AN: Quick note. I know there were some people who read that one chapter with Casey's married last name.. I ended up changing it like a few hours later after I posted. So her name is Casey Wilder.

That's all.

"I gotta go back, Derek."

"Yeah, I knew you were going to say that."

"Yeah, I mean it's the only way. You know, if we weren't step-siblings this would be a whole lot easier." she laughed.

He shared her laugh, "Yeah. You could just tell your husband you're leaving him and stay here with me. But nooo.."

"Yeah, our parents would have quite a bit to say about this little situation of ours."

"I can hear it now.."

"So can I."

"What?! You and Casey?!" he mocked George.

"Oh, sweetie. Where did I go wrong?" she mocked a disappointed Nora.

"It's just not right!"

"He's your step-brother."

"She's your step-sister."

"You're married to a terrific man."

He looked at her, "What? I'm not a terrific man?"

"Uh.." she shrugged. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her onto the bed. He threatened to tickle her, "Derek. No! Don't!"

"Say it, Casey."

"No." she muttered; smiling.

"Alright, you asked for it." he tickled her to no end.

"Fine!! Okay!! Okay!! Stop!!" she shrieked in laugher.

"Say it."

"Fine." she wrapped her arms around his neck, "You are a terrific man." she smiled at him.

"Glad you finally admitted it." he grinned as he inched closer; leaning in for a kiss.

"Mhmm.." just before he was able to kiss her, his phone started to ring. "People! Stop calling!" she expressed frustrated.

He let out a laugh, "I know right." he got up to check it.

She propped up on her elbows, "Who is it?"

"My Dad."

She groaned and fell back on the bed, "Do something. Just do something." she waved a hand.

"Alright." he answered it, "Uh..hey, Dad."

"Derek where's Casey? We have been trying to reach her all morning. Nora spoke to Katie who told us she didn't get on the plane with her. That she was with you."

"I just brought her to the airport." Casey stood up and watched him make up lies.

"Oh, really?"

"Yeah, we got stuck in traffic on the way to the airport and she missed her flight. We tried to find some flights but there were none. There weren't any red-eyes either. So she just stayed over. She should be on her way home now."

"That's probably why she hasn't been answering."

Derek let out a light laugh but quickly covered it, "Yeah. That's probably why."

"Okay good because Nora was freaking out."

Derek snorted, "I bet." he muttered under his breath.

"What's that, son?"

"Nothing." he laughed again, "Casey's fine. I'm sure she'll call you when she's home or at a stop or something. Let everyone know."

"Yeah, I will. Mikey has been calling non-stop. He was worried to death about her. He was terrified she wasn't going to come back."

He looked over at Casey, "Is that so.." She raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah, they had a fight or something. I'm not quite sure."

"Yeah." he nodded.

"Well thanks for letting Casey stay at your place. I'm proud of your ability to be noble."

"Uh-huh, right." he chuckled, "Well alright, Dad. Bye." he hung up and slowly nodded sitting back on the bed.

"I don't even know why I was worried about you messing up that phone call. You sounded very convincing." she stood in front of him; proud.

He let out a laugh staring ahead, "Yeah. I'm one terrific liar."

She raised an eyebrow at him, "What's wrong?"

"Your husband is terrified of your missing presence."

She kinda tensed as she nodded slowly, "Uh-huh.."

"Casey?"

"Yeah?"

"Did I hit a touchy subject?"

She stifled a laugh, "I just don't really think he's missing me very much."

"Why?"

"Fight we had..."

He arched his eyebrows, "What did you two fight about anyway?"

"It's stupid."

"If it was so stupid then I don't think he'd be telling people he's afraid you wouldn't come back."

She stared at him with confusion, "He's telling people that?"

Derek shrugged, "Well my Dad mentioned that you guys had a fight--"

She stared ahead, "That big mouth." she muttered to herself.. Derek let out a laugh, "It's our business he shouldn't be telling people anything." Derek was confused at her sudden burst of anger.

"Well my Dad didn't know exactly what you two fought about. He just knew you guys did."

She looked at him and shrugged, "I just don't think he should be telling people he's terrified or scared I won't come back when I know for a fact he's the one pissed at me."

He raised an eyebrow, "So you're telling me you're the one at fault during this fight?"

"It's not my fault..."

"So what is it then?" it was like he was pressuring her.

"I'm not happy!" she snapped, "I'm not, okay?"

He stood up, "Okay." he hugged her tightly, "I know, I know." he rubbed her back, "You want to tell me what happened exactly?"

"I'm not really ready to talk about it."

"Well I'm here." he pulled back, "I'm here when you're ready to vent and have the 'serious conversations' I know you love so much." he snickered.

She smacked his shoulder, "Thanks." she hugged him and pulled back, "I gotta say I'm really impressed."

He was confused again, "Why?"

"Because you, Derek Venturi, have matured a great deal." she looked around the room, "I mean your place is scarily clean, offering to listen to me vent, 'serious conversations'?"

He grinned, "You bring it out of me." he leaned in for a kiss which, of course, was interrupted by Derek's phone ringing. "What. The. Hell?!" he groaned.

Casey laughed, "This is getting out of hand." Derek nodded.

"Yes. It is." He went over to his phone, "I don't know this number, do you?"

She came over and looked, "Uh, yeah. Katie. Let me get this over with."

"But you're supposed to be on a plane, Casey."

"She can keep secrets." Derek nodded and handed her the phone. Casey put on a smile to get into acting mode, "Katie?" she used her most lovingly apologetic voice.

"Casey Wilder! I'm going to kill you!"

"I know, I know. I'm sorry, okay?"

"You better be sorry! Mikey and your Mom hounded me all night! I hardly got any sleep! I kinda had a feeling this would happen, so I tried to cover up for you as much as I could."

"Aww! See I knew you would do that for me!"

"Yeah, yeah." Katie muttered laughing, "They knew you were with Derek. Doing what with Derek, none of us kn--"

"Katie!" she was embarrassed.

"I'm just kidding. So what are you going to do?"

"I figured I'd get back on a plane and sort somethings out..."

"Sort what kinds of things?"

"My marriage..." Derek looked at her.

"Aww! So you and Der--"

Casey laughed nervously, "Alright, Katie. I really appreciate it."

"Oh! Come on! Tell me eve--"

"Alright, Katie!" she blushed with embarrassment, "I'll give you a call when my plane lands."

"Fine. Bye."

"Bye." she hung up. She looked over at a serious faced, Derek. "She's crazy." he let out a tiny laugh and stared at her again, "What?"

"What is this, Casey?"

"What's what." she played dumb.

He shrugged, "Are we an 'Us' or what?"

She blushed, "Uh, well unfortunately I'm still--"

"Married." he stood up, "I know that, Case."

She nodded and went over to him and gave a tight hug, "I love you."

He smiled and gave her a kiss to the side of the head, "I love you too." he laughed, "It's going to take a little getting used to."

She pulled back and smiled, "What? Saying 'I love you'?" he nodded, "Well I hope you get used to saying it."

He grinned, "Oh don't worry I will." he shrugged, "I just want to be able to say it without feeling guilty."

She nodded, "Yeah. You're right."

"I'm always right." he smirked at her.

She rolled her eyes, "Come on let's get me a flight so I can fix this mess." He frowned and she laughed, "I meant marriage mess not 'us' mess."

"Us.." he repeated her word.

She nodded, "Yeah. Us."

He stared ahead; smiling, then looked back at her, "Let's get you a flight."

Thought I'd add some cute Dasey before stuff started happening...