A/N: Wow. It's been like what? A year? I really have no clue. The thing is, this chapter has been written since like, July. I just had to edit some things and I never got to it. In my defense…I'm lazy. Plus, 3 AP classes can be time-consuming. Now summer is here and HOPEFULLY (meaning most likely not :p) I will try updating somewhat regularly. I even have an outline. It's just the matter of sitting down an actually writing.

Thanks to those who have stuck by me and have this on story alert!

Disclaimer: I don't own Life with Derek. Nope. I do not.

Lizzie was sitting at her desk in her dorm, humming lightly as she flipped through a sports magazine when the there was a knock on the door.

"Door's open, Edwin," Lizzie called out, without even looking up from the magazine.

The door opened and in walked Edwin Venturi, "Hey Liz," he said as he walked straight to the fridge.

"Hey," Lizzie replied, still engrossed in her reading.

Edwin opened the fridge door and started to rummage through it contents. "Hey, is the Pepsi or the Mountain Dew yours?"

"Pepsi's mine."

"Ah, well, I'm in the mood for Mountain Dew. I'm sure Sara won't mind if I take one of her drinks," Edwin said as he reached for the soda can.

"Actually she will. She said that if you take one more thing that belongs to her out of that fridge, you'll never be able to have children." Came Lizzie's reply in a rather indifferent tone.

Edwin gulped. "O-okay then. I really wanted Pepsi anyways." After he took the soda, he casually flopped down on the couch. He set the can down on the table in front of the couch and started to look around for the remote.

"What are you reading," Edwin asked as he looked under the table and by the TV.

"An article about this up and coming soccer player."

"Cool, cool," Edwin replied, not really listening. He was looking underneath the sofa cushions.

"Yup, fascinating stuff really," Lizzie, said.

"Bet it is," Edwin looked all around the sitting area but still couldn't find what he was looking for. He continued to dig through various objects, throw aside magazines, shuffle through piles of paper, and even poke in the wastebasket, all while creating a ruckus of noise.

"Edwin…what are you doing," Lizzie asked, finally looking up, due to the noises her stepbrother-who-happened-to-be-her-best friend was making.

"Nothing, nothing, I just…Ok, where on earth is the stupid remote?" Edwin asked exasperated.

"I don't know, Sara hid it somewhere," Lizzie finally got up and sat down on the sofa next to Edwin.

"What?" Edwin asked with wide eyes. "She hid it? From you?"

"No… she hid it from you," Lizzie said matter-of-factly.

"What?"

"Yeah. First of all, she thinks you come here way too often. Second, she thinks you watch too much of our TV. She wanted to stop you. She said that if you want to watch TV so badly, you should buy your own set and stay in your own dorm."

"Wow. That roommate of yours really hates me. Wonder why?"

"Um, maybe because you hit on her every time you see her? Even though she's made it very clear that she's pretty repulsed by you? "

"Hey! She hasn't made it very clear. She's just implied it…"

"Anyways, what's weird is how she thinks hiding the remote will stop you from watching TV. Seriously, how dumb does she think you are?" Lizzie laughed lightly.

"Um, right." Edwin said. He paused for a second. "Why's it weird again"

"Because you can still use the buttons on the TV…" Lizzie said slowly.

"Oh!" Edwin said, "Right. I knew that."

Lizzie rolled her eyes as Edwin went up to the TV to press the power button. Just as he sat back down, Lizzie's cell phone rang. She looked at the called ID.

"Edwin, it's Marti. Turn the TV off."

Edwin groaned and got up again to turn it off.

Lizzie answered the phone, "Hello?"

"Hey Lizzie, it's Marti."

"Hey Marti. What's up?"

"I wanted to discuss our…plans. Edwin's there at your dorm, I'm sure?"

"As always," Lizzie turned to give Edwin a playful glare. "Here, let me put you on speaker."

"Ok, we need to get down to business. I want to talk about the Derek and Casey situation" Marti's voice came out through the phone.

Edwin and Lizzie exchanged a glance but said nothing.

After a few silent moments, Marti spoke again, "Look guys, sorry if I made you feel guilty before. You guys don't have to help. If you decided you don't want to be involved anymore, I'm ok with that. I won't hold a grudge forever. Maybe just for 2 years."

There was long silence. A long awkward silence.

"Um, that was a joke. You know, like 'ha ha?' Ok, I can tell you guys don't want to-"

"No!" Lizzie shouted into the phone. "Marti, I want to help!"

"We want to help. Really Marti." Edwin chimed in.

"Please don't do this because you feel guilty-"

"We're doing it because we want to," Lizzie said.

"Yeah, it's…I… we love them too. We want them to be happy. We want to help you get them together because, I think, it'll make us all happier. For a while now, we've been drifting…there isn't that closeness between us all anymore. Derek and Casey are the hearts of our family. We all know it. And they've both been very upset for a while and it has been like… there have been dark clouds hanging over this family. I think- know- that if Casey and Derek get together, it'll be like, a ray of sunshine. We could be a family that randomly starts dancing at the end of the day again."

