AN/ I fail. I'm sorry, i have no excuse except for that I'm super lazy. And I know i should make it longer since i kept you waiting for so long, but this was the last chapter i had planned out from earlier, so idk where to go from here... I'll tell you the truth, the only reason I updated at all was for my selfish reasons...I missed getting reviews, and i vowed not to write a new story till i finished this one, and i MUST write, lol. SO, sorry for the wait, here you go.

Disclaimer--
Its not mine, because if it was, I'd change the goldfish to a chimp, just because I like the name Bo-Bo...and its more suitable for a chimp dontchya think?

~~~AT THE LAKE~~~

3 canoes float peacefully on a lake. George and Nora are in one canoe, are far from the others while Lizzie and Ed tail the final canoe discreetly. In the last canoe, Casey sits on one side, arms crossed and scowling. Derek sits opposite of her with an excited Marti in his lap.

" Look Smerek! A fish!" Marti shouted out happily, pointing into the lake.

"Yeah, that's really neat." Derek agreed, still smirking at Casey.

"And slimy…" Casey decided, puckering her face into one of disgust.

"Sweet!" Marti exclaimed before turning back around and attempting to touch one of the fish.

Derek chuckled before addressing Casey, "hey, quit being such a party pooper."

"Someone not-so-wise once said, 'I decide what parties I poop and what parties I don't poop, and I poop this party.'" She replied venomously, before turning her head back around.

"Oh come on, for Marti?" He pleaded then, making a puppy dog face, and lifting Marti slightly higher on his lap.

After about a second Casey looked at Marti, still gazing into the lake, and acquiesced, "Fine…" She uncrossed her arms and moved a little closer to the middle of the boat.

"Thanks " Derek replied, almost gratefully.

After a slight pause, Marti was once again pointing at the water with excitement "Look guys, lots of fish!"

"That's called a school" Casey said happily, delighted to be teaching Marti something.

"School!" Marti protested, shock evident on her entire face, "But, but there's no school now, we're on break!" she whined.

"What Casey means is that a group of fish is called a school of fish." Derek said calmly, glaring at Casey.

"Is that where they learn to swim?" Marti asked, cocking her head to the side.

"Yeah, sure…" Derek replied, turning to look at Marti once more.

"Derek." Casey reproached. Marti was going to get all her facts wrong if Derek continued to 'teach' her! Suddenly something seemed to dawn on Derek, and a mischievous glint came into his eyes. He turned to Marti, and still smiling whispered something into her ear. After some glances at Casey, Marti giggled and nodded. Derek set Marti off of his lap and Casey suddenly grew very nervous.

"Hey Casey," Derek started

"Y-yeah?" Casey stuttered, moving further away from Derek as he moved closer. Suddenly Derek lunged and swooped Casey into his arms. Ignoring her shrieks of protest he then proceeded to dump her into the lake. Through peals of laughter he justified his actions, "You know, since you like school so much…" This caused Marti to join in his laughter and soon the other two boats on the lake began to inch closer.

"DE-REK! How could you!" Casey spluttered, red faced and thrashing to stay above the water. Finally the other boats came close enough to see exactly what was going on.

"Derek!" reprimanded Nora, " Help her out this instant!"

"Sure Nora, anything for you." Derek said, faking a look of innocence before holding out his hand to Casey. As she reached out to grab it he snatched it back, laughing once more.

"De-rek!" Casey protested once more, followed closely by a stern George, "Derek..."

To this, Derek simply rolled his eyes and grudgingly held out his hand once more. This time, Casey grabbed it before he had a chance to move it and pulled Derek in with her.

This time, Derek was the one in shock, " I can't believe you did that!" he protested while the rest of the family howled with laughter.

" I can't believe I didn't think of it sooner!" She responded laughing, before splashing Derek and swimming towards the shore. Derek spluttered some more before following after her and tackling her.

This seemed like an opportune moment to leave the water, so, while rolling her eyes Nora said, " Ok, I guess it's time for lunch now…"

The two remaining 2 boats rowed to shore, while George and Nora pulled the 3rd boat along with them, Marti still giggling inside. After getting to shore and loading everyone off Nora turned to the two teens wrestling in the shallow, "Alright you two, it's time for lunch," Derek froze at once, Casey still struggling to get out of a headlock. "Mmm, what are we having?" He asked, before releasing Casey and leaping to his feet. Casey righted herself crossed her arms, huffed and stayed seated in the water.

" Well," replied Nora, " we were supposed to have fish, but someone forgot our fishing supplies, so we'll have to wing it." Derek simply glared at George, while Edwin's stomach grumbled

~Later~

" Well, those canned beans were SPLENDID!" Exclaimed Edwin, burping loudly. This of course earned him a pat on the back from Derek and three disgusted female faces. Lizzie shook her head and agreed, "Yeah, good call Case."

" Yeah, sure," agreed an unenthused Derek, "'peewee scouts' has done WONDERS."

