p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"And The Winner Is.../p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"by The BucketWoman/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Disclaimer: There is so much stuff that I do not own. emLife with Derek/em for starters. emHigh School Musical/em and some other stuff, but no infringement is intended./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Chapter Twenty-Six/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Part One: Casey/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Thank you, Derek," Derek said./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Chris rolled his eyes and groaned./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"From behind him, Casey put an arm around his waist. He twisted to get an arm around her shoulders./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Not that you still notice me standing here," Chris said. "But I am gonna go home to my empty bed now." He gave them both light pats on the head as he headed out the door. Casey dimly heard Emily's voice from the parking lot. She was yelling at Chris to quit molesting her boyfriend./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""I'm the only one who gets to do that!" Emily said./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Derek laughed. Poor thing looked exhausted. How worried had he been?/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"People passed Derek and Casey on the way out. Most of them pretended not to notice the way Derek was looking at her, but Casey heard a couple of delighted squeees from people who just couldn't help themselves./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""So you're not pissed at me?" Derek said./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Why would I be pissed?" Casey asked. "What'dya do?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Made kind of an ass of myself," He said./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""You get points for consistency," she said./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""That's comforting," he said. "So why exactly didn't you tell me the dude was gay? I mean, do you emenjoy/em watching me squirm?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Yeah," Casey said. "But that's beside the point. I thought you knew about Chris. It's not like he was trying to hide it."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""I..." Derek said. "Guess I missed it. I saw squealing and melting girls watching him at the auditions— and I have that on tape if you don't believe me—and I thought to myself 'good-looking guy, girls looking at him like he was made of nacho, and he's gonna be kissing my girl' so I stressed about it a little."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""What did you think would happen?" Casey asked. "Did you think I'd cheat on you?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""No," Derek said. "I thought you'd dump me properly."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""You're an idiot."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""So people keep telling me."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Why would you worry about something like that?" Casey asked. She kissed him then, and he wasn't expecting it, so he let out a completely ungraceful mmmph./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"But then, at long last, he relaxed. His eyebrows unknitted, shoulders finally lowered. She hadn't noticed until that second that they'd been practically up to his ears, like a startled cat's./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"There was a little pause after she came up for air. He blinked a couple of times and said: "Silly me."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Casey laughed and went in for another kiss when the extended bleat of a honking horn made them both jump. Casey clutched at her heart./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""I guess that was a hint," Derek said. Not that he was in any hurry, horn or no horn. He took her face in both hands and tried for another kiss./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Derek," Casey said. "We must not keep our Shemily waiting."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Patience is a virtue," he said. "Least that's what Nora says when I ask her when we're gonna eat."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"He nibbled on her ear and buried his nose in her hair. He was too good at this. How did anyone expect her to do anything when he did this? She ran her hands under his t-shirt and raised goosebumps. He stifled a giggle up against her neck. He was so thoroughly ticklish. Sometimes all she had to do was poke one particular spot on his abdomen and he was powerless./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Don't even think about it," he said, still up against her neck, and reading her mind. She knew his tickle spots and he knew that the vibration of his voice against her drove her bonkers. She guessed they were even./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"HOOOOONNNKKKK! HOOONNNNKKKKK!/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Casey was going to get Emily for that. And it had to be Emily. Sheldon would've given them a few minutes./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Whose idea was it to carpool again?" Derek said. "What are we, forty?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""I dunno, but we better go," Casey said. She led Derek over to the bank of chairs where he left his camera stuff. She helped him put the last of his stuff away. He reached for her and gave her another quick kiss on the neck./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Come on," Casey said, pulling away a little reluctantly. "Time to take a ride in Sheldon (peck) Schlepper's (peck) Brother's (peck) Clunker."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Oh how I miss our clunker," Derek said./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""It's our turn to drive them tomorrow," Casey said./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""How can we torture them?" Derek said, rubbing his hands together./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Yep, knew you'd like that," Casey said as they walked about./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Silly, silly Puppy," she whispered into his ear just before they got to the car./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"So began a drive home marked with tickling and idle threats, and a lot of making out. Casey managed to look up once or twice to see Sheldon rolling his eyes in the rear-view mirror. The ride was also notable for Emily saying "Don't you emmake/em us turn this car around!"