Sorry it's just a short one this time, hope you like it anyway. :)

Disclaimer: I don't own Life With Derek yada yada yada... If only I owned Michael Seater, then I wouldn't mind so much...

Chapter Thirteen

I breathed out and stared forwards. It was the first time I'd been alone with Derek for more than a few seconds in days and, more importantly, since I told him I was going to ignore him. I'd hoped to find the time and courage to break myself in slowly before the five hour drive, but between helping Mom and George and spending quality time with our siblings, I'd not got the chance. Or maybe I'd just wimped out when I did.

No one seemed to have noticed Derek's little show on new years and for that I was thankful. I already had Cher and, since Cher's arrival, Emily teasing me on the sidelines, I didn't need the reaction of my family to Derek kind of kissing me. They'd understand that it was just to irritate me, but it would be undue stress for our parents and unneeded ammunition for our siblings. And as for Vicki... If it wasn't for the risk of her telling I'd almost want her to have seen. She didn't know about my aversion to tongues, and she certainly didn't know that Derek knew that; to her it would look just like he was kissing me for new years (albeit not in the gentlest or most romantic fashion) even after she'd been working on him all evening. It wouldn't completely repay her for Truman, but it'd be a nice start.

The car turned sharply and my head hit the window just hard enough to hurt. I struggled to relax my stiff posture to avoid a repeat as we turned another corner. Thoughts flickered through my head about making Derek pull over and let me drive, but that would undoubtedly have led to an argument and with my vacant concentration it might not have been a good idea anyway.

This time I was prepared; I'd taken more cash than I needed from the bank and had made sure I had plenty of minutes on my mobile. If he decided to 'let me out' of the car again I wouldn't be stranded. I even had snack bars and hand warmers in my coat pockets and a water bottle within easy reach.

I looked over at Derek. He was driving unconcernedly, only one hand on the steering wheel (I was sure he was only doing that to wind me up) as he picked at a butterfly sticker Marti had stuck to the dash. I crossed my arms and looked away.

It was only minutes later that I realised there was no music playing. I took my opportunity and flipped to my favourite radio station. Then commenced a wordless battle as each of us flicked back and forth between the stations we wanted to listen to. I reasoned that it wasn't giving in if I didn't speak.

Derek didn't seem to think that was the case as a small smirk set on his face, though his eyes stayed resolutely on the road at all times. My lips thinned and a flipped back one more time, still looking at his face.

His smirk twitched a little. He was enjoying this. For some reason the realisation surprised me; I knew he liked teasing me and that he was trying to make me break my resolution of no retaliation, but that he was finding a small fight over radio stations so amusing seemed a little strange. I would have thought he would find it annoying, especially when he had to use both hands to drive every now and then and my station blared out the girly music he hated.

After a moment he turned it back to his station and I turned with folded arms towards the window, trying to block out the screaming music. I knew he put this one on on purpose; he liked plenty of things I didn't mind, but screamo rock wasn't one of them and he knew it.

I racked my brains for something that might make him uncomfortable without my giving in. "So, did you enjoy new years? Vicki, sorry, Victoria seemed to be trying very hard to make sure you had fun." It was lame but the best I could think of in the moment. It also offered a chance for Derek to explain his actions.

He glanced at me before answering. "It was great. I had hoped to spend some of it with my actual friends, but your cousin was very friendly. Wouldn't hear of me leaving." His tone was sarcastic all the way.

I snorted a little. "You know Mom and George wouldn't have let you go anyway." As an afterthought I added, "And she's your cousin now too."

He pulled a face. "No she isn't. I made out with her; that would just be... Wrong. She's no relation. And if she is it's only by marriage."

I shrugged, enjoying his discomfort. This had worked better than I'd thought it would. "Same difference."

"No. It so isn't." He said firmly.

"But your so brotherly to Lizzie and me. You're a part of the family now." I smiled sweetly.

"Maybe to Lizzie." He gave me a pointed look. I knew this was the closest he was going to get to admitting to his not so brotherly new years kiss. Even as a prank that would be beyond gross if I was his real sister... Not that it wasn't gross anyway of course. It was just gross in a different way...

"Nonsense. You always look out for me. You're the big brother I never had." I was enjoying this way to much to stop, and if he wasn't going to mention his tongue entering my mouth, then neither was I.

His eyes darkened and his hands tightened on the wheel. "I look out for you?" He attempted a smirk but it was somewhat thin and crooked. "Since when?"

"Oh, you always have really. Must have been an instant sibling bond." I was getting a little frustrated with this topic, but now I had started, I couldn't stop.

"Oh?" His voice was strained now.

I forced my own voice to be cheerful as I spoke. "You were the first to realise I liked Sam, and you tried to stop me making a fool of myself in that Babe Raider outfit. Then when it all happened with Truman, you reunited us. I mean, just because it didn't last doesn't make what you did any less special."

He wasn't even attempting to hide his frown now. "We need to stop for gas."

"I thought you filled up last night?"

He shrugged. "Forgot." He pulled into a gas station and got out of the car.

I pouted a little in his absence. I had no idea what I'd wanted to acheive by insisting he was my brother when we both knew he wasn't even close, but my goal definitely wasn't making the journey even tenser than it had to be.

His mood hadn't improved when he re-entered the car.

"Would it really be that bad if you were my brother?" I asked him after half an hour of driving.

"Yes. I can't imagine anything worse than being related to you of all people. That would mean I shared your keener genes." He shuddered dramatically.

I suppressed the urge to ask whether that was because more because you shouldn't tongue your sister than because he didn't want to be smart. It was getting annoying how much it was playing on my mind; every time I talked to him I wondered if he was going to mention it, and any time I spoke to another family member I wondered if they saw it. It was driving me crazy.

"Yes, you having more than one braincell is a truly terrifying thought." I replied at length. "It's a good thing we aren't actually related."

A small smile returned to his face. "Yeah."

I smiled in satisfaction and turned back to the window.

"I think we were a little too old to get the sibling bond thing." He ventured after a while. "I don't think I'll ever see you that way." He glanced at me quickly, then fixed his eyes back on the road.

"Yeah," I agreed easily, contradicting everything I'd said earlier. "I know what you mean. But I meant it when I said you look out for me. Although maybe I didn't use the best examples."

"So you don't actually think of me as the older brother you never had?"

I laughed, "No, not really." I pushed his shoulder lightly, careful not to make him swerve. "I can't imagine anything worse. That would mean I shared your skirt chasing cad genes."

His smirk wobbled as he fought back laughter so he could reply. "You as a lesbian... Not actually such a terrifying thought." He ran his eyes over me thoughtfully and I blushed, not having realised what I'd said... Or rather what it could mean.

"Eyes on the road mister!" I glared at him with an embarrassed giggle.