Disclaimer: I own nothing.

A/N: Thanks for reviewing guys! I love this chapter because it makes up for some MAJOR drama…but don't worry, there's a lot more to come! Here's chapter 13:

Chapter 13: Punish Me Now

"Ed!" Derek yelled at his sleeping brother; seriously the kid slept like he was unconscious. Suddenly, Derek got a wicked and cruel idea. He cleared his throat, he was probably going to me emotionally scarred for life after this, hell Edwin probably would be too, but he needed to wake up.

Derek giggled; yes, in an incredibly freakish manner, Derek sounded like Lizzie giggling. "Ed!" He giggled through, it was sickening but it was working. "Edwin, wake up!" He continued, scowling at Edwin's reaction, he was smirking and, at last, began to wake up.

"Liz-Derek?!" Edwin sat up and his smirk turned into a glare. "I loathe you." Derek waved a hand at him.

"Yeah, you say that now; but you love Lizzie…and without me you wouldn't be on your way to see her right now; so get your lazy ass out of bed and get dressed. Without saying anything to Dad. Got it? I can't stress that point enough…I'm going crazy." Derek muttered the last bit to himself as he walked out of the attic. Edwin just chuckled and shook his head as he watched his brother leave.

"Smerek! Get out!" He laughed as he heard Marti yell at her 'Smerek'.

"Nobody loves me!" Derek cried out dramatically, fake crying by Marti's door.

"Go find Casey. She loves you!" Marti laughed as his crying became worse.

"Fine; she's the only one that really loves me anyways!"

D: You still love me right?

C: Yes, Derek, I still love you; but I won't for long if you don't text privately.

D: Fine, you, Marti and Ed can all go join the I-Don't-Love-Derek club; nobody wants me:'(

C: Aw…I want you, Baby!

D: Really:O

C: Yes, really. Now get your cute ass ready and get over to the pier, or else I'm going to kick that cute little ass of yours.

D: Aye-aye captain!

"What's that about?" Lizzie asked as she tied her runners while reading the screen.

"Don't know…but it was entertaining…" Casey said as she shrugged and put her flats on.

XOXO

"C'mon, into the car…let's go, let's go!" Derek chanted as Edwin and Marti walked over slowly and climbed into his car.

"Smerek?" Marti asked, before she got completely in.

"Yeah, Smarti?"

"I love you, too. Me and Smasey and Ed and Liz." She smiled her slightly toothless smile and buckled herself in.

"That's great to know, Smarti." He smiled and felt his heart swell.

XOXO

"I'm so excited!" Lizzie cried, holding her bag in her hand.

"I know…I can't wait; when he gets here I'm going to yell at him, then tell him I won't kiss him then make a big fit about him being late; he proposed we meet at 10:00 am; he should be on ti-ah!" Casey screamed and jumped when someone grabbed her sides. She turned to see Derek, Marti, Edwin and Lizzie all laughing at her.

"Smasey!" Marti stopped laughing and ran over to her with a huge smile on her face; she jumped into Casey's arms and clutched onto her neck. "I missed you so much!" She said quietly while her chin rested on Casey's shoulder.

"I missed you too, Smarti." The little girl detached herself from Casey while the others came over.

"Hey, Case." Edwin hugged her awkwardly at first but it became more heartfelt after. "I missed you guys, too…well, I mean that much is obvious for Lizzie; and Casey I know we didn't really talk about much…but I still missed you." She smiled as he went back to Lizzie.

Then there was Derek; it killed Casey to not run into him arms and kiss him, but he was late…and after that big rant, he wasn't getting off easy.

"Hey, Baby." He walked over to her, but she merely pouted and pulled her arms over her chest then huffed.

"You were late." Derek rolled his eyes, but smiling nonetheless.

"By like…ten minutes! You try waking up Edwin; I had to giggle like Lizzie and coo his name in his ear." He visibly shuddered; Casey smiled, no longer resisting the urge to throw herself in his arms and kiss him. "I missed you…oh, God I missed you…"

"I love you." Casey said before kissing him again.