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"The next night, Derek took a CD case and loaded it with stuff he borrowed from Marti—High School Musical, Hannah Montana, Corbin Bleu, Kidz Bop—stuff that he figured would have Sheldon and Emily begging for mercy./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"It backfired, when they sang "We're All in this together," from the back of the car, both doing synchronized head swivels and dorky 80s dances like the Snake and the Cabbage Patch./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Can't believe you thought that would work," Casey said./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Don't rub it in," Derek said./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"She joined in with them, 80s dances and all./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""You're the Devil," Derek said./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Part Two: George/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"George thought it was high time they went away for the weekend./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""I don't know, Georgie," Nora said. "We should think about it." She really wanted to, he could see it on her face, the way her forehead crinkled up like she was trying to concentrate, but could be easily distracted by the right kind of distraction. She was sitting on the edge of their bed, playing with a loose thread on the bedspread../p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""What's to think about?" George asked, sitting down next to her and leaning on her a little. "We've done it before. The house is still standing and everything! And Derek seems to really have matured these past few months, so I think we can, in good conscience, sneak away for a day or so."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""That was before any of our kids began to date, Georgie," Nora said. "Now, in case you hadn't noticed, four out of the five are attached at the hip. Aren't you really relieved that I didn't have a son for Marti?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"He'd thought about that./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Like I said, Derek has really grown up a lot in the last year or so."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""That's kind of what I'm worried about," Nora said./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Very funny."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Not joking."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""I think that we can't keep watch on them forever," George said./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""No," Nora agreed. "Not foremever/em. Just till they're thirty." She moved on from the comforter to the hem of her shirt./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""No-emraaa/em," George said. "The point I'm trying to make here, is that the kids are growing up. Meaning that they are all protective of each other and as such, they can be trusted."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Edwin and Lizzie," Nora said./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""What about em?" George said. "They're fourteen."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Edwin had a book," Nora began, "that I borrowed. It's about a emthir/emteen year old boy...and a thirteen year old girl. No parental supervision. So they start having sex."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""emSkipped Parts/em," George said. "Good book."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""You knew about this book?" Nora said. "You let Edwin read it?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Can't stop Edwin from reading books," George said. "And I wouldn't if I could. Same with Casey, Lizzie, and eventually Marti. Tell a kid they can't read something, first of all, you're insulting their intelligence. Secondly, they'll do anything in their power to get their hands on it anyway. Same with movies. Case in point, bottom drawer of Derek's dresser, the one that we officially don't know about, with all the horror movies in it. And the Kevin Smith stuff. Besides, did you read the whole book, Nora? They're not going to be imitating it anytime soon, believe me."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""I still can't help worrying about them," Nora said. George started to nuzzle her neck. He had no idea that his son often used the same move./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""There's always Mrs. Higgenbothom," George said./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""She won't come within a hundred feet of this house," Nora said./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""I have a feeling," George said. "That Derek will put Mrs. Higgenbothom to shame if we leave him and Casey in charge this weekend."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""How do you know?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Just a hunch," George said. "Don't forget I'm the eldest, too."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Would they listen to him?" Nora said./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Yes and no," George said. "They will put up all kinds of fuss about how he's not the boss of them, but they will be powerless against Derek as Papa Bear."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Wow," Nora thought. She tried to suppress a smile. George knew she was picturing Derek sitting between Edwin and Lizzie, possibly reminding them to leave room for the Holy Ghost./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""And Casey's been doing the Mama Bear bit for years now," George said. "So whaddya say?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Are we taking Marti?" Nora said./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""No," George said. "I think we can leave her to walk in on emthem/em. That way emwe/em get privacy and they don't."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"He started to knead her shoulders. "You know you want to," he said. "Incidentally, this place I found has a pool, and no kids. And real adult food. No peanut butter. No goldfish crackers. No mac and cheese."