"By my calculations, Derek will be dead within the hour."

Lizzie and Edwin sat at the top stairs, watching a heavily pregnant Nora chase their older brother around the living room. So far, she had thrown a shoe, lamp, and potted plant at his head. Hockey must come in handy, because he had somehow managed to dodge every one of Nora's attacks.

"Do you think mom and George will split up over this?" Lizzie asked with deep concern etched into her voice.

"Not a chance, sis. This whole Casey and Derek thing isn't exactly surprising."

"Mom looks pretty surprised to me."

"D-E-N-I-A-L."

"I know," Lizzie sighed in agreement at Edwin's words. "I just never thought they would actual act on it"

"Act on what? The fighting and eye sex?"

"Ed-win!"

Casey walked into the kitchen with trepidation, scared to actually face Derek after the altercation he had just gone through with Nora.

In the midst of her excitement, Casey had blurted out the words without thinking. After all, there was no way her mother would actually mind considering the fact that they were about to go to University and would no longer be living underneath their roof.

Oh, how wrong she had been.

Casey watched Derek reach into the freezer to grab an ice pack and hold it to the back of his neck where Nora had hit him hard with the coat rack. Nora's hormones were at full force right now, creating an angrier reaction out of her than it normally would, she was sure of it. For someone who was nearly 8 months pregnant, she could run fast.

For the first time, Casey was beginning to feel guilty by putting Derek into this situation. Maybe they should have waited to talk to their parents about what was going on, but living a lie had quickly taken a toll on Casey's nerves. She felt utter remorse for keeping them in the dark, even if it had only been a short while since everything had happened between Derek and herself.

One of the main reasons she wanted to tell them so soon was because she wasn't the lord of the lies the way Derek was. She would have blurted it out eventually from not being able to take it anymore. Now was as good as time as any.

However, she was the responsible one; the good child that could do no wrong. In the eyes of Nora (and George for that matter) it was all Derek's fault. He had somehow corrupted her into falling for him. But that wasn't the case in the slightest. She had probably loved Derek for much longer than he did her.

During dinner, George had turned a steely eyed glare towards both of them, but his focus was mainly on Derek. After witnessing that, she realized exactly why Derek was much more hesitant than she was. He was going to be the one in trouble, and it had already happened with George. Her step-father never even reprimanded her while Nora was yelling at Derek. They simply focused their attack on him.

She attempted to stop it, but it was no use.

In fact, it had gotten to a point that indicated Derek was 'put out' by the whole situation. Casey was beginning to feel nervous that he wouldn't want to be with her after this. What if their parents harsh reaction to them seeing each other would make him think that she wasn't worth all of the trouble?

Derek turned around, realizing for the first time that she had been standing behind him the whole while. He offered a small smile before taking the milk carton in his hand and lifting it to his lips, drinking a quarter of its contents before setting it upon the island in the kitchen.

He continued holding the ice pack to his neck.

"I'm sorry about mom," she offered softly.

He shrugged indifferent. "Maybe next time I tell you how things are going to pan out, you'll believe me."

Casey opened her mouth to protest, quickly shutting it once again. He was right. She should have listened to him. But in her defense, it had seemed like he never wanted to tell them at all. It scared her that they would wait months, only for him to say that there wasn't any real reason to bring it up since they weren't living at home anyway.

They would have went their whole lives living a secret…living a lie.

"She'll come around sooner rather than later. George is downstairs talking to her about it right now. I'm sure he'll bring her around to the idea."

Derek chuckled at the thought. "Because my dad's so onboard with us dating?"

Casey winced. "We aren't just dating, Derek."

He threw his ice pack on the island, looking up at her through his lashes. She could tell he was about to say something, but thought better of it in the last minute. He looked angry…at her. However, he took the time to compose himself, his knuckles turning white as his fists clenched painfully.

"Yeah," he agreed half-heartedly.

If she could take back today she would. This was not how her happy moment was supposed to be turning out.

Derek walked over to her, placing a lingering kiss on her forehead. She clung to his shirt as his arm snaked around her waist, holding her for several moment before finally speaking.

"I'm staying at Sam's tonight."

Casey opened her eyes, not realizing she had closed them to begin with.

"Why?"

"I think it's best if I put some distance between the rents and myself."

"But I'm sure they'll get over it. There's no reason to run away, Derek."

"Case, please don't fight. I'll be back tomorrow."

Casey was shaking at the thought of Derek leaving angry. She had hoped they could spend the night in each other's arms to show that it didn't matter what George or her mother said. But he was running away. One night apart had the potential to damage their relationship for good.

Or maybe she was just feeling clingy again. She hated her emotions.

"Casey, look at me."

Casey raised a blurred gaze upward to look Derek in the eye. Kissing her on the tip of her nose, he whispered, "I promise that this changes nothing. I'll be back tomorrow. Count on it."

Casey was laying on her bed when she heard a knock at her door. She jolted upright, being torn from her thoughts on today's disastrous events.

"Come in," she said softly.

