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"Hey, Casey, what are you doing?" Nora asked as she and George entered the kitchen in their pyjamas.

"Lucas is hungry," Casey said, holding Lucas in her arms as she prepared a bottle of formula.

"Why isn't Derek taking care of that?" George asked.

"He's busy with Edwin," Casey explained. "Besides, I don't mind getting Lucas a bottle. It's sort of fun taking care of a baby. It's like taking care of Lizzie again."

"Yes, but I want Derek to do it, Casey," George insisted.

"Come on, George," Nora persuaded, "if Casey enjoys taking care of the kid, why not let her?"

"Because Derek got himself into this mess and now he has to deal with it."

"It's not his fault, you know," Casey said, putting the bottle in the microwave.

"How is this not his fault?" George asked.

"For starters, Lucas isn't his kid," Casey said, not even thinking of her earlier promise not to tell.

"He's not?" Nora and George questioned.

"Well, Edwin's been dealt with," Derek said, walking into the kitchen dusting his hands off. "So how is my little guy?" Derek asked as he took Lucas from Casey.

The microwave dinged and Casey quickly pulled out the bottle and handed it to Derek. "He's hungry."

"Thanks, Case," Derek said, shaking the bottle and testing it on the inside of his wrist like a pro. "It's a little bit warm. It's still okay to give to him, but next time you may want to go a couple seconds less."

"Just feed him already," Casey ordered.

Derek did as Casey had said and gave Lucas his bottle, which quickly quieted his crying.

"Derek, could I ask you a question?" George asked.

"Go ahead, Dad."

"Is that baby really yours?"

"Of course," Derek said, upholding his lie. "Why wouldn't he be?"

"Well, Casey just said that—"

"Casey," Derek said, looking sternly over at her. "Can I speak to you for a moment in the living room?"

"Um… okay," Casey said, following him out of the room.

"Are you an idiot?" Derek shouted at his stepsister as the two arrived in the living room.

"No. Why are you yelling?" Casey asked calmly.

"Oh, so you just want to see me get in trouble then?" Derek shouted even louder.

"No," Casey said again. "Look, what are we even talking about?"

"What part of 'don't tell Dad and Nora the baby's not mine' didn't you get?"

Casey gasped as she suddenly remembered her promise. "Oops," Casey said, covering her mouth. "I told them, didn't I?"

"Yep," Derek said, heading back to the kitchen. "So if you want to see me get in trouble, then please… follow me back to the kitchen."

"Derek, I didn't mean to tell them," Casey tried to apologize as she went with her stepbrother into the other room. "It just slipped out."

"Is it or isn't it?" George asked as the two came back to the kitchen.

"What would you say if he is?" Derek asked.

"You're an idiot for letting this happen and I'm an idiot for letting you off the hook all your life."

"And if he isn't mine?"

"Why would you want to take care of the child if he's notyours?" Nora asked.

"Do unto others as you would have done unto you," George said simply.

"You know, huh?" Derek asked, looking up at his dad.

"Same goes for you," George replied.

"What are you two talking about?" Nora asked.

"Come on, Mom," Casey said, leading her mom upstairs. "You can help me finish my homework from last night."

"You didn't finish last night's homework?" Nora questioned, slightly worried.

"So when did you find out?" George asked Derek.

"When I was eight," Derek replied. "I was eavesdropping on you and Mom when you were talking alone in your room. I heard you guys discussing whether or not to tell me about it."

"We finally decided against it because we wanted you to grow up in a happy family without the thought that you were adopted hanging over your head."

"Dad, you and Mom are divorced. You got remarried without fully consulting me and now I have a stepmom and two very annoying stepsisters. How is that a happy family scenario?"

"Admittedly, you have a point there," George admitted. "But if you hadn't eavesdropped on your mother and me at least you wouldn't have known you were adopted."

"What would've happened to him then?" Derek asked as continued to feed Lucas.

"What will happen to him is we're going to find his mother and return him."

"But, Dad—"

"I don't want any buts, Derek. He's not your child and you are not old enough to take on the responsibility."

"But I can handle this," Derek argued.

"I've already made up my mind, Derek," George said firmly.

"So have I," Derek said, leaving the room and heading upstairs.


"Where are you going?" Casey asked as she walked by Derek's room and caught him packing a suitcase.

"My mom's," Derek replied, tossing in some crumpled up T-shirts.

"Why?" Casey asked as she went over to Derek.

"Because my dad's an idiot," Derek said resentfully. "He thinks that just because this kid isn't mine, I shouldn't take care of him."

"Well, he sort of has a point there," Casey said.

"So you're siding with the enemy then?" Derek said as he packed the baby diapers.

"I'm not siding with anyone," Casey corrected him. "All I'm saying is you can't possibly manage school and take care of a baby."

"I'll quit school then."

"You can't quit school," Casey said. "Mom and George won't let you."

"I'm not going to be living under this roof much longer, so why should I care what they think?" Derek said angrily as he slammed his suitcase shut.

"So that's it?" Casey said, slightly disappointed. "You're just leaving?"

"Yeah, pretty much," Derek said as he scooped up his suitcase and Lucas's basinet.

"What about… us?"

"What us? There is no us."

"But the kiss last night. And this morning in the kitchen—"

"I was caught up in the moment," Derek said, quickly making up an excuse.

"I thought I liked this new side of you," Casey said, storming out of the room. "Now I find out it's even worse than the old you!"

"Way to go, Derek," Derek mocked himself, putting down his suitcase and the basinet. He went across the hall and knocked on Casey's door.

"Who is it?" Casey asked.

"It's me," Derek said.

Casey opened the door and said, "Pardon me if I slam this door in your face. It's cause I'm caught up in the moment." Casey then slammed the door in Derek's face.

Gotta love Casey's temper, Derek thought to himself as he knocked on her door again.

"Go away, Derek!" Casey shouted.

"Look," Derek said, opening the door and letting himself in, "I'm sorry about what I said back there."

"I'm not," Casey said sarcastically. "In fact, I'm relieved you said it. Because if you hadn't said it then that would mean I meant something to you and I'd hate to think I meant something to you."

"Casey," Derek said softly as he reached out to tuck one of Casey's stray hairs behind her ear.

Casey quickly pulled away. "Don't ever touch me again."

"I said I was sorry," Derek said sincerely.

"Well, I don't forgive you!" Casey yelled at her stepbrother.

"In that case, I'm glad I'm moving out," Derek said aggressively. "Then I never have to see you again!"

"Good! Because I never want to see you again either!"

"I'm glad we finally agree on something," Derek ranted.

"Me too!" Casey shouted a moment before she and Derek fell into each other's arms, kissing passionately. "I don't – really – hate you," Casey said in-between kisses.

"Me – neither," Derek agreed.

"Are you – still – leaving?" Casey asked.

"Yep," Derek replied.

"Then let's make this morning count," Casey said as she and Derek tumbled down onto her bed.