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""I kinda like the goldfish crackers," Nora said./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""We can bring some," George said. "But the point is that there will be no kids lurking about and you can walk around the room naked if you choose to do so and might I add that I hope you choose to do so?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""So," George continued, wrapping his arms around Nora, "Crackers? Nudity? Crumbs in bed that the kids didn't put there? Yes? "/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Okay," Nora said, finally. "But there will have to be a family meeting."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Part Three: Edwin./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"This was going to suck./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"First there'd been that sentence that Edwin never liked to hear:/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Casey, Derek, you're in charge."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""No more 'wheel of fun' though okay?" Marti said. Derek snickered./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Keep laughing," Casey said. She gestured with her fork. "That was a valid skill building and bonding exercise!"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Even Dad laughed at that. "Don't tell me you tried the chore wheel thing from that magazine. Anyone could've told you that wasn't gonna go over well."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Casey stirred her peas and pouted./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""I'm sure there are all kinds of things you guys can do that won't inspire mutiny," Nora said./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Keep hope alive, Mom," Lizzie said./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""I always do," Nora said./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"As it turned out, Derek and Casey had big plans for them this weekend. Turned out, there was a need for set painters and such for Casey's play. So Saturday morning, they sent Marti off to play with Dimi and conscripted Lizzie and Edwin to come help./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""You couldn't ask anyone else?" Lizzie asked./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""We asked emeveryone/em else," Casey said. "Sam and Em are coming. Ralph is doing family stuff. Sheldon's working. Even Tinker told me no."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""That leaves us," Derek said. "And you."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""And you're gonna what,"Lizzie said. "Supervise?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""As always," Derek said. Then he rolled his eyes. "Come on. We'll spring for pizza."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""With the cash Dad left?" Edwin said./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Duh?" Derek said. "You care?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Nope," Edwin said. "But it's hardly a bribe if you were gonna do it anyway."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""I was going to order pizza anyway," Derek said. "But was I going to give you any? That's the question."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Okay, listen," Casey said. "You guys are both really artistic. We're gonna have you do close up work like painting leaves and vines. Maybe some street signs."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Casey turned her biggest saddest eyes on them both./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Okay! Okay!" Lizzie said. "Jeez!"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Way to cave, Liz" Edwin said. Lizzie glared at him. He resisted the urge to take a step back from her./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""So let's go already," Derek said./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"So Edwin went along, too./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"They were greeted at the door by Jack, who pretended never to have met Edwin or Lizzie before./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Weeell," Jack said. "I've heard so much about the two of you; it's nice to finally meet you."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"emSubtle/em, Edwin thought, but shook his hand./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Chris and Brianna were inside already. Jack formally introduced them too./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Brianna gushed over Edwin and Lizzie in a cheek-pinching Auntie sort of way./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""They're gorgeous," she said. "Did your ementire/em family step out of a Kodak ad?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Pretty much," Derek said./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Egotistical much?" Casey said. Derek winked at her./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Then there was Chris./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Will you look at this face," Chris said, lifting Lizzie's chin. "emQuelle gamine/em!"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Trying to say I'm some kind of waif?" Lizzie asked./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Uh-oh," Derek said./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Move outta the way," Edwin said./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Am I about to get my ass kicked?" Chris asked./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Maybe," Derek said. "There's a little bit of Tae Kwon Do going on that you should maybe know about."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Oooh," Chris said. "Can ya flip me?