Derek and Jordan pulled up in front of the house and Derek killed the car. "Now remember," he said turning to Jordan, "don't tell Case about Gage coming home. He wants to surprise her."

Jordan grinned and nodded his head in agreement. "Don't worry; she won't hear it from me."

They grabbed Jordan's luggage and headed through the door. Not finding Casey to greet them, they dropped the bags and headed into the kitchen where they saw Casey up on a step stool trying to reach a baking dish.

"Hey, Case," Derek said as they walked through the door.

Casey turned and when she did she lost her balance and began to fall. Derek rushed over and caught her just in time. "You'll just do anything to be in my arms won't you," he asked teasingly.

Casey gave him a stern look. "Oh yeah, that's it. I'd risk breaking my neck just to be caught by you."

Derek raised his eyebrows and gave her a grin and as much as she wanted too, she couldn't keep a straight face either. She reached up and began to kiss him when they heard a throat being cleared. They looked over to the door and saw an amused Jordan smiling at them.

"I just thought I might remind you I'm still here before it gets to mushy," he said.

Casey let go of Derek in an instant and ran over to where Jordan stood. Throwing her arms around him she exclaimed, "It's so good to see you Jordy! You don't know how much I'm looking forward to having you here with us. It's the next best thing to having Gage here. And guess what?"

"What," he asked still wrapped tightly in the woman's embrace.

"I'm making your favorite tonight to celebrate your first night here."

"Lasagna and homemade garlic bread?"

"That's right. Nothing but the best for one of my boys," she said still grinning up at him.

Jordan was once again reminded of why he loved it here. Sure his parents had been great, but his dad had died at the beginning of his junior year of high school and he missed having two parents around. And to be honest, his home life had been nothing like this even when his dad was alive. The Venturi's were as close to a TV family as you got. Though their house wasn't perfect, mainly due to the girls, he had never seen a relationship like Casey and Derek's. All he could hope for was that someday he could have half of what they had.

"Well, I can't wait. I haven't eaten much today. I guess it's all the excitement of the first day back."

"Don't let him fool you babe," Derek said as he walked over to them. "He totally lost his appetite after he watched last year's game film."

"That bad, huh," she asked as she looked at them both. "What about Cameron? He's really good."

Derek shook his head in agreement. "Yeah, Cam's really good and everyone else is really bad so all they have to do is key in on him. I'm not sure even I can save this program."

Casey looked at Jordan and asked, "What do you think Jordy?"

He smiled at Casey again as she used his nickname. She was the only one who called him that and he loved it. It made him feel like a real part of their family. Well, actually Jenna would use it sometimes too to bug him when he was picking on her. "I think that we have our work cut out for us. But I'm really excited."

Derek just looked at him and shook his head, "Awe, the ignorance of youth."

Casey reached over and shoved Derek on the shoulder. "Play nice Derek! Now why don't you get Jordan's stuff and help him upstairs. He'd probably like to get unpacked and settle in."

"Actually, that's sounds pretty good," Jordan said as he and Derek walked back out to the great room.

They had left the luggage by the front door and Jordan bent down to pick up a couple of bags and just as he did the front door flew opened.

"My God Whit, we made it here. If you don't quit complain…" but she didn't finish her sentence because she ran straight into Jordan as he was straightening up and once again for the second time in one day she found herself on the floor.

Looking up she rolled her eyes. "My God Jordan, is your sole purpose in life to keep me on my butt. Could you at least pay a little attention?"

Jordan reached down to help her up. "Actually Bitsy I could tell you the same thing. It just seems to me like you're always running your mouth and not paying attention," he added with a sly smile.

Once again the fire flashed in Jenna's eyes and she exclaimed, "I thought we established the whole Bitsy thing being out. I told you I'm too old for childish nicknames."

"And I told you that was fine, but I distinctly remember you just calling me Jordan instead of what?"

She crossed her arms and rolled her eyes, but said nothing.

Jordan's smile got even bigger as he coaxed her on. "Come on Jenna you can do it. Just say it."

"Fine Coach Hart," she said sarcastically. "Now if you'll excuse me I have to go to my room and…" she stood there for moment thinking, "well, I have to go do something that's better than standing here and arguing with you.

Whitney and Addison had followed Jenna in and witnessed the whole exchange along with Derek.

