AN: Alright, I'm not going to lie, this WAS supposed to be a one-shot, but three reviews in one night all asking me to continue with it? Had to draw it out a little more for them =] So, alright, I figured I could keep it going. They are still in the car, but I'm trying to keep them as real as possible, seeing as this is only supposed to be from the party to home. I may, however write a sequel to it to find out what all happens when Casey goes to her room that night, but only if you're nice to the muse faery on my shoulder and review! :D This chapter is dedicated to my four reviewers that kindly left words of encouragement and because they added it to their favorites list and story alerted =]

sammy sosa the 13th: I wasn't going to, but since you asked so nicely! =]

Austenlvr: Well, thank you. I wouldn't want to disappoint! Let me know what you think of this chapter.

Nottin gham12: Yes, I agree, Dasey is always adorable, and thank you for the complimentative review! =]

and last, but not least

MoodyRuby227: Thank you so much! You really made my day. Yes, I'll take your advice and keep writing my LWD fics. Let me know how you think I'm doing with this chapter. Please read my other fanfics and let me know what you think of them as well, perhaps? I'm open to your ideas. If you like, I can do the same for you :)

So, I'll repeat, this chapter is dedicated to these four in hopes that they will review more, and lead others to do the same! THANK YOU!

Disclaimer: Even though my sibling and I fight like they do on Life With Derek sometimes, we are true sisters and not step. I have step siblings too, but it's sadly not enough to be able to claim ownership of this show. =[ Ah well, I shall settle with writing a Dasey fanfic about what I think SHOULD happen. And I'm happy to accept reviews as my payment ;]

"Come on, gypsy, on with the story!" - SIR YES SIR haha

Casey's POV:

On the drive home, I can't help but wonder why on earth Derek would stick up for me. I can feel Derek watching me out of the corner of his eye, probably making sure I don't cry all over his car. Although the way he's acted tonight...I glance once more at our still-entertwined hands and can't help but think that this just feels right. I know that it's wrong of me and I shouldn't have done that when he tried to pat my hand in comfort, but I couldn't help it. It was as if my hand had a mind of its own. I've known I was in love with Derek since Mom and George's wedding, but I had to remind myself that even if he did feel the same, nothing would ever happen between us because that would be immoral and step-incest, if that is even a word.

Still, the way he held me tonight, trying to calm my tears and not getting angry at my tears. Plus he had been the one to instigate it, not me. He had been so sweet to me tonight and I felt like Cinderella, in a way, despite how tonight turned out, because I felt happy and content with Derek now, but I know he's just going to turn back into a rat soon.

And when he corrected me, on my usage of "brother" I had to say "same difference" even though it breaks my heart because that's just our dialogue. What shocked the heck outta me was when he asked "is it?"

He said it so quietly that I'm still not sure if it was him thinking to himself outloud or talking to me, but I answered him anyway. Would it make any difference if it weren't wrong for a stepbrother and stepsister to get together and live happily ever after? Ha, what am I thinking, Happily ever after with DEREK? We'd fight all day long, but then again...I still can't help but wish that we could at least try. I spend most of my time studying so that I don't think of Derek, though he doesn't know that. I'd gladly tell him why I'm such a 'keener' for but I'm sure he wouldn't believe me even if I told him. He'd probably laugh at the fact that I actually don't care about grades, but that I'm just trying to keep my mind off of him.

A thousand and one things race through my mind as I look down again at our entertwined hands and I fight hard to choke down tears, although this time, it's for a different reason. Of course, I couldn't tell Derek that the reason I was crying now was sorry... we could never be together, so I just let him assume what he wanted, and I squeeze his hand once again and sigh. We sit in silence as Derek drives, still holding hands, for twenty more minutes before Derek and I try to speak at the same time only to stop abruptly and I giggle while he laughs. When we both catch our breath, he nods to me to let me know to go ahead first, so I do.

"Derek, I know you're going to go back to being a jerk whenever we get around other people, and I'm not going to take offense to it, but I just want to thank you for tonight. I know you were having fun. I didn't mean to ruin your night," I say, looking down at my lap.

"Don't worry about it, Princess. You didn't completely ruin my night," he tries to joke, but one look at my face and he changes his mind, "No, for real Case, I don't blame you for wanting to get out of there. I just wish that he wouldn't have done that to you. There'll be other parties, Casey, but it's not very often we get along like this. It's what us... step-brothers...do, right? Help our...stepsisters...out of sticky situations. Oh, and just for the record, of course I'm going to be a jerk again. If I wasn't, I wouldn't be the one and only Derek Venturi," he puffs out his chest at this last statement, and it makes me laugh, a little bit.

Derek's POV:

Man, I wish she would have let me go first.

As we were driving in silence, I kept thinking about so many things. I wondered what it would be like to hold her in my arms when we fall asleep. Or getting to hold her hand as we walk down the halls at school. I imagined what it would be like to kiss her whenever I wanted, to be able to take her places. I wanted to be able to put my arm around her when we sit down to watch a movie together. But mostly, I want to be able to love her openly so that no other guy could try to love her as much as me and when they fail, not hurt her. I never want to see her hurt again, but when as she kept thanking me for tonight, I lost my self-confidence. She'll only ever see me as her annoying jerk of a step-brother. It just reminds me that she can do a hundred times better than me. And when that day comes, I swear to never stand in her way. I will do everything in my power to make her happy, because as long as she's happy, I'm happy for her, even if I can't be openly happy for her. I swear to myself that I will always be her silent protector.

AN: Alright, kiddos. Here's the next chapter. I wasn't going to keep going with this one, but, since it has been so sweetly asked for, I have done so, and hopefully I don't disappoint!

Read and review, pretty please and thank you!