In my defense I did say Sunday, I just didn't realize this chapter would´ve milked it until the next Sunday … I wrote this chapter all wrong at first and just couldn't live with myself if I had posted it the way it had been a week ago. Totally wracked my brain though, and did some story therapy by reading a bunch of unrelated fanfiction and maybe some related ones posted ages ago… I´m still not sure this was the way I wanted it to go but I guess it´ll do… sorry for spelling mistakes or something

Disclaimer; Never nada did I own…

Happy read!

o-xXx-o

Marti was hiding. She wasn't going to pretend that she wasn't because it was plain and simple. She was avoiding questioning, avoiding being possibly killed for opening her big mouth. Honesty would not save her. It wouldn't do her any good this time. Casey's question the day before had everyone sputtering for a response. Lizzie panicked because her mother was present, no one bothered to inform her that Nora knew about Haylee. Nora apparently wasn't as informed as the most of them, and wondered why Haylee knew nothing of her father, and why every one of her children knew about Casey and Derek, and she did not. And Marti knew she was in trouble. It was her and her big mouth that set the events in motion.

After the surprise wore off she schooled her features and pretended to know nothing about anything. Plead plausible deniability. She wasn't sure what it exactly entailed in Casey's court of law, but she could go with it. Lizzie wasn't helping much as she almost paled on command as soon as Casey´s eyes landed on her. Bless Edwin's soul for interrupting their conversation, even Elliot for distracting Casey by pecking her on the lips in front of Nora. Marti quickly made excuses about needing to get something for her latest boyfriend Rodger, and got out of there as soon as she could. Unfortunately though Haylee insisted she had to go so she took her niece with her.

Not in a million years did she expect to run into her brother. Of all the people in New York possible how was it that she just happen to literally run into him. She should've stayed in the Brooklyn area where Casey lived. What exactly possessed her to travel all the way to Manhattan, she had no idea. Yet there she was, on fifth avenue passing shop after shop with Haylee on her tail when she just had to spot the perfect gift for Roger.

"…No way."

"Why'd you come if you weren't going to be helpful. "

"Aunt Marti, helpful was eighteen stores ago, I'm unwilling to put myself through any more torture. Despite being reluctant most times, I'm fine with shopping, but this is totally bordering mom and aunt Lizzie's shop-a-holic tendencies. I refuse to be subjected to that any more then it's necessary." Haylee exclaimed.

Marti knew her niece was right. What was with her lately? She was not at all behaving like herself, and that was just proof that the whole Casey/Derek situation had her once more on edge. It was a never ending cycle of chaos that would continue to torment them all until it was properly resolved. If the past nine years were anything to go by, no one would ever doubt that when things went wrong in 'Casey and Derek world' it went wrong big and for everyone involved. Very much like their adolescent selves it was a true testament as to how far the two actually took things, and quite frankly it was really wearing on Marti's sanity, and everyone else's for that matter.

"Fine you can wait outside, but you should know that you sound more like Casey every day." Marti relented. She entered the store leaving her niece out front.

Haylee leaned against the building as she stared ahead watching people pass by bustling and going about their business. People were always busy in New York, but she guessed that the fast pace was reassuring to some. As a only child it was comforting, never having to worry about finding something to do. There was always some form of entertainment to hold her busy. She wondered whether that was the reason her mother had chosen New York. If it was planned, and admired as a place she'd always wanted to be. Haylee personally guessed that it was probably not the case. From what little she'd been told New York had always seemed like a fast paced decision, made last minute, by a terrified eighteen year old girl. Mere coincidental was the irony in that. Haylee figured though that it probably didn't matter anymore what New York had meant to her mother then, since now it was pretty much home to the both of them.

How would it have been like to grow up in Toronto? The question had come out of nowhere yet it was right there as bodies of people moved in front of her, with what might as well have been faceless profiles, as she would never see them again.

In Toronto everything must've been much more slower and easy going, seeming like a entire different world from what she was used to. How was her mother then, and when had she met her father? Did he go to the same school as her? Was she a total geek, an easy speculation, and he a total jock? Two cliques reuniting by the forces of love?