"Oh, God…all the kissing hurts my eyes!" Marti cried out and the two couples unoccupied themselves long enough to laugh at her cry.

"Marti, why don't we go to the other side of the beach where you can swim?" She nodded and left with them.

"So where were we?" Derek asked Casey as the three younger kids walked away.

"Well, I was trying to be mad at you; trying not to kiss you, but then I did." She smiled and kissed the base of his neck, "I was right about…here." She said 'here' before she planted a kiss under his ear and he sighed contentedly.

"I remember…" He said before he gently grasped her neck from behind and pulled her forward until their lips met. Casey sighed into the kiss and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer. She giggled slightly into the kiss. Derek broke the kiss, leaning his forehead against hers and smirked. "What's so funny?"

"Just remembering what Lizzie said after you told me to wearing something "small, tight and sexy." I told her 'Ed's going to look good, Marti's going to look adorable and Derek's going to look hot' and I giggled. She called me giddy." She shook her head as she retold Lizzie's part.

"Ooh…giddy?" Derek asked, raising his eyebrows suggestively. She just rolled her eyes and hit his chest playfully.

"Calm yourself."

"Why should I? You, Casey McDonald, just admitted to thinking I'm hot, and were giddy while doing so." He cocked an eyebrow at her and she smiled, blushing.

"Yeah…well, you are." He smirked and she blushed more-so. "Don't get to full of yourself; I think your ego is large enough." He shrugged.

"You just so happen to be dating this ego, and its hotness." He winked and she continued to deepen her blush. He leaned over to her ear, "but I just so happen to be dating the sexiest female around." She shivered and closed her eyes briefly as his breath hit her skin.

"Not even close." She whispered. He looked at her oddly. "I'm not even close." She clarified.

"Of course you are, Casey…you're gorgeous, inside and out. Don't forget that." She hugged him tightly and they headed in the direction that their siblings and stepsiblings headed in.

"So…do I get a sneak peak of your bathing suit?" He wiggled his eyebrows and she laughed.

"You're the only one that can make me so happy when everything is a complete disaster. And why do you need a sneak peak? You're going to see the bathing suit when we get there." She smiled as his eyebrows stopped wiggling.

"That's good; I love your smile. And deserve a sneak peak because I'm your boyfriend and I need to determine whether or not you can go in public wearing it; if so much as one guy looks at you the wrong way…then you'll be hidden away in a basement with a sweatshirt and baggy jogging pants on, also, your hair will be pulled up tightly at all times."

"Wow, you've got my life figured out; too bad I'll be wearing my bikini whether or not you like it." She stopped suddenly in front of him, pressing a hand against his chest. She whispered seductively, "but I'd rather you like it." With that she began walking away.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa; a bikini? Nope, sorry princess, you're going to keep your current clothes on," he looked over her body then shook his head as his eyes lingered on her long exposed legs. She was wearing short cut-off light-wash denim jeans and a lime green tank top that was perfect fitting. He blew out a low whistle.

"You like?" She smirked as he raked her body repeatedly with his eyes. Again, he blew out a whistle.

"I love…but you'll be wearing my shirt over your bikini, I fear even that outfit's too much for guys." She rolled her eyes but nodded anyway, walking in front of him. "It sure as hell is too much for me." He muttered so she wouldn't hear.

Once they reached the beach, Casey and Derek set their towels down by the others'. Derek took his t-shirt off, leaving him in his swimming trunks while Casey shed her shorts and tank top revealing a tiny bright orange bikini. Derek gawked at her form as she took the hair tie out of her high ponytail, letting her long brown hair fall on her shoulder, back and around her face in a messy manner.

Derek snapped out of his stupor when he heard the faint whistle of a guy staring at Casey from behind. Casey must've heard because she began to laugh bitterly, turned around looking in the direction of the guy, glanced around, then flew him the bird before turning her attention back to, a now smirking, Derek. After realizing the situation of many more than one guy staring at her in a way far more than wrong, Derek picked up his t-shirt from his towel and threw it over Casey's head.

