Author's Note: There are 45 reviews for the last chapter. 45. You guys never fail to amaze and flatter me. I just cannot get over the response this story has gotten. It overwhelms me. Its also a bit intimidating, I don't want to let you all down.

I meant to post this chapter a few days ago, but real life got in the way. I hate that. This chapter is from Marti's PoV. If you remember, chapters ago at the dinner, Vanessa and Gretchen had a conversation about Marti having days of school the next week and staying with Derek and Vanessa- I bet you thought that was just random filler, bit it wasn't. It was actually an important plot point! Yay! Anyway, so Marti is staying with them.

I'm glad you all liked Lucas, he was a sweet guy in the end. In this chapter, Vanessa makes one last big attempt to save her relationship. You guys will probably hate her more than ever. In her defense though, if you had Derek, wouldn't' you be willing to fight a little dirty to keep him? Yeah, I thought so. But still, any one who stands in the way of Dasey is bad. :-P

I'm not sure how i feel about this chapter, but i hate most of them, when i first write them. shrug

Love you all. Hope you enjoy the chapter.

Disclaimer: Life with Derek is not mine, Michael Seater is not mine, but there are only 5 more days till my birthday, so I'm hopeful :-P

Desert had finished, and Casey was sitting sipping her wine slowly and watching Gretchen, Marti and Vanessa have a conversation. Marti had some days off school the next week, Tuesday and Wednesday, and Gretchen thought it would be a "wonderful idea" if Marti stayed with Derek and Vanessa for one of those nights. Vanessa thought it would be "delightful" to have Marti stay, after all she and Derek had such a "close bond". Marti smiled faintly and raised an eyebrow at Casey.

It took Marti a little while to piece it all together. The strange far away look in Derek's eyes, the questions Vanessa kept asking about the business dinner he'd gone on the night before, the irritation in her eyes when he blew the questions off. At first she thought they'd had a fight of some sort, but Derek had once told her that they never fought. Besides, he didn't seem at all angry, he was just, distracted. She was telling him about her play practices and the boy that had asked her to prom, but she felt like he wasn't really listening. His mind was defiantly on something else, something important.

Years of living with Edwin and Lizzie had taught her well, so she decided that if she was going to figure this out, she just needed to notice everything, and spy if needed. For the first few hours she was there, the only thing she noticed was Derek's weirdness, and how annoyed by it Vanessa obviously was. Then after dinner she when was in the upstairs bathroom getting ready for a shower she noticed a figure on the street below. Casey. She was walking around Derek's car, smiling to herself, clutching a small sheet of paper. She paced around the car several times, before sticking the sheet of paper in windshield wipers, parking ticket style. Then she laughed a little, and walked back to her own car.

Marti shook her head, she should have known Derek's weirdness was Casey related somehow. Laughing to herself, and wondering if this also explained Derek's "business dinner", she got in the water and took a long shower. After she had finished and wrapped herself up in pajamas and a robe, she went back down the stairs to find Derek intently at the living room wall.

"Hey." she said, and he jumped. She giggled.

"Oh hey Marti." he said smiling at her. She was tempted to just come out and ask him what was going on, but she decided against it, instead asking,

"So where'd Vanessa go?"

"The store, we needed milk for in the morning." Derek said, still looking a little dazed.

"I thought her car was in the shop?" Marti asked.

"Yeah it is. She took mine, why?" Derek asked. Marti felt her stomach sink, she didn't know what Casey's note had said, but she had a feeling the Vanessa seeing it could be bad.

"No reason, just wondering." Marti said as the front door opened and Vanessa reappeared holding a gallon of milk and looking irritated.

"Hey, glad you're home" Derek called to her, "I think I may head up to bed early, I've got a terrible headache" he said. Vanessa smiled tightly at him as she took of her coat.

"Do you want some aspirin?" she asked walking into the kitchen and putting the milk in the fridge.

