A/N: Here's Part 3 to this snapshot, and I have to say, I really enjoyed the very positive response I got from all of you about what is really just a couple of ordinary days in the lives of our fave foursome. Gigundo thankees again to: Jamie Kay Huntt, EmoTacoFilling, MorbidMandy, ReadingInTheDark, Silverbird121, smilin'intherain, not-so-innocent011, and xXGh0stXx. As always, reviews keep me going, and don't worry, there are lots more stories to come, but I'll be starting a second Snapshots for all my post-Reckoning stuff (I'll be moving Daydream Believer over there), and I'll keep my Summoning/Awakening/Reckoning stuff here. And then of course I'll be starting to post my multi-chapter fic soon too...busy busy busy. :) Enjoy!

So the setting is the morning after Tori sees Chlerek's highly suspicious leaving-bathroom-together-in-the-middle-of-the-night escapade. I wanted to have a little bit of Simon/Derek interaction and show the brotherly love, and I was watching my cat play with my dog and I came up with this little snapshot. My cat is young and playful and my dog is old and grumpy and as soon as I saw them playing I thought of S and D, so here you are!

Disclaimer: I am not Kelley Armstrong and I don't own Darkest Powers, I just abuse the characters for my own pleasure. :)

After the awkward moment in the hall the night before, I was only too glad to see just Simon in the kitchen for breakfast. We joked around while we made ourselves something to eat, although I kept a sharp ear out for Tori, ready to flee as soon as I heard her coming.

Simon kept looking at the door, and once when he caught my eye he grinned apologetically.

"Sorry, I'm not bored or anything, I'm just wondering what's keeping Derek. He's always up early."

I shrugged and put on my innocent face, finishing up my toast. We hung out a while longer and I gave him a hand with the dishes, then we played a few hands of cards. When we were done, Simon checked his watch and rolled his eyes.

"Ok, this is ridiculous. Derek's really got to get up and eat, or he'll be a force to be reckoned with by lunchtime. We'll be lucky to get crumbs."

He was on his feet in one graceful move. "You want to come up with me? I don't think he'd dare dismember me if you're around."

I took the proffered hand, noticing with an odd feeling that he didn't let go as we went up the stairs, though I hung back in the doorway when Simon went in, not voicing my opinion that my nerves weren't really up for more half-naked Derek.

The room was still pretty dim, but I saw as Simon padded across the floor and then suddenly launched himself onto Derek's prone form with a whoop.

"WAKE UP!"

A grin tugged at my cheeks as Derek calmly booted Simon onto the floor with a grumpy, "Go away."

From his position on the rug, Simon grabbed the trailing covers and yanked hard.

Derek grunted as he was stripped of his sheets and pulled a pillow over his head, stretching out more fully on his stomach. I averted my eyes. He should sleep fully clothed, for the sake of my poor, blush-ridden cheeks.

"You're a real killjoy, you know that?" Simon groused. He stood up, dumping the tangle of blankets onto the foot of the bed, glaring at Derek's back. Another grunt, and a few muttered words came out muffled by the pillow.

"Chloe's here, so you can't say stuff like that, or she'll know what a jerk you can be. You have to be nice to me for now," Simon said smugly, tugging at the aforementioned pillow.

Derek's scratchy morning voice was pitched loud enough for me to hear this time. "Tell Chloe to go away so I can tell you what a pain in my ass you are."

"Still here," I said cheerfully from the doorway, waving at a glint from between the pillows that I thought might be an eye.

Simon finally pulled the pillow free with a triumphant, "Ha!"

Derek glowered, then flipped the pillow that had been under his head over it. "Sucker."

Simon's face fell. "Seriously?" He started prying Derek's fingers loose from the second pillow, muttering words too low for those of us with non-bionic hearing to catch.

"And you're worried about me being rude?" came the grumpy reply, followed by a sigh as Simon braced his feet and started really yanking. "Why are you doing this to me?"

"Bacon and eggs? Fresh fruit with yogurt? Orange juice and milk and coffee? Any of this sounding good, bro?"

"...Maybe."

"Well, it'll all be gone if you don't haul ass, so get up!"

I laughed as Derek let go of the pillow without warning and Simon staggered wildly halfway across the room, pinwheeling his arms to regain his balance. Derek pushed himself up on his forearms, the muscles in his back flexing in interesting ways as he watched with sleepy amusement.

Simon caught his balance and stomped back across the floor, throwing the pillow onto the pile of linens that he'd pulled off the bed. "Funny, Derek."

"I thought so," was the smug reply. "Now seriously, go away."

I hit the switch to turn on the lights and tried to sound as grating cheerful as possible. "Good morning, sunshine! You gonna get up now?"

Simon laughed as Derek swore loudly, eyes slitted against the light. "And you were worried about her hearing you call me an ass?"

"Oh, my God, what did I do to deserve this?" Derek complained, smacking his open palm against the mattress and flopping face-down with a heartfelt groan.

"You exist, wolfie. Now get up before I start telling everyone about last night." Tori popped up in the doorway behind me, grinning evilly as Derek shot up on his elbows again. The ruckus must have drawn her out. She finished tying her hair back in a ponytail and smirked as I evaded her gaze.

"And you know that's not an empty threat." She threw that parting shot over her shoulder as she backtracked down the hall to the stairs, on her way to her session with Gwen.

Simon looked confused and had his mouth open to ask what she was talking about when he was distracted as Derek grudgingly pulled himself up to a sitting position, rolling his shoulders as he yawned and mumbled something about coffee. A warning light went off in my brain as more sleek muscles shifted under his skin. Sensory overload, I thought dazedly, realizing I should stop staring at him so he could get dressed.

After a few seconds I looked back over my shoulder to see that Derek had his jeans on and was digging into a drawer to get a shirt. Our eyes met briefly and I looked away, glad when Simon started bugging his brother some more and I could make a quick escape.

Andrew intercepted me as I was coming down the stairs.

"Chloe, perfect timing. Did Simon tell you about the plan for the day?"

I nodded, jumping down the last couple of steps. "Tori just went out, and he said something about him being after her."

"Well, because of Tori's spells being a little…unpredictable, we thought we should take turns with the training."

"Sounds good," I confirmed. "Will Margaret let me know when she's ready for me?"

She poked her head out of the library. "Be ready to go sometime after lunch."

Without waiting for an answer, she ducked back in. I looked at Andrew and he shrugged with an apologetic smile.

"That's Margaret," he said softly, his eyes behind me. "So the walking dead have joined us, I see."

Derek knuckled an eye and made a few noises that might have been a "Indeed, and top o' the mornin' to ye as well, Andrew", or more likely, "Yeah, now don't get between me and the food" as he padded barefoot into the kitchen.

With a brief grin, Andrew followed him, and I beat a retreat back to the window seat in the living room, listening as Simon dished his brother up some breakfast and the promised coffee, ragging him the whole time about him never being this slow to focus in the mornings. I settled into my usual spot and sighed, sending up a heartfelt request to any deity who could be bothered to listen that Tori would just keep her big mouth shut.