"Derek!" She said through laughter as she pushed her arms through the loose sleeves. He smirked at her newly covered figure. She rolled her eyes but remained smiling. "So protective. C'mon I wanna swim." She took his forearm and practically dragged him into the lake.

"Did you hear him? He whistled!" Derek said in an unbelieving tone, and then scoffed, "like he has a chance in hell with you." Casey raised an eyebrow.

"You said the same thing to yourself before you proclaimed your undying love for me." She said smiling then leaned in and gave him a chaste kiss.

"Sure, Spacey. If I remember correctly you told me that I was everything; especially love!" He said the last word in a sing-song manner before picking her up by her waist and picking her up, then spinning her around. She laughed and continued even after she was back in the water in Derek's arms.

"You're so cheesy; that was the same thing you see in those stupid movies." She continued laughing. Derek just looked at her.

"You love those clichéd movies, and you absolutely love those parts." He said pointedly.

"Yeah, but that's not saying much. I also love you." Derek stared wide-eyed and jaw-dropped at her.

"I'm going to have to get you for that one." He narrowed his eyes at her playfully. She gave him a mock gasp.

"Oh, no! What are you going to do?!" He drew her closer to him so she was pressed against his chest. He leaned down and kissed her softly again and again. "You're going to need a better punishment." She murmured in between kisses.

"I like this one." He muttered while playing with the ends of her hair.

"Yeah, but so do I." She giggled as his large hand pressed against the small of her back.

"Point?" He muttered and continued kissing her.

"This is supposed to be-" She was cut off with a deep kiss. When they parted she pouted. "You never let me finish."

"We left you over there so you could get this out of your system, but then you come here and do it anyways!" Edwin cried out, swimming over to them. They just laughed.

"Sue me; I love the girl." Derek said wrapping Casey in a bear hug.

"And this girl requires breathing!" Her voice was muffled from Derek's chest and arms and he smirked, letting her go.

XOXO

"She better not be home yet…this is your entire fault." Casey whispered harshly to Derek.

"Me? Why is it my fault?" Casey rolled her eyes.

"Because you decided you wanted another make-out session!" Casey cried out, still whispering.

"I didn't hear you complaining; oh, wait…unless those gasps, sighs and moans were protests." He smirked at she turned a significant shade of red.

"Shut up; she's not home, we're lucky. C'mon get in there and change!" She told everybody and they all silently crept into the motel.

"Liz get your dress and come into my room, you guys get dressed and wait at the trail." Casey directed.

"Why can't I come in your room?" Derek muttered to Edwin, but Casey heard and hit his head then smiled sweetly.

"Because it'll be far more interesting when you see the finished product instead of how it got that way." She shooed them and they all got ready.

"Case, can you help me with this zipper? It won't go up all the way." Edwin heard Lizzie's muffled voice through the door; Derek was getting Marti in her dress, the two teens were ready but now Edwin was waiting for Derek and it would be interesting to listen in on the girls.

"Sure, Liz." There was a grunt, "wow, it's really stuck, okay suck in," short silence, "there! Okay, maybe not, it went down instead of up." Casey said; and Edwin smirked. A few seconds later they began speaking again. "There you go, Liz."

"Edwin, what're you doing?" Derek's voice asked behind him, he was about to answer but Derek stopped him, "never mind, I don't want to know."

They stepped out the door and waited by the trail.

XOXO

"Lizzie, you look awesome!" Casey exclaimed as Lizzie twirled in front of her, "the punk dress is so cute! Ed's going to freak!" She exclaimed happily.

"Casey…thanks, but…you look amazing!" Lizzie said as her eyes bugged practically out of her head. Casey smiled.

"Really?" She looked at her outfit then smiled again. "Well, let's get going…they can't wait forever, plus our reservations are soon." They walked over to the trail and found Edwin, Marti and Derek arguing over something.

"That's abs-whoa." Edwin stopped and stared at Lizzie with his jaw dropped, she smiled and blushed tremendously. Nobody had even noticed Casey standing off to the side; they were all wrapped up in Lizzie's feminine appearance. She took the advantage and slipped behind Derek.

