Author's Note I'm about to post Ch. 28 and 29. We are now entering the part where it all starts spiraling down to the story's end. I'm anxious, I'm pretty sure you guys are anxious. I love nothing more than closure, no matter how dark that closure may be. It's an end, isnt' it?

Disclaimer HAHAHAHAH. Ha.

Casey was about to knock on Lizzie's door, then stopped short when she heard two girls giggling in the direction of Marti's room. She changed direction and knocked softly on Marti's door. The door swung open, revealing Marti and Lizzie.

"Yes?" Lizzie asked in an astute way.

"May I speak with you Liz?" Casey asked softly, eyeing Marti playing with a purple haired Barbie doll.

"Yeah." Lizzie turned back to Marti. "I'm going to go in my room and talk to Casey now okay?" She nodded her head at Lizzie and the two older girls went to Liz's room.

Once there Lizzie motioned for Casey to sit at her desk adjacent to her bed. Casey did so and Lizzie sat at the head of her bed facing Casey, looking rather eager to know what Casey wanted to speak about.

"Lizzie. Can you promise that you tell no one of our conversation?"

"Of course."

"And I mean no one. Not even Edwin." She nodded her head yes. Casey took a breath.

"Have you noticed anything a little strange about Derek recently?" Lizzie's eyebrows raised and she let out a short laugh.

"A little? I mean, other than sounding like a girl, telling Edwin that he-" Lizzie stopped short. Casey made a face to let her go on, "Telling Edwin that he wanted you and how he comes out of his room at night to play with Marti. Nothing strange at all." She looked away from Lizzie in contemplation.

It's obvious Lizzie is hesitant to tell me about her and Edwin…Oh well. That's really not why I am in here talking to her.

"You know something don't you Casey? Did he do something to you? You told me not to be alone with him." Casey opened her mouth but no words came out. "He did something bad didn't he?" Lizzie was looking wide-eyed at Casey.

"N-no Lizzie! He didn't do anything bad. I was just…mad at…him." She stuttered half-heartedly out.

"Liar. You can never tell me the truth! You can't tell me lies either!" Her arms flung up in the air at Casey. "Can you tell me something so I know? So I can just…know?!" Casey closed her eyes.

"Lizzie. I think we both have things we are keeping from each other." Her eyes opened to look hard at Lizzie. "I'm keeping what I need quiet for a reason. If I had a good reason to tell you, I would. But I don't." Lizzie looked down at her hands. "Lizzie, Derek is…a good guy. Don't let what I feel and how me and him fight taint what you see and feel about Derek. I was mad, okay? He just really hurt my feelings that time. And I don't want to repeat what happened between me and him to you. You don't need to know. I don't need your defense, because I know that's what you would do." Lizzie gave a half-smile but didn't look back up. "Derek is sick. And I just wanted to warn you that the sickness is going to be very stressful. For everyone." She glanced at Casey then started to twiddle her fingers. "I just want you to know that he won't hurt you…and to not provoke him…or anything."

"You're the one who always provokes him…" She muttered. Casey leaned closer to whisper.

"But I won't always be there to protect you from him." Lizzie's eyes met Casey's and the sisterly connection between them tugged at both of their hearts. "I also don't want you to poke around trying to find out what will only hurt you." Lizzie took in a deep breath and sat silent for a few minutes.

"I won't. I promise."