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Maybe later," Lizzie said./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""If I'm good?" Chris asked. Lizzie rolled her eyes. "Dork," she said. But she was smiling./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Derek, to his credit, had paint in his hair and on one cheek within an hour. He and Casey got stuck doing the facade of the flower shop. It was made up of two pieces on wheels and they needed to paint both sides. They put Edwin to work on a lamppost as Lizzie got to help Brianna glue fake brick wallpaper onto one of the facades./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"It wasn't so bad; Edwin grabbed the digital still camera on the way out of the house. He was especially happy to have it when Emily and Sam showed up./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Sam for some reason seemed to be of particular interest to both Chris and Brianna./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"by The BucketWoman/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Disclaimer: There is so much stuff that I do not own. emLife with Derek/em for starters. emHigh School Musical/em and some other stuff, but no infringement is intended./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Chapter Twenty-Six/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Part One: Casey/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Thank you, Derek," Derek said./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Chris rolled his eyes and groaned./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"From behind him, Casey put an arm around his waist. He twisted to get an arm around her shoulders./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Not that you still notice me standing here," Chris said. "But I am gonna go home to my empty bed now." He gave them both light pats on the head as he headed out the door. Casey dimly heard Emily's voice from the parking lot. She was yelling at Chris to quit molesting her boyfriend./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""I'm the only one who gets to do that!" Emily said./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Derek laughed. Poor thing looked exhausted. How worried had he been?/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"People passed Derek and Casey on the way out. Most of them pretended not to notice the way Derek was looking at her, but Casey heard a couple of delighted squeees from people who just couldn't help themselves./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""So you're not pissed at me?" Derek said./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Why would I be pissed?" Casey asked. "What'dya do?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Made kind of an ass of myself," He said./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""You get points for consistency," she said./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""That's comforting," he said. "So why exactly didn't you tell me the dude was gay? I mean, do you emenjoy/em watching me squirm?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Yeah," Casey said. "But that's beside the point. I thought you knew about Chris. It's not like he was trying to hide it."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""I..." Derek said. "Guess I missed it. I saw squealing and melting girls watching him at the auditions— and I have that on tape if you don't believe me—and I thought to myself 'good-looking guy, girls looking at him like he was made of nacho, and he's gonna be kissing my girl' so I stressed about it a little."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""What did you think would happen?" Casey asked. "Did you think I'd cheat on you?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""No," Derek said. "I thought you'd dump me properly."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""You're an idiot."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""So people keep telling me."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Why would you worry about something like that?" Casey asked. She kissed him then, and he wasn't expecting it, so he let out a completely ungraceful mmmph./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"But then, at long last, he relaxed. His eyebrows unknitted, shoulders finally lowered. She hadn't noticed until that second that they'd been practically up to his ears, like a startled cat's./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"There was a little pause after she came up for air. He blinked a couple of times and said: "Silly me."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Casey laughed and went in for another kiss when the extended bleat of a honking horn made them both jump. Casey clutched at her heart./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""I guess that was a hint," Derek said. Not that he was in any hurry, horn or no horn. He took her face in both hands and tried for another kiss./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Derek," Casey said. "We must not keep our Shemily waiting."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Patience is a virtue," he said. "Least that's what Nora says when I ask her when we're gonna eat."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"He nibbled on her ear and buried his nose in her hair. He was too good at this. How did anyone expect her to do anything when he did this? She ran her hands under his t-shirt and raised goosebumps. He stifled a giggle up against her neck. He was so thoroughly ticklish. Sometimes all she had to do was poke one particular spot on his abdomen and he was powerless./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Don't even think about it," he said, still up against her neck, and reading her mind. She knew his tickle spots and he knew that the vibration of his voice against her drove her bonkers. She guessed they were even./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"HOOOOONNNKKKK! HOOONNNNKKKKK!/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Casey was going to get Emily for that. And it had to be Emily. Sheldon would've given them a few minutes./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Whose idea was it to carpool again?" Derek said. "What are we, forty?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""I dunno, but we better go," Casey said. She led Derek over to the bank of chairs where he left his camera stuff. She helped him put the last of his stuff away. He reached for her and gave her another quick kiss on the neck./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Come on," Casey said, pulling away a little reluctantly. "Time to take a ride in Sheldon (peck) Schlepper's (peck) Brother's (peck) Clunker."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Oh how I miss our clunker," Derek said./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""It's our turn to drive them tomorrow," Casey said./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""How can we torture them?" Derek said, rubbing his hands together./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Yep, knew you'd like that," Casey said as they walked about./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Silly, silly Puppy," she whispered into his ear just before they got to the car./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"So began a drive home marked with tickling and idle threats, and a lot of making out. Casey managed to look up once or twice to see Sheldon rolling his eyes in the rear-view mirror. The ride was also notable for Emily saying "Don't you emmake/em us turn this car around!"