Nora opened the door cautiously, peeking inside. Casey was surprised to see a softened look upon her face after witnessing a type of anger she had never seen her sweet mother display before.

"Casey…" she began with a smile. "I wanted to talk to you about what happened."

Casey nodded her head, encouraged by Nora's change in demeanor.

Nora took a seat on the edge of her mattress. Her body was stiff, but it was evident that she was trying to be civil at the moment. She looked almost sad with a hint of apparition shining through.

"I went to talk to Derek, but he's gone."

"He went over to Sam's."

"I guess that leaves just you and me then."

Casey swung her legs over the side of her bed so that she could sit closer. She had to admit that Nora's behavior was on the verge of frightening. What if she was breaking the news that she was going to forbid them from seeing one another? Casey knew that she would never let that happen, no matter how much Nora pressed the issue.

She would never give Derek up.

"I want you to help me understand what is happening. You and Derek have never seen eye to eye – now this…whatever it is…happens over night?"

"I know it sounds crazy, Mom. Trust me, I'm just as shocked at you are."

Nora looked deep in thought as she stared straight ahead. "I love Derek like he's my very own. You know I do. But…"

Casey tilted her head downward to catch her mother's eye. "But what?"

"I wish I could say it's because he's your step-brother, but I can't." Nora nervously moved a stray hair from her eye, looking for the right words to say. "I've watched you cry for years over boy after boy after boy. Derek's no different than the rest of them. I just don't you to get hurt."

"You think Derek would hurt me? That's why you're so against this?" Casey asked in exasperation.

"Of course! It's the reason George and I both have our reservations about the two of you. You're Casey – he's Derek. I guess over the years, and with all the fighting, it was hitting us right in the face. We just hoped that the two of you would never figure it out yourselves."

Casey leaned her head against her mother's shoulder. She could deal with the concern that Casey and George had. Before, she was feeling broken inside thinking that it was because they were 'related.'

"I love him, Mom," she said softly as her voice broke.

Nora kissed the top of her head. "I know you do. You both were older when George and I married. I guess it only makes sense that you wouldn't feel like actual siblings."

"Will you please try to be supportive?"

"I'll try," Nora stated. "However, if he hurts you, I will send him to hell myself."

Casey giggled at her mother's statement, knowing that she was actually serious.

"Deal."

"Why in the hell would you and Casey think your parent's would be okay with this?"

Sam stood on the back of the cart, pushing Derek who was currently sitting inside with his feet propped up over the edge.

"I told you…it was all Casey's idea. Now I'm practically kicked out and homeless because my step-sister has a lying problem."

"Actually…aren't you the one with the lying problem?"

"I mean her problem lies in the fact that she can't lie. Dad and Nora weren't eased into it," Derek said with a hand motion to indicate how slowly they should have told their parents rather than jumping right into it.

"Then why didn't you?"

"Eh, Case made up her mind to go to Queens instead of New York so we can stay together. I figured I owed her one."

Sam nodded his head in agreement. "You have to admit that the whole situation is a little fucked up."

"Nobody asked you," Derek said.

"Actually, you did."

"Turn here," Derek pointed down an isle towards the back of the store. Sam shoved off with his foot, once again rising to stand on the back of the cart. They were cruising at a pretty good pace until reaching the desired location.

Derek's phone rang with an original song from their band, D-rock, set as his ringtone. He reached into pocket to retrieve it, looking down at the caller I.D. where Case was written across the screen in taunting letters. He immediately sent it to voicemail.

In that moment, Derek reached his hand out to grab a box of condoms, throwing the large container down with a loud thump, clearly irritated.

"You send her to voicemail and then grab a jumbo box of condoms?" Sam said incredulously. "Kinda contradicting, don't ya think?"

"I'll talk to her tomorrow. She has to learn to be less clingy, and there is no time like the present for her to get a little practice."

"If you wanted a less clingy girl, then why choose Casey? Trust me, I know firsthand."

"Hey!" Derek said over his shoulder. "That's my girl you're talking about. I don't need to relive your lovey-dovey, kissy-kissy, playing footsy stage." Derek gagged audibly at the nauseating memory that had left him completely jealous.

Sam chuckled. "I never thought I'd see the day."

"Me neither," Derek agreed while leaning his head back and enjoying the ride. "Besides, I told her I would be at your house tonight. She knows I'm busy."

"Busy avoiding her."

"I'm not avoiding her. I'm avoiding the whole situation. She wants to talk to me about it, but I don't want to discuss what's going on. You should have seeeeeennnnnn dad and Nora. All of their anger was directed at me, and Casey got none of it."

"So you're mad because your parents are punishing the problem child instead of little Ms. Perfect?"

"Ummmm…yeah. Just because I like to live my life on the wild side doesn't mean I forced her into it. Actually, this whole thing was her idea."

Derek could hear Sam making a huffing sound from behind him. "Why do I find that hard to believe?"

"I may have instigated it, but she full on voiced it!"

"Mmhmm. That's what I thought."

"Just shut up, and push."