She supposed the likelihood of that was small, as it was as unrealistic as things got, but liked to dream that it was possible. That her mother separating from her dad was a total misfortune and misunderstanding. That neither her mom or the man that fathered her had really wanted to part with one another.

Yeah, that was very unlikely. Haylee knew her mother well enough to know that she hardly ever made any decision without thinking them thoroughly through. Her 'calm and collected' demeanor held it´s pattern even in the smack middle of chaos.

Her eyes were focused on nothing in particular when she first heard him. With so many people around all speaking at once, she wasn't sure how exactly she could tell his voice apart, especially since she'd only heard it once before. But the voice was loud and zealously enthralled in whatever subject he was having. She concentrated more on the direction of the voice and soon spotted him in the crowd animatedly telling what must've been a interesting story, to a friend.

"…For a kid you've gotta admit he's pretty amazing. Have you even seen that before?" he was saying. His face looked familiar though, she realized, and from then on it took her only seconds before eyes widened in recognition.

Whomever the question was directed, didn't seem as enthusiastic as his friend though nonetheless genuinely happy.

"No man, the kid's fantastic," The man seemed overjoyed for a moment at the compliment. "But don't you think you're getting a little too attached?" the question laced genuine concern but it completely changed the familiar man's demeanor. His face immediately fell at his friends words and his should shagged noticeably. Before she knew it Haylee was standing right by the two men lightly tapping the familiar one's back. Unconsciously she must´ve been moving towards the two man all along.

"Hey, I know you," She said a smile breaking on her face. "You're the guy I ran into yesterday at Coney Island." She accused.

Derek turned towards Haylee confusion clouding his features before he too recognized the girl. "Yeah," He nodded smiling brightly again, though it quickly fleeted the more he looked at her.

"How's your arm?" he asked suddenly, and she noted the concern in his voice.

Haylee raised her cast for him to get a better look at, "Elliot said I'd be fine in a few weeks." She said coolly, not wanting to give away any signs that it actually hurt and ached a lot since she broke it, which it still did.

"I'm really sorry about that by the way." He winced slightly at the cast.

"It's totally cool, besides I was in the hospital just recently so it was not a big deal." She said brightly.

"You end up there often?" he asked, a little amused his left eyebrow arched curiously.

She shrugged, "Mostly for scrapes, my uncle says I'm kind of a klutz, which I'm totally not," she said indignantly.

Derek's eyes widened slightly at the mention of her uncle, and the word klutz. The two words were directly associated with two very important people of his past.

He was suddenly overcome with curiosity and worry, the latter he assumed was natural even if a bit unexplainable, when he noted the girl seemed to be by herself.

Before he could question the whereabouts of her parents, which he only then realized entailed Casey, someone called for her and he immediately stiffened.

"Haylee!" his sister exclaimed worry etching her features as she focused on the girl, who had quickly turned around with a guilt ridden look on her face.

"Sorry aunt Marti," She quickly apologized.

"Sorry ain't gonna cut it kid. You scared the crap out of me! Your mom would lynch me if I ever lost you. She would torture and then decapitate me. Maybe sever my arms and legs before though." She rambled as she checked her niece up and down making sure nothing was array, dislocated or broken, again. She was turning Haylee around in a circle thoroughly examining her, to occupied to really think through the scene she´d just interrupted.

"Well, well, well Smarti, into gory movies much?"

"Well Roger's been—" she cut herself off as she realized who'd she just answered to. She looked up only to meet Derek's eyes, both surprise and panic clouding her face almost instantly. He stood there staring blatantly at her a unsure smile playing at his mouth his gaze unwavering. There was no doubt a million questions and accusations being exclaimed in his eyes alone even if none were spoken out loud. Speechless for a few seconds it took her a few moments to remember why this was very bad news when another voice rang beside her.

"Aunt Marti, are you okay?" She asked concerned.

Quickly Marti turned towards her niece, and smiled slightly strained. "Just, fine we should get going." She stated nervously.

"Sure," Haylee said staring at her aunt a bit weirdly. "This is the guy I ran into though, at Coney Island with mom, he helped—"

"Shit, Haylee, we really gotta go, now." She insisted. Haylee's brows furrowed.

