It has been 6 years since Derek and Casey's graduation. Nora and George have divorced, and Nora has custody of the baby boy, Aidan. Casey is back at Queens to get her Masters' Degree in teaching.

I have finally watched Vacation with Derek, and I must say it was pretty good. I liked the almost-Dasey moments. However, the fact that Nora and George are still together in the clip after the credits that supposedly took place '1 year later' messed up my timeline for this story.

Because of that, I am changing one major event, so this is a little less AU. Up until now, I have written that George and Nora divorced during the Christmas of 2010 (Casey and Derek's Freshman Year at college). I've now changed the previous chapters to say that the divorce happened over Christmas of 2011. So, keep that in mind while you are reading.

Also, I am NOT going to change Aidan's name to Simon. So, I suppose from here on out, this is AU.

Please review! I look forward to your comments!

Derek thinks he might've just stopped breathing. Did Casey… Casey MacDonald... just ask his opinion? Casey, old Casey—his stepsister, Casey—barely even paid attention to him.

He looks at her. "Umm. So, what have you been up to since high school?"

"I dabbled in an English major 1st term, but decided it wasn't for me. Anyways, that's when I met Christopher." She smiles slightly.

"Christopher?" Derek attacks the name like a dog would a bone.

"My ex-boyfriend."

"Since when?"

"Last night, after I left here."

"He followed you?" Derek growls.

"Yeah. Ed said he's glad that I broke up with Chris," she nods. "So, 2nd term I switched to an elementary ed. major. It took me four years, but I got my Bachelor's Degree. Last summer, I applied for a job at Marti's old school, and got accepted. I'm going to teach 1st grade. My teachers think I'm 'equipped to handle the chaos.' I start this spring. Their teacher goes on maternity leave on Easter Break. She and her husband are moving to the States."

"Nice," Derek says. "So, you're moving back when?"

"Right after Christmas break; a month and a half."

"Wow, Derek says. "Uh, good for you, Casey."

"Thanks, Derek," she says, surprised.

"How's Lizzie?"

"She's good. Actually, she went to college in the States. I swear, she's going to change the world someday," Casey laughs.

"Still a nature freak?" Derek raises an eyebrow.

"You bet. She's going to be in the Peace Corps, but first she's getting a biology degree."

"So much changed in six years. Tell me more about this boyfriend," he waggles his eyebrows.

"Ex-boyfriend, and shut it, Venturi!" she whacks him. "We went out for almost two years, ending yesterday. My roommate says he's too perfect and controlling. He was a…. um…."

Derek smirks at his ex-stepsister's indecision. "Keener?"

"Yeah."

"Like you?"

"De-rek! Don't push it."

"Alright. So, you dated a Schlepper?"

Casey barks out a laugh. "I never thought about it like that."

Derek bows comically. "Derek Venturi, at your service, babe." He doesn't know why he says it.

A weird look crosses her face, and already he regrets referring to her as such.

"You haven't called me that…" she pauses, "…since we were fifteen. You called me 'babe' when I first met the entire family."

"Oh, yeah," he nods.

"Hey, Mrs. V?" Andrew pokes his head in the door. "Your boyfriend ishere."

"Dude," Derek glares. "Her name's MacDonald, and she doesn't have a boyfriend."

"Christopher's looking for you. He seems awfully mad about something."

"Ugh," Casey reaches for her purse. "I guess I've gotta go. Try and get some sleep, D."

"Case…"

"I'll come back, this evening, with Ed. I promise," she leans down and kisses his cheek. "Bye, Derek."

He stares after her like an idiot. Then, realizing that she's almost off the floor, he calls out, "Bye, Casey!"

The guy with the dark, shaggy hair—Derek thinks his name is Andrew—guffaws. "Hey, man. You got it bad."

"Get out."

"I mean, she's your sister, right? That's just a little… weird, you know. Sick, too."

"She's my stepsister."

"Dude," Andrew starts in. "Can I have her number."

"Actually, she's not even my step-sister. The 'rents got a divorce."

"Venturi, what decade are you livin' in? Besides she's still hot."

"Tell me about it," Derek mutters. "She's still off limits."

"Spoilsport," Andrew snarls, closing the door.

Derek stares at the maple door, wondering what had gotten into him. Compliment Casey? Out loud? He hadn't done that (that he remembers) since… ever! The only time Derek only complimented her was when Ralph was pretending to be Derek.

Wow. That seems so long ago. Four years to him; ten years to Casey and the rest of the world. He wonders if she even remembers that.

Why did she do it? Flirt with Ralph/Derek. She never acted like that with the real Derek. The way she bristled around him when he was even pretending to be Ralph was nothing compared to when she was practically flirting with Ralph/Derek. Why was it alright to flirt with her step brother when it was Ralph/Derek?

Derek grumbles, and flicks on the TV. Maybe he could learn something about the past six years he can't remember.

A short time later, a nurse knocks on his door. "Mr. Venturi?"

"What?"

"CNN isn't going to tell you everything."

"It's a start," Derek disagrees.

"It's lunch time."

Derek shocks himself by saying, "I'm not hungry."

"Mr. Venturi, you have to eat. Now, I happen to know for a fact that your team, Toronto, has a game today."

"What channel?" Derek asks, reaching for the remote.

"You order lunch, and then we'll talk," she puts a hand on her hip.

Derek frowns, then smiles. He tries to do the 'flirting' look, but the nurse just laughs.

"Venturi, you're in your 20's now. It takes more than alluring eyes to get a girl now."

"Hamburger. Fries. Chocolate shake," Derek mutters.

"Be that way," the nurse giggles. "Channel 24."

"Thanks," he rolls his eyes and leans back against his pillow as the game begins.

"And, folks, that's it! Toronto has won the game. Now, a word from our sponsors…" the anchorman trails off, the TV cutting to a commercial.