I'm really sorry this has taken so long but I haven't had the right spurt of inspiration in a few days…

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I don't own Life with Derek but the storyline is mine…

Previously…

We were just two people who for this moment and maybe only this moment needed each other more than air. Then he was gone. And the world went back to black and white. I couldn't move or think as his feet pounded up the stairs.

No Derek, it wasn't the same at all…

Casey POV

Its been approximately six hours fifty three minutes and thirty one…thirty two… thirty three well you get the picture since the incident. I say incident because I don't know what else to think. I mean Derek my annoying cocky egotistical step-brother (somehow the step needed to be put back in her thoughts) had kissed me.

Not just kissed me blew my brain into several pieces before retreating to his room. And I hate to admit it but it was the best kiss I have ever had…ever.

So I am in my room. Pacing back and forth knowing he's only a few feet away and I am going insane. My pros and cons list didn't help me at all. Sure he got everyone at school calling me klutzilla, but then he stood up for me and got them to leave me alone, he even sent Sam to rescue me knowing I would ignore him.

And then there was Marti's summer class that I volunteered to teach… and he got all the kids to misbehave but then he saved me with the obstacle course and put my hula hoop forced field on.

For every crappy thing he has ever done I am starting to realize he has helped me out just as much. Talk about mixed signals. And now this. We are about to have our family feel good moment and maybe find a truce between us and now now ahhhhh he kisses me and changes the game all over again.

I mean its not as if I lo… like Derek. There is absolutely nothing about him that I look for in a potential boyfriend…

"So now I'm a potential boyfriend," a voice I knew to well announced over my shoulder. I didn't even hear him come in. He was reading over my shoulder at my newest attempt at a list.

"Der-ek, get out of my room. Did you ever hear of knocking?" I returned to the safeness of our bickering.

"Well I figured by now you had gone over all your lists about five times and your brain was about to explode because you don't know how to admit that your in love with me" smirk soundly in place he finished his accusation.

"I… I am not. And. And why did you do this Derek. Everything was falling into place so nicely. Then you and your lips and accusations throw out the window everything I think I know… I mean come on. Its not like we could date. (Pacing has re-ensued Casey's rant begins) and you hate me! And I. Well I don't know what to think about you.

"One minute you are Marti's big sweet brother and the next you are stealing all my clothes. You ruined most of my relationships or at least tried to. But then you save my prom. You are all over the place and I cant even tell what to think.

Oh my god, I do like you. But you infuriate me and your obnoxious and care more about girls than anything. Well maybe except Marti. Could this work. We are going to University soon, but what about our parents, friends? I mean what will they think. We will only kill one another anyway. But maybe."

I turned around and there was Derek sitting on my bed quietly waiting for me stop like he knew I had to get every thought out before I could out the puzzle together. Smirk gracing his lips and for maybe the first time ever it didn't make me want to hit him.

Derek POV

I have been listening to he pacing for almost seven hours. She is way to predictable and come on seven hours to figure out what only took me three seconds, I thought she was supposed to be the smart one.

Right about now she is figuring out that I am not the ass she really thinks I am. And ok I have done crappy things to her but I have also saved her…a lot. Its who we are. Hot and cold. Summer and winter. And that's the best part. No girl I have ever dated ( I use the word dated loosely) has ever challenged me the way she does.

No one has ever made me want to fight back so much. It was our first fight in the bathroom upstairs, the one we got locked in (because of Casey might I add) when she actually had the nerve to squirt the shampoo on me. It was right then and there that I figured out that I loved that girl. Craziness and all.

I stepped out of my room silently, but she is way to consumed to hear me anyway. I take the few steps that have always separated us and enter her room. She is sitting at her desk…another list, and this one is, Potential boyfriend I like the way that sounds.

"Der-ek, get out of my room. Did you ever hear of knocking?" she yells at me falling into old habits.

"Well I figured by now you had gone over all your lists about five times and your brain was about to explode because you don't know how to admit that your in love with me" this would get hr blood boiling.

Three, two, one…

"I… I am not. And. And why did you do this Derek. Everything was falling into place so nicely. Then you and your lips and accusations throw out the window everything I think I know…" she so cute when she can' function. Too much information for her to process but she will get there, so I take a seat on her bed and wait for the good part.

"But maybe…" ahh music to my ears.

"Look Case, this isn't rocket science or anything its really really simple," I stood up and walked towards her. She took a step forward too, but I don't think she meant to. My hands found her shoulders, begging her to look into my eyes.

"You either want to be with me or you don't. Forget everyone else they will deal, this is about you and me. Honestly its always been about you and me. So Casey am I your brother? (still hate saying it or thinking it or just ew) Or…?"

She was looking everywhere but at me face. "I know I look good but seriously this is a moment we are having here Case can I get a little focus?" A small smile came to her lips but I could tell she was trying not too. I let my hands slide down her arms and pulled her closer as they rested at the small of her back.

"Come on Case, what's there left to be afraid of?" She was really going to make me say it. Wasn't it enough that I confessed first, wasn't it enough all the cutesy little girly lines that I word never say to anyone but her… of course not. Not for Casey McDonald always gotta take things the hard way.

She pulled out of my grasp and walked away. "Derek this effects so many people how can you act like they don't matter," I could hear the tears coming and every fiber of my being screamed RUN! I took a deep breath. I might as well put all my cards on the table.

"Because I love you, and they don't matter. Not when I can finally have you. Three years of watching you date losers who make you want to be someone other than yourself. And yes you aggravate the hell out of me sometimes but I wouldn't have you any other way." Man did I turn out to be a pansy or what.

"Derek," she whispered my name…

Ok cliff hanger much…

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Love Always,

Artemis