Thanks so much for the great reviews last chapter, everyone. Just to clarify, since this story does take place far into the future. Here are the ages of some of the main characters.

Casey: 39 years old. Derek: 39 years old. Emily: 38 years old. Marissa: 15 years old. Nathan: 16 years old. Olivia: 10 years old. Helena: 36 years old.

Hope you all have a super, Christmas!

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

"So your Dad lived in London, huh?" Emily sipped some of the punch the waiters brought around and looked at the younger girl with curiosity. Marissa was going over some of her notes; the pen was between her teeth as her blue eyes scanned the page.

"Hmm?" Her head lifted up and she shot Emily an apologetic look. "Sorry, I get so caught up in my work that I zone out and the rest of the world falls away."

I grinned at her. "That's all right. I was just saying that your Dad lived in London?"

"Oh," she smiled back, "Yes, that's right. He went to University, got married to my Mom, and had my brother, gradu-".

"You have siblings?"

I don't know why I was so surprised. If Derek got married and had a child, who's to say he would stop at one? He grew up in a big family and then the McDonald's moved in and it was even bigger. He was used to fighting over the bathroom and running all over town to pick everyone up from their various activities. I remember whenever I went over to their house; I would look at their kitchen table and wonder why they needed one that big. But as soon as I actually spent a full day at their house, which includes eating all three meals with them, I realized why. The size of their family was one thing, but all of them, mostly Derek and Casey, demanded a lot of room. It was like some sort of battle between them.

Marissa gave a slow nod. "Yes. Nathan, or Nate, came first. I followed a year after and then six years after Nate was born, they had Olivia." She laughed. "It's kind of funny if you think about it. My name starts with an M, Nate's starts with an N and of course Livia starts with an O."

"Livia?"

"Oh, that's just a nickname. My Dad was against calling her "Liv", saying he would just think of Arwen from Lord of the Rings since the actress who plays her is Liv was the only nickname my Mom came up with that he actually liked. He didn't even want to call her that but Mom insisted."

"I would have thought that too." I mentally slapped myself. I had no idea why I just said that; if I was trying not to sound like a desperate ex-girlfriend who was dying to know about her former boyfriend's new family life, then I wasn't doing a very good job. Fortunately for me, Marissa never pressed the matter.

"I probably would have too." She replied and I felt myself breathe a slight sigh of relief.

"Did you know my Dad?" Marissa went on, shooting me a curious look. She had picked up her notebook again and was leaning back slightly in her chair, studying me.

"I think so. What was his name?"

"Derek Venturi."

Even though I had guessed so earlier on, before I had even met her, I still felt my heart start racing at his name. It was a silly reaction, and I pushed down the joyful squeals that were trying to wiggle their way out. I didn't like him anymore; I felt no attraction to him whatsoever. It was just because I had liked him for all of my childhood, living in London, and when he finally kissed me and asked me out, I jumped on the chance. Not about anything else. It was just the old thrill of all of those memories coming back, I told myself. I felt my cheeks go red though when I looked back up at his daughter. Here I was, thinking about the early days, back when I was young and dating her Dad; her Dad that had gotten married to someone else and was still happily married to that someone else. Who the hell was that someone else?

"I know you!" Marissa exclaimed suddenly, dropping her book on the table and clasping her hands together on her lap.

I looked at her confused.

"Yes...I'm, Emily."

"No, no. You're that Emily! My Dad's last high school girlfriend! The Emily who was his neighbour for fifteen years! Right?"

If I was upset before, I was damn heartbroken now. "Yep, that's me."

Obviously Derek had talked about me before. Derek told his kids about our relationship. Did he tell them why he broke up with me? Did he tell them about me being obsessed with him all throughout elementary, middle and high school? Did he make fun of me? Did he even like me anymore?

I swallowed. The look Marissa was giving me, made me think she did know all that stuff. It wasn't a mean look, but just sympathetic. I felt sick. Why did this have to happen to me right around the holidays? Merry Christmas Emily, your ex totally hates you. Yep, this was just perfect. I blinked a couple times, trying hard not to cry. I'm overreacting; I tried to tell myself and forced a smile at Marissa.

"He was always sneaking into my backyard and swimming in my pool."

She laughed and I breathed in and out, in and out, trying to calm myself.

"Did he? He never told me about that."

"I bet he didn't. He trampled over our flower beds when he was trying to escape. See, my parents came home from dinner early one night, I didn't really care if he swam in the pool at all, but they didn't like that he sloshed water everywhere. My Dad heard some odd noise and ran to the backyard. Derek was just jumping the fence; my Mom's tulips were crumpled into the dirt. Then there was this loud rip, as his trunks got caught on the fence. They ripped right through the middle and the butt. He ran back into his house, holding his shorts up. I don't think he looked at my Dad for a year without blushing."

Marissa started laughing even harder, placing her hand over her mouth to muffle the sound. Her eyes started to water and she wiped under them, being careful not to smudge her eyeliner or mascara.