Casey simply glared, pouted and mumbled to herself, " It was girl scouts…"

" Well," George decided, getting up and rubbing his hands together, " I'm about ready for a nice hike!"

He was met with a resounding "No." from the kids.

" George really, we're not very outdoorsy people…and knowing you, we might get lost." Nora said gently and apologetically.

"Well I – hey! What's that supposed to mean?" George exclaimed, Nora merely shrugged and smiled innocently before beginning to clear the dishes. "Never mind," George continued, "I think it's a fun activity and if we don't go we won't get the full experience of camping."

" I think we'll live," Derek deadpanned, earning him a frown from George.

" We're going, a quick hike. Come on, before dark!" said George sternly, picking up his own dish and going to his tent to pack.

~ Later, the family is standing outside a huge wooded area carrying backpacks ~

" Ready campers?" George asked, picking up Marti's bag and looking around. He received no answer, "Let's go!" He continued unperturbed. Lizzie simply shrugged her response and the familydissapeared into the forest, exiting shortly after.

" Phew! I thought we were lost!" Nora said, rushing to their campsite.

" Nora, we were in there for two seconds. You really think my sense of direction is that bad?" George asked in disbelief. Derek and Casey quickly responded for Nora, "Yes!"

Nora shot them a quick look and turned back to George, smiling, "No…" she responded nervously, pausing nervously before continuing, " But I think, I think we should put off hiking until tomorrow. It'll be dark soon and we'll wake up early tomorrow. Sound good?"

" Wha'?" Derek asked at the suggestion of waking 'early.'

" To get ready for the hike!" Nora responded enthusiastically. She was simply met with raised eyebrows. "Now lets get ready for bed," she continued, turning away from the Venturi men "come on Marti." She said holding out her hand, which Marti took smiling. They made their way to the tent. George looked on after them and called out sarcastically, "Nora, don't leave me here alone, I might not be able to find my way to the tent!" before following after them.

" Same sleeping arrangement I suppose?" Edwin inquired once the parents were gone. Derek glared. "Yep!" Lizzie replied happily.

" Come on Liz," Ed continued, " Boy have I got a story about dad and our LAST hiking trip to tell you…" he said before the two ran off to their tent.

" So…" Casey said, breaking the silence. "Yeah, you going?" Derek continued.

" It's not that late." Casey replied, shuffling her feet slightly. "Well the sun's setting, so according to your mother, it's pretty late." Derek said mockingly. Casey simply walked over to the lake and sat on a big rock at the edge. After about a second Derek walked up behind her.

" Don't even think if pushing me in." Casey said before Derek even had a chance to get any closer. Derek smirked, "Well, now that you mention it… " he said, resting his arms on Casey's shoulders as if to push her in, Casey squirmed, "De-rek!"

" Relax Case," He said laughing, " I wasn't gonna." He gave her shoulders a little squeeze before sitting behind her and slightly to the side .One hand remained on her shoulder.

" So, I'm guessing you don't want to go to sleep either…" Casey said after a few moments.

" Nah, not tired and nothing to do in the tent anyways." Derek responded.

" Yeah. " Casey agreed, "Besides, sunsets are beautiful."

Derek snorted slightly before agreeing, "Yeah, they're really nice." They remained sitting for a few moments before Casey kind of leaned into Derek. For once Derek didn't move away, but only squeezed her shoulder again. A comfortable silence followed as the sun continued to set. (AN/ think side hug from The Wedding.)

~Cuts to night, tent #3~

" Favorite ice-cream" Derek asked

" Strawberry."

D: "Rocky Road"

C: "Favorite movie…that you'd hate to admit."

D: "What makes you think I'd admit to you?"

C: "Just answer, come on, you answered the NSync or Backstreet Boys question."

D: "Yeah…and I still can't believe you think Backstreet Boys were better. Fine, Nightmare Before Christmas."

C: "Really?"

D: "Yeah, you?"

Casey mumbled, "Spiderman"

D: "Really?"

C: "Well of the movies I'd hate to admit, yeah."

D: "One or two?"

C: "One, hands down."

D: "Um…favorite book."

"You KNOW what that is?" Casey asked, faking surprise.

"Just answer." Derek replied, unamused.

Casey responded giggling slightly, "Um, Hoot".

D: "Catcher in the Rye"

C: "You read that?"

D: "Well Edwin refused to do it for me…but I ended up liking it. Holden's a funny character I like him."

"You would." Casey replied rolling her eyes, before deciding, "I'm impressed."

D: "Thanks?"

After a lull in conversation, Casey spoke up, "Ok, I'm a bit tired now."

D: "Same."

C: "Night?"

"Night." Derek agreed before turning to hug Casey 'for warmth.'

AN/ Hope it was kind of worth the wait...as you see, i got kind of lazy towards the end, but...um. Review? *hides behind computer*