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"The next night, Derek took a CD case and loaded it with stuff he borrowed from Marti—High School Musical, Hannah Montana, Corbin Bleu, Kidz Bop—stuff that he figured would have Sheldon and Emily begging for mercy./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"It backfired, when they sang "We're All in this together," from the back of the car, both doing synchronized head swivels and dorky 80s dances like the Snake and the Cabbage Patch./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Can't believe you thought that would work," Casey said./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Don't rub it in," Derek said./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"She joined in with them, 80s dances and all./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""You're the Devil," Derek said./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Part Two: George/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"George thought it was high time they went away for the weekend./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""I don't know, Georgie," Nora said. "We should think about it." She really wanted to, he could see it on her face, the way her forehead crinkled up like she was trying to concentrate, but could be easily distracted by the right kind of distraction. She was sitting on the edge of their bed, playing with a loose thread on the bedspread../p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""What's to think about?" George asked, sitting down next to her and leaning on her a little. "We've done it before. The house is still standing and everything! And Derek seems to really have matured these past few months, so I think we can, in good conscience, sneak away for a day or so."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""That was before any of our kids began to date, Georgie," Nora said. "Now, in case you hadn't noticed, four out of the five are attached at the hip. Aren't you really relieved that I didn't have a son for Marti?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"He'd thought about that./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Like I said, Derek has really grown up a lot in the last year or so."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""That's kind of what I'm worried about," Nora said./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Very funny."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Not joking."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""I think that we can't keep watch on them forever," George said./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""No," Nora agreed. "Not foremever/em. Just till they're thirty." She moved on from the comforter to the hem of her shirt./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""No-emraaa/em," George said. "The point I'm trying to make here, is that the kids are growing up. Meaning that they are all protective of each other and as such, they can be trusted."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Edwin and Lizzie," Nora said./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""What about em?" George said. "They're fourteen."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Edwin had a book," Nora began, "that I borrowed. It's about a emthir/emteen year old boy...and a thirteen year old girl. No parental supervision. So they start having sex."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""emSkipped Parts/em," George said. "Good book."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""You knew about this book?" Nora said. "You let Edwin read it?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Can't stop Edwin from reading books," George said. "And I wouldn't if I could. Same with Casey, Lizzie, and eventually Marti. Tell a kid they can't read something, first of all, you're insulting their intelligence. Secondly, they'll do anything in their power to get their hands on it anyway. Same with movies. Case in point, bottom drawer of Derek's dresser, the one that we officially don't know about, with all the horror movies in it. And the Kevin Smith stuff. Besides, did you read the whole book, Nora? They're not going to be imitating it anytime soon, believe me."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""I still can't help worrying about them," Nora said. George started to nuzzle her neck. He had no idea that his son often used the same move./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""There's always Mrs. Higgenbothom," George said./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""She won't come within a hundred feet of this house," Nora said./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""I have a feeling," George said. "That Derek will put Mrs. Higgenbothom to shame if we leave him and Casey in charge this weekend."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""How do you know?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Just a hunch," George said. "Don't forget I'm the eldest, too."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Would they listen to him?" Nora said./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Yes and no," George said. "They will put up all kinds of fuss about how he's not the boss of them, but they will be powerless against Derek as Papa Bear."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Wow," Nora thought. She tried to suppress a smile. George knew she was picturing Derek sitting between Edwin and Lizzie, possibly reminding them to leave room for the Holy Ghost./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""And Casey's been doing the Mama Bear bit for years now," George said. "So whaddya say?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Are we taking Marti?" Nora said./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""No," George said. "I think we can leave her to walk in on emthem/em. That way emwe/em get privacy and they don't."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"He started to knead her shoulders. "You know you want to," he said. "Incidentally, this place I found has a pool, and no kids. And real adult food. No peanut butter. No goldfish crackers. No mac and cheese."