"But—" she began, but Marti just reached for her hand.

"Marti," Derek turned toward his sister as she began moving. "You can't just—"

"Derek I—" She slapped her hand over her mouth. It was too late though, because startled at hearing what had become a all familiar name Haylee looked from her aunt to the man.

"Derek? Isn't that—" she begun, but Marti didn't let her finish, she pulled her niece's arm and disappeared in the mass of people walking up and down the long street. Ignoring both her brother's and niece's protests.

She was sure now that Casey was going to kill her.

o0o0o0o0o0o

"What the hell was that all about?" Alex, who had witnessed the events unfold in various emotional states, asked after he finally got a hold of himself.

"That, is a long story." Derek said somewhat dejected.

Alex however was still looking perplexed. Dazed himself, Derek just turned around and headed the opposite direction his sister just disappeared in, Alex silently trailing him.

o0o0o0o0o0o

This was why she went into hiding. Until it was time to fly back to Toronto she'd have to avoid her step sister and niece like the plague.

Marti was fully aware that Haylee walked around with a pensive look on her face now, that turned to confusion more often than not, which only began worrying her mother more and more. This all was beginning to weigh on everyone, which never meant any good. And despite the fact that Casey had done well for herself and lived in more than spacious apartment, having around four more people crowded her place, which left little space to hide.

Nora had naturally taken the guestroom with the comfortable queen bed, that usually Marti and Lizzie took turns on using when they visited. Lizzie and Marti took the office where there was a queen sized sofa bed they both fit on. And Edwin took his regular spot on the sofa, which luckily was one of those comfortable ones, that wouldn't dump him on the floor in less than five minutes of sleep. So with every spot spoken for Marti was at loss as to where she was safe.

Also unfortunately for Marti, Casey did most of her work at home, which meant she had to spend most of her time outside of the house. And since she was spending little time at Casey's place Nora enlisted her on sightseeing duties. This of course did nothing good for her 'Total Avoidance' plan. Nora tended to 'casually' drift the conversations to Derek, and it all felt like she was going full circle. There had to be something in the McDonald blood that made the women so damn attracted to all things involving the Venturi men because it was all bordering ridiculous. So she steered clear as much as she could from Nora as well.

Which of course was easier said than done. Especially when Nora cornered her in Casey´s kitchen when she´d gone in to get the necessary dose of water and other food products before she ones more disappeared to a very gay but friendly neighbor she´d befriended on one of her missions of avoiding when she was exploring Casey´s building.

"Hi, Marti." Nora greeted casually. Marti abruptly stopped raiding Casey´s fridge and turned around to face her stepmom.

"Hi, Nora." She returned as she began retreating, gathering the stuff she had so far managed to get a hold, which wasn't much, but would have to do. She was just turning towards the nearest exist which led to the living room when Nora spoke.

"I know you´ve been avoiding me," Marti halted her steps. Busted. "And Casey, Haylee, and Lizzie." Nora continued and Marti cringed at her accuracy. "We both know some of the reasons why, but I´d like to know more."

Marti remained silent.

"Like for example, how long Casey and Derek had been seeing each other and what exactly Derek did to make Casey so upset with him. Why he isn't the picture, and in Haylee´s life? Why Casey hasn't told Haylee about him, if he isn't some stranger or one of her ex boyfriends?"

Nora practically ambushed her with all her questions and Marti was speechless for a moment.

"But Case—"

"—Is out with Lizzie and Haylee they won´t be back for another hour."

Marti let out a heavy breath her only escape route now clearly blocked. Nora had been like a mother to her for more than half of her life, always endlessly understanding of every problem she had, and the fact that Casey had never step to the plate to tell even her own mother about what happened failed to be comprehended by her brain. What was so bad that Casey couldn't speak to her own mother about? She was feeling guilty enough though so she wasn't going to dig her grave any deeper by lying. She was facing Nora when she spoke,

"To your first question, I honestly don´t know. From what we all could speculate it either was very near the end, I mean you remember Casey that last summer, how she was all over the place," She began, "Casey doesn't tell us a whole lot either. She doesn't speak about him, she never did as a matter of fact, we´re all working on guess work and clear evidence of how much Haylee looks like him." The more she continued the more Marti noted Nora´s face fall, at all the uncertainty she was met with. The questions that remained unanswered. "And the closest person to her right now is surprisingly Edwin and he too is at lost with what happened exactly. I guess the fact that Haylee´s father isn't just some stranger or some ex boyfriend makes it so much harder for Casey to explain things to her."

