Disclaimer: I do not own Life With Derek

Wrote this for greenfiend03 fanfic contest. It was all written in a day. So it's not very good. Lol

"You want to open a what?"

Derek rubbed his hands together as his eyes lit up with excitement.

"A Calamari Stand."

Nora and George exchanged glances then Nora spoke up,

"Well uh Derek….what….why?"

"It was Michael's idea."

"Michael from your hockey team?" George asked.

Derek nodded eagerly, "Yeah. He's been talking about it for weeks. And with my raise at work I can-"

He was cut off by the doorbell sounding through the house. Scowling that he had been interrupted. Derek turned on his heels and strolled for the door.

George and Nora immediately went back to their paperwork they had been looking over when Derek had interrupted them.

Throwing the door open, Derek's scowl deepened when he saw Noel standing there.

"What?"

Noel looked from side to side as he adjusted his backpack on his shoulder , "Uhh…is Casey here?"

"No."

Derek shut the door firmly in his face before turning back to his parents, "Now, where were we?"

Before George or Nora could reprimand Derek for his rudeness, Casey came thundering down the stairs, her face twisted in anger.

"De-rek! What is wrong with you?"

Derek merely shrugged and Casey pushed past him with a groan, "You are such insensitive, primitive, egotistical- Noel! I am so sorry!"

Derek rolled his eyes as Casey ushered Noel in the house, spouting apologies.

"Mom, George. You remember Noel? He was in the play with me a few years ago."

George nodded and Nora smiled warmly, "It's nice to see you again Noel."

Noel lifted his hand hesitantly, "Hey"

"What are you two up to?"

"Well" Casey started with a smile, "There's a poetry reading coming up this weekend, so Noel and I are going to work on some pieces together."

Noel kept throwing Derek strange looks, as if expecting him to attack him any minute. Derek just smirked and raised an eyebrow at him.

Casey grabbed Noel's arm and started pulling him up the stairs, "We're got a lot of work to do, so we should get started on it."

Noel slightly stumbled after her, "Uhh yeah."

"Door open!" Nora called after her.

Casey stopped so fast that Noel nearly ran into her.

"Mom! Just because that creature" she narrowed her eyes at Derek, "Doesn't know how to keep his hands to his self, doesn't mean Noel doesn't."

Derek chuckled slightly at the memory.

6 months ago, he and Sally had been on his bed, and things were getting pretty intense….until Marti walking in on them and started screaming murder.

George shot Derek a look before backing his wife up, "Sorry Casey. Rules are rules. No closed doors."

Casey sighed, "Fine. Come on Noel."

As soon as the two disappeared up the stairs, Derek spun on his heels, "Okay. Now can we get back to what I was talking about?"

George and Nora both gave him disapproving looks and his eyes widened, "What?"

"Derek" Nora started, "That was very rude."

Derek waved a hand, "Noel knows me. He's used to it."

Nora and George raised their eyebrows.

"Well. Not used to it. I mean, it's not like a slam a door in his face all the time."

He paused, "Though that's not a bad idea" he muttered.

"Derek!" George cried.

Derek waved his hands around, "Can we get back my Calamari Stand please?"

"Derek, why are you so set on this?" George asked.

"Running my own business? Are you seriously asking me why?"

Nora took a slip of her coffee, "Okay. Wrong question. What have you planned out?"

Derek grinned, "I've already picked the place."

He picked up the folder he had lying on the table, pulled some pictures out and handed them his dad.

"This place?"

"Yep. I mean, I know it needs some work."

"Some work?" George exclaimed, "This looks like a hurricane blasted through it."

Nora examined on the pictures closely, "Didn't this used to be that old burger place a few years ago?"

"Pete's Burgers? Yeah. He's been trying to sell it ever since he went out of business."

"You don't say" George muttered sarcastically.

Derek shoved his hands in his pockets and half shrugged, "I know it doesn't look like much. But I know I can do this. Since I'm only 17, I cann't legally own my business, building and all. So I'll need you two to co-sign for me.

"Un-huh" George nodded slowly.

"And where exactly" Nora handed the pictures back to George and folded her arms on the table, "Do you expect to get the money for this?"

"Yeah. That's where you come in."

George laughed, "Us?"

"Yeah. I just need to loan some money to get the place started. I'll start paying you guys back after the first….month."

Nora chuckled, "Derek, this idea is really out there."

Derek pulled a chair out and sat down, "You guys are always telling me to do something with my life. And I've been trying. My grades are up. I've even stopped bugging Casey as much."

George laughed and Nora raised her eyebrows. Derek rolled his eyes, "That doesn't count. That was directed towards Noel. Not Casey."

"I don't know Derek" Nora said with a sigh.

"Just think! Once this gets going, you guys can say 'Hey, it's because we were great parents. He's got his own business and everything.' And all because we loaned him some money."

George and Nora exchanged glances and Nora tilted her head to the side just slightly and nodded.

Derek licked his lips and tried to keep from smiling. He knew that gesture. It meant, "Find out more."

He could hardly believe his luck. He honestly thought they would shoot his idea down the second they heard it, and now. They were actually considering it.

Crossing his fingers under the table, Derek waited for his father to speak.

"So…hypothetically…" George placed the pictures on the table and picked up his mug, "If we were to help you out with the money. How much as we talking here?"

Derek leaned back in his chair and looked to the ceiling, "Well…there's the building….plus repairs….and…3 carry the 5.…About $600,000."

Nora and George burst out laughing.

Derek half smiled with them and waited till they realized he was serious.

Nora put a hand to her chest, "Oh Derek. You really had us going there."

"Nice one D" George wiped the corners of his eyes, "I really thought you…." he trailed off when he saw his son's face.

"Oh my God. You're serious aren't you?"

Derek nodded shortly.

Nora's jaw dropped and George's eyes rolled up into his head as he promptly passed out.