"I took some already, thanks." Derek said, walking up to her and planting a light kiss on her cheek before walking over to Marti and scooping her into a large hug, "Sorry Smarti, we'll talk more tomorrow ok?"

"Sure Smerek" She said, keeping an eye on Vanessa. Derek smiled and ruffled Marti's then headed up the stairs. Marti plopped down on the couch, and Vanessa turned to her.

"I have to make a quick phone call. You don't mind do you Marti?" she asked sweetly.

"No, go right ahead, I'll just watch some TV," Marti said. Vanessa nodded and went into the dining room and closed the door. Marti turned the TV on, then got up and followed her, sticking her ear to the door and listening to Vanessa dial a number on her cell phone.

"Casey. Its Vanessa," She said into the phone. Marti winced; this was not going to be pleasant. There was a pause, and then Vanessa said,

"So I found your little note on Derek's car." Another pause and then,

"Yes you may have wanted to think that one through a little better, I do live with him. Sometimes I take his car. Not very good thinking on your part really," Vanessa said icily. Marti desperately wished she could hear Casey's end of this conversation.

"No you listen." Vanessa said abruptly, "Stay away. I don't know what kind of person you are, or what you thought you would accomplish, but you need to stay away from Derek. He has a stressful life; he needs someone to make it simpler, not some crazy woman making it more complicated." Vanessa said. There was a long pause then, one Marti imagined was filled with an angry retort from Casey.

"You know. I took your advice. I asked him about you. Do you want to know what he said?" Vanessa asked acidly.

"No actually," Vanessa began after another pause, "I didn't have to use any of those phrases. He had plenty of his own. Ones like, 'regret', 'foolish', 'young and stupid,' and 'hormone driven.'" Vanessa said.

"Oh, but he he did." Vanessa said patronizingly. A long pause followed this, and Marti heard Vanessa suck in her breath harshly at one point, then she said,

"So?" in a cool tone that didn't match the way her fingers were tapping the table loud enough for Marti to hear.

"Men often think with their hormones, I'm surprised you don't know that." she said in the same tone of voice. Another long pause followed, during which Vanessa's fingers tapped faster and faster, harder and harder.

"Heat of passion." she said dismissively, and Marti raised an eyebrow, now she was really curious, "I won't deny he probably wanted you last night," Vanessa continued, "But pre-wedding jitters will do that to a man, especially when some little blast-from-the-past slut throws herself at him."

"How dare I?" Vanessa said after another pause, sounding outraged, "I'm not the one trying to break up an engagement!"

"Yeah. You know what Casey?" Vanessa said after another pause, "You keep those little notes, and I'll keep my diamond engagement ring and my fiancé and we'll all live happily ever after. You in you little fantasy world and me in reality."

"The feeling's mutual." Vanessa spat, then clicked her phone shut. Marti moved away from the door softly, but not before she heard Vanessa start to sob.

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Normally Marti slept in on her days off, but the next morning she was out of bed at 7am. She crept up the stairs to Vanessa and Derek's bedroom, hoping to learn more. She was sitting in the hall she heard Vanessa say,

"So I found something interesting on your car last night."

"On my car?" Derek asked, sounding puzzled.

"A note from Casey." Vanessa said simply. Marti heard Derek swallow nervously.

"Umm, you, what?" he stuttered.

"It seems that Casey would like you to know that she can't. She's sorry, but she's letting you go. Care to explain that?" Vanessa asked briskly. Marti wondered just how many lies Vanessa was willing to tell in this attempt to save her relationship. She had no idea what that note had said, but she was certain that wasn't it. There was a long pause while Derek took some deep breaths.

"I, we," he started then collected himself a little more and began again, "We were together once, a long time ago." he said.

"Yeah. I assumed as much. I'm also assuming you weren't really at a business dinner the other night?" Vanessa asked.

"Vanessa I-" Derek began.

"Don't." she said, "I don't really want to know Derek. The less I know, the more I can tell myself this is all just pre-wedding jitters on your part."