Addison leaned over to Whitney and whispered, "That whole exchange just screamed sexual tension."

Whitney just looked at her strangely and said, "Let's go upstairs and get changed. I want to go swimming while it's still warm."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Addison had stayed for supper and they had just finished with apple pie ala mode.

"Casey that was wonderful. You are the absolute best cook in the world," Jordan said as he pushed his plate away.

"Well just be lucky you know her now and not twenty years ago. When we first got married it was rough going for awhile. I was just thankful that Gage was still on a bottle, otherwise who knows what kind of effect it would have had on him."

Casey threw her napkin at Derek. "You always ate everything I fixed."

"Yes I did. But if you didn't notice I never really went back for seconds. I know we didn't have any money back then but I would buy a box of peanut butter crackers and stash them. I'd eat those before meals so I'd have something in my stomach before I sat down to eat. I can't stand peanut butter crackers anymore but they served their purpose well until you caught on to the whole cooking thing."

"You never told me that?" she exclaimed.

"Well, I didn't want to hurt your feeling back then and now that you're a wonderful cook it doesn't really matter does it?"

"You think it was bad enough to poison my own child?"

"No, but I'm not sure it wouldn't have at least stunted his growth a little. Who knows if he'd be playing for the Giants now if he'd have eaten that stuff," he teased.

Casey put on a pouty face and Derek reached over and grabbed her hand. "Remember, I said you're a wonderful cook now okay?"

Rolling her eyes she grudgingly replied, "Okay." And then looking around the table she smiled brightly. "I'm so glad to have everyone here tonight. Since Whitney has company why don't you clear the table tonight Jen?"

"But, Addie's not company. She's here all the time. Why do I have to clear the table?"

"Stop that incessant whining and I'll help you," Jordan said.

"I do not whine Jordan. I complain. There's a difference, okay?"

"If you say so, but you're complaining sure sounds like a lot of whining to me."

Just then the doorbell rang and Derek got up to answer it. When he opened it he found Cameron standing on the other side.

"Hey Cam, come on in. Did you come to pick up Addie?"

"Hi, Derek, I mean Coach Venturi. That's really going to take a lot of getting used too. I went home and told Dad about our meeting today and he said I hadn't seen anything yet. Was he right?"

"Well Sam's probably right. I don't think you've ever had practices like we're going to have. I have nothing against Coach Johnson but he definitely didn't do things like me. By the time we're finished, I'll know who really wants to play and who just wants to say they're on the team."

"Well, I really want to play. I've only got one more year and I really want a scholarship. It'll be the first step to the pros."

"Well, I can't promise you anything but we'll see what we can do. Now did you come to pick up Addie?"

"Oh yeah, I forgot you already asked me that. Mom said Addie needs to get home, but between you and me I just think she's dyeing to hear about the first day of school. I thought she was going to have a fit when she came over here instead."

"And that is why Kendra is Kendra. No offense son, but some things never change."

"You don't have to tell me anything. Remember, I live with her."

"Well come into the dining room we were just finishing up supper."

They walked into the dining room just as Jenna was starting to clear the table.

"Hey Jenna," he said almost shyly.

"Cam," she said huffily as she walked into the kitchen.

Cameron looked questioningly at the rest of the family.

"Don't take in personally Cam," Jordan said finally speaking up, "she's a little upset at the moment. You know Bitsy; she's a little prone to fits."

Cameron nodded in agreement. "Let's go sis, Mom wants you home."

Addison rolled her eyes. "Please tell me she's not going to grill me about the first day of school for hours. I don't want to relive every single moment over again."

"Well, I can tell you she doesn't want to grill you but then I'd be lying, so just figure your story out on the way home. We really need to be going."

Addie got up and began walking to the door, "I'll call you later Whit and tell you all the gory details of the bonding time from hell."

"I can't wait," Whitney said sarcastically. "Bye Addie, bye Cameron," she added quietly.

Cameron turned back around and gave her a wink, "See ya, Whit."

And once again, Whitney felt that funny feeling in her stomach.


Okay, so as we say in Oklahoma, are things clear as mud now? I hope you're beginning to get the characters a little better now. Really just remember that Addison and Cameron belong to Sam and Kendra and Chloe and Ian belong to Ralph and Emily.