"Edwin, close your mouth, you're drooling." Derek snapped his jaw back up, only to have it fall again. "Lizzie, you look fantastic." Derek said, and then averted his eyes. "Where's Case? She said something about a small, tight, sexy dress and quite frankly I've been thinking about that for far too long." Lizzie laughed and shrugged, knowing Casey was behind him.

"Lizzie, you look pretty!" Marti said happily and loudly. Lizzie laughed again.

"Thanks."

"Whoa…I mean you look…whoa." Edwin swallowed hard and Derek rolled his eyes.

"Amateur, but seriously, where's Case-whoa!" Derek yelped as someone jumped onto his back and wrapped their legs around his waist and their arms around his neck. Derek took hold of the familiar bare legs.

"Hey, Baby." Casey cooed in his ear and he shivered. "You look great." She continued to whisper huskily and Derek shivered again.

"Hey." She got off his back and he turned to look at her. Everyone else got a clear view and they all stared in awe, well except for Lizzie who had already seen Casey.

"Wow, Casey you look fantastic." Edwin said and Lizzie hit his shoulder violently.

"All I get is 'whoa'!" Edwin was about to explain when Marti chirped up.

"Casey, you look beautiful!" She said as she hugged her waist.

"Aw, thanks Smarti; you look adorable!"

"Wow." Was all that Derek could say.

"Oh, okay! I'm not mad at you anymore, Edwin." Lizzie said as she kissed his cheek.

"Thank you, I was speechless…and still am about the matter but, hey!" Lizzie clasped her hand against his mouth.

"Shut up." She said as she watched Derek stare at Casey with an amazed look. He smirked then.

"W-wow…I-I…good, Lord, woman, punish me now." He said shaking his head, looking her over. Casey smiled but blushed madly; he continued to stare as she continued to redden. "I mean…whoa, like right now." He nodded, his eyes still wide.

"Uh, no, not now! We don't want to see you get "punished"!" Lizzie cried, contorting her face with disgust. Derek just waved a dismissive hand them, not looking back.

"Go, I'd rather have her alone right now anyways…" Derek said smirking, causing Casey to blush so deeply her cheeks matched the poppy red colour of Edwin's shirt.

"We already gave you guys free time at the beach; we have reservations, make out some other time." Edwin said.

"Who said I'm going to make-out with her?" Derek asked, looking back at the two young teens; then looking back at Casey who was descending in the red scale, becoming darker ever split second, he winked at her and smirked.

"Oh, my God, Derek! Don't say that!" Casey cried out, finding her voice at last. He looked at her, still wearing his smirk, and then raked her body with his eyes.

"I said wear something small, tight and sexy, not something that would drive me mad. It's your fault." She continued to blush at his endless compliments. "But after tonight you're going to the basement, and I'm keeping this dress stored under my bed until I come visit you in the basement for you to wear when I'm giddy." He said with a wink.

"Derek, oh my God, shut up!" Casey cried out, burying her head in her hands, they all laughed.

"Whatever, mood killed, you're still hot," he pointed at Casey, "but you three, yeah you are a bunch of ruin-ers." He motioned to the younger kids. "Make that two, Smarti would never be so cruel." The little girl grinned a toothy smile and they all went down the trail to the street.

The kids walked in front of the two teens, Derek's arm was gently around Casey's waist as they walked. Derek kept placing small, warm kisses on Casey's temple. When they reached the small street, the lights on Old England style posts were twinkling.

"It's so pretty here!" Marti said brightly. The girls led them too the restaurant where they stood at the podium, waiting for someone to come along; when someone came to the podium Casey leaned forward to speak over the noise of people in the restaurant.

"Derek Venturi." She said and Derek raised his eyebrow.

"Il benvenuto a Botocelli Cuisine, lo segue alla vostra tabella." Casey and Lizzie looked at her confused.

"Oh, no we speak-" Casey began but was cut off by Derek.

"Grazie, il mio amico di ragazza non parla italiano in modo da tradurrò." Derek said; the Italian rolling off his tongue with ease. The woman nodded and gestured for them to follow her.