"Pre-wedding jitters." he repeated blankly.

"Exactly." she said,

"Do you still have the note?" he asked, "Shit. Sorry, that was stupid. Sorry." he said realizing his mistake instantly. There was a long pause, then Vanessa sighed.

"I don't like fighting with you. I like it when things are simple and peaceful, I thought you did too." Vanessa said.

"Simple is nice." he said, still sounding a bit shell shocked. Marti heard the sound of quick kiss between them.

"I'll let you finish getting ready for work." Vanessa said, and Marti moved away from the door quickly, ducking into the bathroom and out of sight as Vanessa exited the room and ran down the steps. When she came back out, she saw her brother sitting on his bed, unmoving.

"Casey." he whispered, shaking his head sadly. Marti couldn't watch. She walked slowly back down the stairs and watched as Vanessa made some breakfast and packed her books for class. She walked in circles around the living room, wondering if there was anything she could do to fix this. She was on her eighth lap when she noticed a small piece of paper hanging out of Vanessa's coat pocket. She froze, convinced that this was it, the post-it note. She reached carefully into the coat and pulled out the crumpled slip of paper.

Derek- I did three really brave things. I broke up with Lucas, I read you answers, and most important, I admitted to myself that I still love you. I've never stopped.-Casey.

Marti smiled triumphantly. She knew it. Now she just had to go show Derek this note. He'd know Vanessa had lied and he'd know Casey still loved him. She was still smiling when a hand reached behind her and snatched the note away from her.

"You shouldn't meddle Marti." Vanessa said, taking the note and ripping it into tiny little shreds. Marti stared at her too shocked to think of a reply. "I've got this all taken care of." Vanessa said. She walked into the kitchen and threw the little tiny pieces away, then poured the leftover bits of breakfast cereal on top them.

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It was late afternoon by the time Vanessa went to class and Marti had a moment to herself. As soon as the front door closed she pulled out her cell phone and called Edwin. He answered on the third ring.

"Yes Marti?" he said.

"I need help." she said. He sighed wearily, which annoyed her. Just because last time she'd called him and said that it was because she wanted him to pretend to be her guardian so she could get a tattoo, didn't mean he had to sound so put upon every time she called.

"Isn't it bug Derek day? I'm kinda busy right now." he said. She heard Lizzie's voice in the background asking,

"Is that Marti?" Marti sighed; she didn't have time for this.

"Edwin you can make out with Lizzie any time! This is an emergency!" she said.

"You know?" Edwin asked, sounding surprised but not upset.

"Of course I know. You're the one who taught me to notice everything." Marti said impatiently.

"Oh." Edwin said, and then called, "Hey Lizzie, Marti's on to us."

"I always thought she probably was," Lizzie yelled back, "Put her on speaker." Marti heard a click. "Hi Marti!" Lizzie said, sounding amused.

"Hi." Marti said, "Look we don't have time for this. We have a serious Derek and Casey situation."

"We told you we're not playing go between for them." Edwin said.

"But this time it's not their fault." Marti said.

"How?" Lizzie asked sounding skeptical.

"Casey told him she loves him. She wrote him a note and put it in his car, but Vanessa found it!' Marti said.

"Fuck." Edwin said slowly, "Ouch! Oh, right. sorry Marti." Edwin said. Marti smiled.

"Its ok." she said., "You didn't have to hit him Lizzie."

"Yes I did, and you know if they would just talk like normal people, they wouldn't have these problems." Lizzie said.

"You know how they are with those post-it notes." Marti said, "And now Vanessa has lied to both of them, and Derek was all sad and mopey and I'm sure Casey is too. They're probably both sitting at work staring at walls." Marti said.

"Yeah probably." Lizzie said, "So do you have a plan?"

"Well, no that's why-" Marti began.

"That's why you need us?" Edwin asked.

"Yeah." Marti admitted.

"Ok, tell us everything you know." Edwin said.

So the plotting began.

End chapter.