyway. I figured she was the perfect candidate; Derek never could resist a pretty girl, even as a youngster.

She couldn't convince Derek to join us, which surprised me. I suppose he just didn't want to listen to her. This apparently happens a lot around here. Hmm.

Things got really interesting when I watched them perform the cute little play Derek cooked up. The glances when each thought the other wasn't looking. The adamant insistence that Casey and Derek DID NOT get along. The way Derek brushed against her during the Derekus Dance, lingering a moment too long. And during our Chinese feast, Casey turned red when I mentioned how nice it was that they could put aside their differences to help their family.

After dinner, someone, I think it was Nora, suggested that we watch some home movies. When we got to some footage of a Clash of the Bands Casey and Derek had entered, my eyebrows shot up so far they practically disappeared into my hair. I glanced around, but no one else seemed to think anything out of the ordinary was going on. I don't know any siblings who dance together like THAT. But the others didn't seem to see what I was seeing, so I decided not to mention it.

That night, as I was about to leave Casey's room to wash up, I saw Casey exit Lizzie's room and head in my direction. I stepped back and left the door open just a smidge. I could see Casey enter Derek's room without knocking, and I heard her say hesitantly, "Merry Christmas, Derek."

There was silence for a moment, and then Derek replied softly, "Merry Christmas, Casey."

Casey turned and left the room, and I caught a glimpse of her face. Her smile could light up the whole town.

Suddenly I was very glad I decided to stay at the McDonald-Venturi's for Christmas. Very glad indeed.