"Wow, you speak Italian?" Casey asked in awe. He chuckled and nodded. "That's so sexy." She purred in his ear and his eyes rolled back for the second where he forgot himself.

"Um…right, thanks." He said, completely lost. He pulled out her chair and sat down beside her.

XOXO

"I don't understand any of this." Casey whined quietly, on the other side of the table, Edwin was helping Lizzie with the menu, Marti had already chosen and so had Derek, but Casey was hopeless.

"Casey, I already translated everything for you; just pick a damn dish!" Derek mumbled.

"Well, I'm sorry that I can't memorize an entire menu!" She huffed then pouted, Derek didn't look at her face, she was far too cute when she pouted.

"Just pick something Casey. Or I'll pick something for you." He said, sounding defeated.

"Well…"

"Oh. My. God." Derek said slowly. "You're having fettuccini; I don't care, no protests." She rolled her eyes.

"By the way…what was it you said earlier?"

"Oh…she said follow me to your table or whatever and I told her you and Liz don't speak Italian and that I'd be translating." He shrugged.

"I repeat," she leaned up to his ear and her voice changed to a seductive whisper, "sexy." He visibly shuddered as she pulled away.

"Siete aspettare per ordinare?" A waitress asked.

"You guys ready?" They all nodded at Derek. After giving the waitress their choices they all sat and talked while waiting for their food.

XOXO

"Derek, stop that! I can see you I'm not blind!" Casey said in a laughing tone. Derek, once again, reached over to her plate with his fork. She slapped his hand away and smiled at him. "Stop!" She said again as he continued to steal her food.

"Hey, I pay, I eat." He said as he reached over to her plate and took a huge fork full and shoved it I his mouth. She made a disgusted face at he chewed loudly. A bit of the sauce remained on the corner of his upper lip and Casey smiled. "What?" He asked her after swallowing.

"You've got something right…" she kissed the spot, removing any traces of the sauce and smiled "…here." He smiled at her and remained with his persistence to steal her food.

"Stop, stop it…Ed don't you dare!" Lizzie said threateningly as Edwin aimed a steamed vegetable at her face. "Edwin, I swear, you throw that at me and you won't be kissed in a year!" He pouted and the rest of the table laughed.

"You know you can't resist me." He said, apparently catching on to Derek's egotistical ways.

"Sure, Ed." With that sarcastic comment, a steamed carrot found its way to Lizzie's forehead; she stared at him with wide eyes and mouth open. "You…you. You. Are. Dead!" Lizzie said in a hushed tone. Edwin feigned shock and covered his moth.

"Oh, my word! First it was no kissing and now it's my death! Whatever will I do?" He looked around before he got hit with a carrot in between his eyes. "Right…well you could do that…" He said. Casey leaned over in her seat to speak to Derek.

"Look; Marti's half asleep, she keeps nodding off, maybe it's too late." Casey said, fearing the reality of him, Marti and Edwin having to leave again.

"I can call Tyler; he lives around here, he's got a little sister her age. Besides I don't want to leave you yet. Maybe you could convince your mother of a sleepover?" Derek asked, not meaning that to sound wrong. "…well, that didn't come out how I'd hoped…" He chuckled awkwardly and she laughed at his discomfort.

"I get it; you want me to lie to my mom so me and Lizzie can spend the whole night with you and Ed in a not-so-wrong way." She continued to laugh as he stuck his tongue out at her. "That's very inviting." She said with a smirk and a wink.

"Is that an RSVP? Ooh…I hope you can come!" Derek said childishly with is very own smirk and wink; the four teens just laughed, Marti long gone in a deep sleep.

"You two are so cute!" Lizzie gushed, Edwin rolled his eyes, Casey smiled and Derek smirked.

"Derek?" Casey asked.

"Yeah, Case?"

"Do you think Tyler could come get her?" He nodded and called his friend. "He's coming; he'll be here in about five minutes. What about the Nora issue?" Casey shrugged.