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""I kinda like the goldfish crackers," Nora said./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""We can bring some," George said. "But the point is that there will be no kids lurking about and you can walk around the room naked if you choose to do so and might I add that I hope you choose to do so?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""So," George continued, wrapping his arms around Nora, "Crackers? Nudity? Crumbs in bed that the kids didn't put there? Yes? "/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Okay," Nora said, finally. "But there will have to be a family meeting."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Part Three: Edwin./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"This was going to suck./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"First there'd been that sentence that Edwin never liked to hear:/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Casey, Derek, you're in charge."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""No more 'wheel of fun' though okay?" Marti said. Derek snickered./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Keep laughing," Casey said. She gestured with her fork. "That was a valid skill building and bonding exercise!"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Even Dad laughed at that. "Don't tell me you tried the chore wheel thing from that magazine. Anyone could've told you that wasn't gonna go over well."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Casey stirred her peas and pouted./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""I'm sure there are all kinds of things you guys can do that won't inspire mutiny," Nora said./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Keep hope alive, Mom," Lizzie said./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""I always do," Nora said./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"As it turned out, Derek and Casey had big plans for them this weekend. Turned out, there was a need for set painters and such for Casey's play. So Saturday morning, they sent Marti off to play with Dimi and conscripted Lizzie and Edwin to come help./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""You couldn't ask anyone else?" Lizzie asked./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""We asked emeveryone/em else," Casey said. "Sam and Em are coming. Ralph is doing family stuff. Sheldon's working. Even Tinker told me no."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""That leaves us," Derek said. "And you."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""And you're gonna what,"Lizzie said. "Supervise?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""As always," Derek said. Then he rolled his eyes. "Come on. We'll spring for pizza."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""With the cash Dad left?" Edwin said./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Duh?" Derek said. "You care?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Nope," Edwin said. "But it's hardly a bribe if you were gonna do it anyway."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""I was going to order pizza anyway," Derek said. "But was I going to give you any? That's the question."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Okay, listen," Casey said. "You guys are both really artistic. We're gonna have you do close up work like painting leaves and vines. Maybe some street signs."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Casey turned her biggest saddest eyes on them both./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Okay! Okay!" Lizzie said. "Jeez!"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Way to cave, Liz" Edwin said. Lizzie glared at him. He resisted the urge to take a step back from her./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""So let's go already," Derek said./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"So Edwin went along, too./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"They were greeted at the door by Jack, who pretended never to have met Edwin or Lizzie before./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Weeell," Jack said. "I've heard so much about the two of you; it's nice to finally meet you."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"emSubtle/em, Edwin thought, but shook his hand./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Chris and Brianna were inside already. Jack formally introduced them too./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Brianna gushed over Edwin and Lizzie in a cheek-pinching Auntie sort of way./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""They're gorgeous," she said. "Did your ementire/em family step out of a Kodak ad?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Pretty much," Derek said./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Egotistical much?" Casey said. Derek winked at her./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Then there was Chris./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Will you look at this face," Chris said, lifting Lizzie's chin. "emQuelle gamine/em!"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Trying to say I'm some kind of waif?" Lizzie asked./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Uh-oh," Derek said./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Move outta the way," Edwin said./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Am I about to get my ass kicked?" Chris asked./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Maybe," Derek said. "There's a little bit of Tae Kwon Do going on that you should maybe know about."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Oooh," Chris said. "Can ya flip me?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Maybe later," Lizzie said./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""If I'm good?" Chris asked. Lizzie rolled her eyes. "Dork," she said. But she was smiling./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Derek, to his credit, had paint in his hair and on one cheek within an hour. He and Casey got stuck doing the facade of the flower shop. It was made up of two pieces on wheels and they needed to paint both sides. They put Edwin to work on a lamppost as Lizzie got to help Brianna glue fake brick wallpaper onto one of the facades./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"It wasn't so bad; Edwin grabbed the digital still camera on the way out of the house. He was especially happy to have it when Emily and Sam showed up./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Sam for some reason seemed to be of particular interest to both Chris and Brianna./p