Lizzie stared at Edwin with astonishment.

"Whoa. That was deep. Who's the deeply insightful man with you there, Lizzie? Surely it isn't my brother, Edwin, the one who invented the game about gas."

"Hey! That would've made millions! If only someone had invested in it, I'd be filthy rich! I'd-" Edwin was cut off by Lizzie throwing her arms around him.

"Edwin! That was so touching! I never knew you cared about this family so much!"

"Um, yeah, well it's true right? I didn't say anything we didn't already know." Edwin said awkwardly scratching the back of his neck.

Lizzie pulled away and gave her best friend a grin, "Nonetheless, it was sweet."

"Yeah, just don't let anyone know about it. Imagine what would happen to by cool guy rep!"

"What cool guy- never mind."

"Ok, I think we need to brainstorm some ways to get them together."

"I have the perfect plan!" Edwin looked as if he had struck gold. "We could lock them both into a closet and keep them in there until they realize they're madly in love!"

Two beats passed. Then both Lizzie and Marti both burst out laughing.

"That's a good one, Edwin!" Lizzie said, wiping a tear away from the corner of her eye.

"It was! Geez, Edwin! I almost believed that was a real suggestion for a second! But then I realized that even you can't be that stupid!" Marti giggled.

"Heh, yeah. You know me, the Stand-Up comedian." Edwin mumbled.

"Anyways, not that that wasn't a laugh, but we need to get back on track."

"We could always talk to them individually," Lizzie suggested. "Try to get them to stop being chickens."

"That could work. Being direct can't hurt."

"Yeah, but, don't you think they'll be a little insulted that their younger siblings are telling them to be brave? Telling them what to do? Plus you know how Derek is. Tell him one thing and he'll do the opposite." Edwin inputted.

"You have any ideas, Mr. Ray-of-Sunshine?"

Edwin playfully shoved Lizzie on her shoulder. " Maybe we could send roses for Noel, from 'his lover' to Casey's place. She'll assume Noel's cheating on her and break off the engagement! She'll go crying into Derek's arms and BAM! Problem solved." Edwin crossed his arms and looked rather pleased with himself.

"Edwin? Are you serious? That's so stupid! 'His lover'? Come on, even if Noel was having an affair, why would the other women send flowers to Casey's apartment?"

"Well, maybe, he-she-" Edwin spluttered.

"Edwin," Lizzie said gently, "even if that did work, we shouldn't do that, seeing as it would REALLY hurt Casey, and put Noel into a horrible situation he doesn't deserve. Noel's a nice guy. We don't need everyone thinking he's a cheating scum, like Truman, when he's been nothing but terribly sweet and kind to all of us, especially Casey."

"Fine." Edwin grunted.

"Look, I think we need them to see each other. And we should be there to casually bring up all those moments they've had together. Maybe that'll stir up those feelings and get them thinking about each other. Then we all leave and try to get them alone. Hopefully they'll talk."

"Ok, but what if they end up talking about the weather?" Lizzie asked Marti. "I don't know… the plan seems way too, I don't know, flimsy."

"Hmm…I guess you're right. Maybe that'll be phase one? Bringing up the feelings they've been trying to bury. Then we can plan phase two after."

"Derek probably won't come if he knows that Casey and Noel are going to be there."

"True. I'll try to work my magic and get Derek to come to a family dinner. I'll use the guilt card about leaving early without a proper goodbye. You know he has a soft spot for his "Smarti". And I'll conveniently leave out that Nasey will be there too."

Edwin and Lizzie looked at each other with a confused look. "Nasey?" they asked simultaneously.

Marti sighed. "Casey and Noel. Duh. Come on. You know the whole combining names for a couple thing! Plus it's easier to say Nasey, opposed to Caaaasey and Noooooel."Marti said stretching the names.

Lizzie laughed, "Ok, sorry. But yeah, I think the plan's fine. Like you said, it could be part one. Then we can try some other tactics. We can discuss it after whatever happens at dinner. I guess we're playing it by ear."

"But isn't that risky?" Edwin asked. "I mean, taking chances with such a big thing?"

"Since when did things go our way anyway?" Lizzie asked. "I think we might as well just go with it."

"Plus, I suck at planning."

"Alright. I guess we're set."

"Once Marti gets Derek to come to dinner, the plan will officially commence in the McDonald-Venturi residence on Saturday night at 6:30. Right?" Edwin asked.

"Right-o." Lizzie confirmed. "Ok, then Marti. We'll talk to you later."

"All righty then. I'll give you an update on my talk with Derek."

"You do that. Nice idea Marti. Brilliant as always," Edwin said.

"Thanks, Eddie," Marti laughed. "And don't worry, if none of this works out, we could always try the closet thing." and with that Marti hung up.

A/N: Now is the time where you review your hearts out! Again, sorry for the lack of updates.