"Easy enough." She took out her cell and called her mom, "hey Mom…yeah, I was wondering if Liz and I could sleep over at Caitlyn's…but don't you remember? I told you about her a couple of days ago…thanks Mom! Bye!" Casey smirked and looked at Derek proudly.

"Who the hell is Caitlyn?" Casey shrugged.

"No clue; I made it up, I knew she would feel guilty for not really paying attention and let us stay…so there we go, settled…now for your Dad."

"Now that's easy." He called George. "Dad, listen, Marti sort of passed out at Tyler's, do you mind we crash here for tonight?" Pause, "great, thanks." With that, he hung up.

"That was fast." Casey muttered. A few minutes later Tyler took Marti after Casey and Derek told her she'd be spending the night in a sleepover with Libby, Tyler's little sister. Marti was ecstatic and practically dragged Tyler out of the restaurant. They all just laughed.

"Edwin, do you want to dance?" Lizzie looked at him, pouting slightly. He sighed and nodded.

"Sure, but I warn you; I'm like Casey's clone klutz." The three of them laughed as Casey crossed her arms over her chest and pouted.

"Aw…c'mon, Baby, cheer up." Derek said pinching her cheek slightly. She continued to pout. "I'll dance with you." He tried but she just looked at him with her pout.

"You mean, you actually want to dance with my klutzy feet?" Casey asked, the pout fading ever so slightly.

"I'd love to dance with your klutzy feet." He said, as her pout faded to a smile. The four of them went to the dance floor just as the next song began to play.

"I love this song!" Lizzie and Casey cried in unison.

I don't need a lot of things
I can get by with nothing
Of all the blessings life can bring
I've always needed something
But I've got all I want
When it comes to loving you
You're my only reason
You're my only truth

Edwin and Lizzie danced gracefully; Edwin had yet to mess up with his klutz-like ways; while Derek and Casey had yet to start dancing.

"Stop laughing!" Derek cried out, frustrated; this only caused Casey to laugh harder. Finally she took Derek's hand and set it on her waist. Small chuckles still left her lips but vanished as they began dancing.

I need you like water
Like breath, like rain
I need you like mercy
From heaven's gate
There's a freedom in your arms
That carries me through
I need you

There were many other people dancing but to Lizzie and Edwin and Derek and Casey, they were alone on the dance floor. They didn't even care that they were in the midst of a family crisis; that they were lying to their parents, going behind their back. They didn't even realize that tomorrow everything would be back to the way it was, and sorrow and pain would come back.

You're the hope that moves me
To courage again
You're the love that rescues me
When the cold winds, rage
And it's so amazing
'cause that's just how you are
And I can't turn back now
'cause you've brought me too far

All that mattered was the second they were in, no more dwelling on the past, no more fearing the future, just now; just enjoying the present. They wouldn't worry about their mother or father, their living situations, their lies, their deceits; none of it mattered. Not when they were together. Not now.

I need you like water
Like breath, like rain
I need you like mercy
From heaven's gate
There's a freedom in your arms
That carries me through
I need you
Oh yes I do

They needed one another, if no one else saw that, then they were seriously deceived; because nothing else in these young peoples' minds made just as much sense as this did; nothing else in the world made this much sense. People could call them crazy; say that they didn't know what they were doing, that they were young and foolish teenagers. That there was so much in the world that made so much more sense than what they had.

I need you like water
Like breath, like rain
I need you like mercy
From heaven's gate
There's a freedom in your arms
That carries me through
I need you
Oh yes I do
I need you
I need you

But those onlookers that night could make an argument with those non-believers. They could say that these young people knew more about life than led to believe, because no matter how much hurt the heart held, they only needed each other; they could say that the look in the eyes while they danced was the look of living in the moment, but at the same time, making the future. Nobody knew that were stepsiblings, but that made the argument even better.

Because they fought for what they needed; each other.

A/N: Okay…this chapter is probably the longest I've ever written in my life; I just want to finish this story so I can post it as complete; I'm making it official there will be a SEQUEL! BUT FOR ME TO POST I NEED REVIEWS!!!