"The stuff I have to bug him about now..." She shook her head, still chuckling. "How old was he when this happened?"

I didn't even have to think.

"Just turned twelve, I remember because the week before him and his friends had a big water gun fight in their backyard."

Marissa laughed again.

"That sounds like him. I remember for my eighth birthday party, I had a pool party in our backyard. We were all eating lunch outside, when my Mom brought out the cake. As soon as I blew out the candles, I felt someone grab me, and the next thing I knew, I was being thrown into the pool. When I surfaced, my Dad was standing there with a towel and a wrapped present."

Emily giggled.

"What was the present?"

"This beautiful picture of him, singing me to sleep. He was holding me, sitting in the nursery rocking chair. I think I was barely one at the time."

Emily got a sudden flashback, of the first time she spent in the Venturi home after the McDonalds moved in.

---

Casey and I were having a movie night, watching all the best chick flicks like The Notebook and Titanic. I was wearing my old puppy pyjamas, munching on extra buttery popcorn, and crying for Leo and Kate. Casey didn't look much better, her whole head was full of wild curls, tears were dripping off her face way worse than Emily. There was a little smear of popcorn butter on her left cheek and on her pink pyjama tank top.

There was a thump on the stairs, and both Casey and Emily peeled their eyes away from the screen to look at Derek. He was standing at the top of the stairs wearing a short black denim skirt over his jeans and a sparkly purple top. His hair was curled and full of bright clips while his face was covered with intense make-up.

I found myself in awe, staring at him with a new found pride. Such a nice brother, to do this for his littlest sister when guests were over, no less. Casey on the other hand stood up and paused the DVD before heading over to the bottom of the stairs.

"De-rek!"

He slowly came down them, two at a time. I timidly touched my hand to my jaw, making sure my mouth wasn't hanging open.

"Why are you wearing my skirt?"

I swear he blushed slightly, under all that make-up.

"I was playing dress up with, Marti. She was all upset because you promised to play with her and then cancelled to invite Emily over instead."

Casey hand went to her mouth and her eyes went wide.

"I totally forgot."

Derek shot her a look.

"I already guessed that."

"Oh, I need to go make it up to her. Can you get her down here? Or I'll just go up the-"

Derek's arm shot out to block her path.

"Nu huh, Spacey. I just got her to fall asleep; I don't need you to go wake her up."

She took a step back, away from Derek's arm before crossing her arms over her chest. I felt a sudden shot of sympathy for her. Here the hottest guy in school, was looking at her wearing childlike pyjamas, hair a mess, no make-up...and I was dressed exactly like her.

My fingers immediately went to my hair, trying to smooth it out, while wiping my cheeks with the back of my hands. Derek and Casey both turned to look at me and I quickly dropped my hands into my lap and tried to keep the heat from my face.

"Okay, okay." Casey said. "I'll let her sleep and talk to her tomorrow. Gosh, I feel awful."

Derek snorted, "Yeah, and you look awful as well."

She smacked him, and he called her a grubby bitch and the rest of the evening carried on.

---

Derek always did sweet stuff like that for his Smarti; of course he'd do it for his daughter.

"That's so sweet. It sounds like you have great parents."

Marissa gave a small smile and looked up from her lap.

"Yeah I really do."

I had so much more I wanted to ask her. I especially wanted to know who her Mom was, but I knew if I did, I'd sound like some crazy fan girl who wanted to know everything about my interests love, so I pushed the idea out of my head.

"Editors? Hello, Editors!" I looked over to the stage to see Tom waving at us to get our attention. His jacket looked soaked with sweat and I felt my face scrunch up.

"I hope you all had an enjoyable evening, I know I did. All you men look so distinguished and all the ladies...simply ravishing." He winked at Sophie, who was sitting near the stage; I winced along side of her.

"This has been a great experience for all of us. Now I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas. I hope the idea of being editor's sounds even more appealing to all you juniors than it did before. Goodnight all!"

There was feedback with the mic again before it made one loud pop and shut off.

"This has been a really nice evening, thank you."

I turned back to Marissa and grinned.

"Yeah it has. It was super meeting you; you seem like a really good girl with a great head on her shoulders."

"Thanks. I was awesome meeting you, too. It would be nice to get together later on and talk some more. I'd love to hear some more funny stories about my Dad."

"How about tomorrow?" I suggested.

"Can't. I fly back home tomorrow. Here, let me just give you my email."

She wrote it down on one of the blank pages in her notebook and handed it to me.

"Bye, Emily."

"Bye, Marissa. Talk to you soon."

I felt odd as I left the building. Not like a relief of knowing what happened to an old friend of mine, a relief of knowing his life turned out okay, but more like a head filled with way more unanswered questions than I started with. I had several matters I had to ask Helena about, and several things I had to research. I chuckled a little. It feels like I'm back in high school.

Please review and have a very Merry Christmas! God Bless!

xoxoTaraxoxo