Nora´s chest clenched slightly. She supposed she had a lot to do with some of her daughter´s aches and troubles, first she´d married George never really thinking through the implications of her actions even if they´d though at the time that they had it all figured out. And then when she found Casey, her daughter, had been pregnant and had given birth without ever telling her, she´d been so mad. Extremely worried when she´d gotten the phone call from her younger daughter saying that Casey was very sick. She´d flown immediately to New York, and had come across a sight she hadn't imagined in a million years. She had a granddaughter.

It was easy to forgive Casey, she was her daughter after all, and Haylee had a irresistible charm that sucked her in immediately. Casey had always tried to be as perfect as she could be so the indiscretion, even one as big as she´d made just made up for years of good behavior she´d had under the belt. And as always Casey had everything under control, despite getting sick.

Her daughter had made a compelling speech about how she´d be able to handle school, a child, and a job, had everything thought out and planned to the tiniest detail, and after promising to keep her as emergency contact, Nora couldn't help it but let go. No matter how many ways and times she protested to bring Casey back to Toronto so that maybe she could attend a school closer by home, where Nora could help her. Casey had vehemently denied and refused to go back, saying that New York and her daughter were her life now.

Nora had let it go. Let Casey stay in New York, and the first three years or so she´d deposit money in Casey´s bank for if ever she needed any and was too stubborn to ask. And Casey had done it, had graduated and immediately landed a great job and began climbing the work ladder until she made Editor of a good publishing company. There was always a excuse as to why Casey couldn't come to Canada and Nora wasn't able to do anything but let it slide as long as the phone calls kept occurring then there had been no need to press.

Now though she realized that maybe she should´ve pushed more. Should´ve insisted more visits home or something anything that might have given her the signs her other children had gotten to see before her. If her granddaughter hadn't uttered her stepsons name then maybe she´d still be oblivious to the obvious resemblance, that now were so clearly there. But she hadn't and now things were so clearly complicated.

"But, I still don't understand why Derek isn't here for them. He wouldn't walk away from something like this. You´re brother might´ve been a bit unconsidered when it came to Casey, and they did fight a awful lot but walking away from his own child, I would´ve never pegged him for someone who would do such a thing. "

Marti let out a sighed, she´d purposely let that question go because she knew Nora would blow out a roof is she knew. "That´s the thing, Derek would never do something like that, but whatever he did do to Casey to hurt her, well she´s making him pay for it in some twisted semi unconscious way."

Nora looked slightly confused, "What do you mean?"

"My brother doesn't know about Haylee," Nora´s eyes widened at that, "At least he didn't, I mean he still doesn't know he has a daughter." She quickly corrected.

Nora stared perplexed at Marti.

"How…" Nora didn't finish, couldn't was more like it.

"I mean think about it, Casey´s been in her own world tightly wound letting only a few people, and Derek… well Derek´s been pretty much the same story only he never even calls anymore. And when he does, did," she corrected painfully, "well dad can be a little aloof sometimes so any news from Casey or Haylee never would´ve made it to Derek. And we either found out too late, when he already stopped calling or were sworn to secrecy. Everything was stacked against him ever knowing, a great deal his own fault." She finished sadly.

Nora shook her head, how could things have gotten so out of hand. She had to do something.

She had to talk to Casey… and Derek.

o-xXx-o

Okay so seriously, I don't think there is enough stacked against C&D, or is it just me? The only things are Amanda, Elliot, and their massive stubborn behinds, but if you put that against alliances such as Alex, Nora, and whoever else is pro happiness, which basically constitutes the rest, it´s a bit unfair… Oh well I guess you´ll see just have to wait and see how much this might possibly irk me… or not… Next chapter I´m planning to dip a little more into Derek, Alex, and of course Amanda will return to spice things up…

Reviewing inspires and motivates me, I swear!

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