AN: Don't read this if you are eating! *grin*

The pranking started the next day. Casey, still thoroughly exhausted slept late and when she finally made it into the bathroom she shared with Derek she was still sleepy. But, fortunately, her Derek instincts kicked in and when a sweet smell emerged from her shampoo as she squirted it into her hand, she knew.

"Der-ek!" She shouted.

"You called." He replied through the door.

"Do you think you could pass me some shampoo that doesn't contain honey?"

He grinned, opened the door and, arm over his eyes handed her a new bottle of apple shampoo.

"I told you that you were ripe for pranking." He said, looking away.

"And I told you I was ready for it." She said, unexpectedly close to his ear.

Derek recovered quickly. "Nora told me to tell you that breakfast is ready."

"I'll be down as soon as you get out of my bathroom."
"Our bathroom." He corrected, but he left the room.

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It reassured Derek to see that his father was still besotted with Nora, and she obviously felt the same way. The whole house was one of love and he felt pleased for his younger siblings that in a modern world with so much hatred, they would grow up in an atmosphere of love.

He spent hours with Robbie and Marti. He went bowling with Edwin, who, he had to admit was annoying. He started to have some sympathy with the people who had put up with Derek in high school. And to ensure complete balance, he went with Casey (wig and dark glasses) to watch Lizzie perform in a Tae Kwando competition.

It might be Casey that this vacation was about, but Derek had to admit, he was feeling better already.

He caught up with his friends too. Sam still lived locally and was relieved when the Derek he answered the door to on the second day of their homecoming was almost his old self.

"Wow!" said Sam. "You're back!"

"Sam. I can hear the double meaning in that. Okay. I know I've been an asshole for three years but you don't need to rub it in."

Sam grinned. "Okay asshole get in here and grab a beer, I need to toast your ass at Babe Raider III."

"Over my dead body!" Derek said pushing his way through the door and making for the kitchen. Sam smirked and followed him.

"So how's LA?" he asked.

"Expensive." Derek replied. "I think I might ditch it and return home."

"Yeah right." Sam said sceptically.

"Why not? Here I stand a chance of getting a job and a house I can afford."

"Yeah. Like you are still going to let Casey get the better of you. You still entertain hopes of making it big in LA."

Derek laughed. "Why do you think that?"

"Come on Derek. As soon as Case made it big, you wanted to match her success. I can see how you think."

Derek smiled to himself. If that was how Sam interpreted the situation, who was he to argue? He glanced across at Casey's ex-boyfriend.

"Casey can keep her success. "

Sam nodded. "Riiight. Come on. Show me that you haven't lost your Babe raider touch."

"How could you ever doubt me?" Derek replied.

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"How are you doing?" Nora asked Casey as they shared a glass of wine on the sofa. Derek was still at Sam's and the rest of the family were in bed – or at least in their bedrooms.

"I'm getting there." Casey replied. "The doctor gave me a talking to. Then Derek laid into me and between the two of them they made an impression."

Nora smiled. "I was so relieved when I knew that Derek was on his way to the hospital. I knew he would sort everything out."

"He's been great mom. He takes no diva crap. He won't even let me replace the prince for him. It's been nice seeing him again. I don't want this week to end."

"You can stay as long as you like, you know that."
"Thanks Mom. But I have to go back or people will start suing me for breach of contract. It's okay. I know I have a job to do. It's just…I want Derek to come with me on the rest of the vacation. He's my ground. He keeps me on the straight and narrow. I'm not ready after so long to say goodbye to him. He hasn't got a job or a house or a car. He has the time to come with me, but he won't."

"Maybe you need to give him something."

"He won't take anything from me." Casey said.

"I don't mean financial, Casey. I mean something less tangible."

"You mean a purpose?"

Nora smiled. "Yes, sweetie, I think I do."

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Derek came home at about 2am. He felt like himself again. Sam had filled him in on what their friends had been up to as they played and Derek had, yet again, busted Sam on Babe Raider – despite the fact he hadn't been near the game in three years. They had laughed, eaten and drunk themselves stupid. And then, because she had insisted, Casey's driver had picked Derek up and brought him home. Derek made a mental note to thank the guy tomorrow – when his head had stopped spinning.

He made it into the bathroom before the need to vomit got too great and then heaved loudly into the toilet.

He was still feeling decidedly crap when the other bathroom door opened and a very weary Casey appeared in her dressing gown.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

"Yeah. Too much catching up with Sam." He groaned. Casey looked concerned.

Derek elaborated. "Too many beers."

She turned around and walked back into her room, then reappeared with a bottle of water.

"Thanks." He said, taking it from her.

"Did you have a good evening?" he asked after he had been loudly sick again.

Casey nodded, sitting on the bathroom floor beside him.

"Yes thank you. I spent time with mom. We shared a bottle of wine and a heart-to-heart. You're her best friend at the moment, you know."

"I have to say my best friend at the moment is the toilet." Derek said. Casey laughed.

"Why did you drink so much?"

"Resumption of normality with Sam." Derek said, surprised that in his current state he could even say the phrase. Casey had the same thought.

"I bet that wasn't easy to say."

"Nah." He peered at her blearily. "Go on. Say it."

"Say what?"

"Your usual."

"You mean the, 'it serves you right, you moron' speech?"
"Thank you Casey! Normal service is resumed at home too."
Casey grinned.

Deciding that he had finished vomiting, Derek tidied himself up.

"Well Miss McDonald." He slurred. "I suggest you clear off back to bed. For some beauty sleep. You look like a hag."

"I'm fine Derek."

"Suit yourself but I need a piss."

"Der-ek!"

Casey got up and made her way back to bed.