Topanga smiled as Derek, Casey and Maddie walked into the café.
Maddie was between her parents, holding both of their hands.
"Yo Coach V! Good to see you!" Zay called from his place on the couch.
"Please don't call me that Zay. Coach Casey is fine." Casey said with a sigh.
"You are way too cool a coach for that." Zay said.
"I still can't believe you joined the cheer squad." Lucas mumbled.
"Dude do you know how good that is going to look on my NYADA application?"
Topanga smiled fondly at the kids before turning her attention to Derek, Casey and Maddie.
Auggie came running out of the back.
"Maddie!" He said excitedly.
"Hello August!" She said, hugging him.
"Excuse me!"
Topanga looked up to see Ava glaring at Maddie from the doorway.
Auggie looked terrified.
"Excuse me but that's my husband your hugging! Hands off!" Ava huffed.
"Should we stop this?" Casey whispered to Topanga.
"Let's see what happens."
Maddie raised an eyebrow.
"Um your seven right? You can't get married at seven. That's illegal." Maddie said primly.
"Nu-hu!" Ava argued.
"Is too! My daddy is a lawyer and he tolded me!" Maddie said.
"Get away from her Auggie!" Ava hissed.
"Maddie's just my friend Ava." Auggie said, trying to reason with his 'wife'.
"Well I'm your wife and I say that you can't be friends with her!" Ava said.
"You can't tell him who he can't be friends with!" Maddie said.
"She can't?" Auggie asked, looking startled.
"No! That's not how marriage works!" Maddie said.
"It's how our marriage works! Now get away from him!" Ava hissed.
"No you leave him alone! You're mean!" Maddie said.
"Make me!" Ava dared as she stepped up to Maddie, staring down at her.
Maddie squared her jaw and looked Ava straight in the eye, her fist clenched.
"I will end you." She threatened.
"Ok! Enough of that!" Derek said as he picked Maddie up.
Ava looked smug.
"I think we should see other people." Auggie said, finally.
"What?" Ava asked.
"You're mean Ava. Really mean and I don't like it." Auggie said.
Ava huffed.
"I gave you the best two years of my life! You'll never fine someone like me!" She said.
"Yeah he'll find someone better!" Maddie yelled, struggling to get out of Derek's arms.
"Come say that to my face!"
"Gladly!" Maddie yelled, trying failing to escape her father.
"Just leave Ava while you still have some dignity." Auggie said.
Ava huffed and stomped out of the café.
"That's right run!" Maddie yelled.
"Maddie enough!" Casey admonished.
Derek just looked like he wanted to laugh.
The girl frowned but stopped fighting Derek.
Derek placed her down and she and Auggie ran into the back to play.
"I am so sorry about Maddie Topanga. She was so rude to that little girl." Casey apologized.
The brunette turned on her husband.
"Wasn't she dear?" She hissed.
Derek shrugged.
"I thought the little bitch had it coming." He said.
"Der-ek!" Casey cried.
Derek laughed and kissed her.
Casey pouted.
"I hate it when you kiss me while I'm mad at you." She complained.
"Casey… You're mad at me at least 90% of the day." Derek said with a laugh.
"Ok maybe I don't hate it."
Topanga smiled at the couple.
They were so happy.
How could anyone be upset about that?
"So where's Cory? I thought he was going to be here." Casey asked.
"He's coming. I sent him away because he'll ruin everything." Topanga said.
"Ruin what?" Derek asked, narrowing his eyes.
"I pled the fifth." Topanga said.
"Your lawyer jokes are almost as funny as Casey's." The other lawyer deadpanned.
"I try my best." Topanga said sweetly.
Cory came running into the café.
"I just saw them." He panted before collapsing.
Topanga rolled her eyes.
"Ok! Everyone out! We're closing!" Topanga yelled.
The customers grumbled but started to leave.
Riley and her friends made no move to leave.
"You guys to! Out!" Topanga said, gesturing for them to leave.
"But mom! We were studying!" Riley protested.
"Then go somewhere else and study. Go to Farkle's. Minkus is home today. He can help you."
The teens frowned but left.
"What is going on?" Casey demanded.
"Cory did a thing."
Cory gasped in shock.
"You're pinning this on me?!" He asked.
"If it goes terribly? Yes." Topanga said.
Derek opened his mouth to say something but was cut off by "Derek? Casey?"
The man in question spun around and came face to face with Edwin Venturi and Lizzie McDonald.
"Edwin? Lizzie?" Derek breathed.
Casey let out a cry and threw herself at Lizzie.
The two collapsed to the ground, crying happily.
"Well that was expected." Edwin said wryly.
"What are you doing here man?" Derek asked, clearly confused.
"Lawyer lady there tracked us down." Edwin said, nodding towards Topanga.
"You found them? Why?" Derek asked.
"No one should be without family." Topanga said.
Cory nodded in agreement.
"You are amazing people." Derek said.
The two grinned before escaping into the back.
He turned back to Edwin.
"So how are you?" Derek asked.
"I'm good. Me and Lizzie go to Georgetown. Getting a degree in Mathematics." Edwin said.
Lizzie pulled away from Casey.
"I'm getting a degree in social science." She sniffed.
"I always thought you'd do that." Casey said, wiping her eyes.
"So what happened man?" Edwin asked.
"Our parents fucking suck." Derek said.
Edwin chuckled.
"Good to see Casey didn't suck all the old Derek out of you."
Derek snorted and Casey huffed.
"I'd like to think I made him a better version of himself." She said.
Derek nodded in agreement.
"Yeah. She really did." He said.
"Yeah heard you're a lawyer now. How the fuck did that happen? Thought you wanted to be a rock star." Edwin said.
"I grew up. Got married. Had a kid. I like being a lawyer. Get to help kids in bad situations." Derek said.
Edwin laughed humorously.
"Why did you just leave us?" He asked.
Derek looked down.
"We didn't want to cause any trouble for you guys." Casey said softly.
"We didn't have a way to get in touch with you. Nora and George closed all your email accounts and change everyone's number. It wasn't like we could afford to just drop everything and go up there. I was going to school, playing hockey, and holding down two jobs." Derek said.
Edwin looked down.
"We could have looked. It's just we were so angry." Lizzie admitted.
"Have you heard from Marti or Simon?" Casey asked.
Edwin shook his head.
"Me and Lizzie… we couldn't stay there after graduation. Nora and George never let Marti have an email address or a phone." He said.
Derek clinched his fists.
"Were they ever abusive to you?" He asked.
Edwin shifted uncomfortable.
"I got the shit beat out of me the night of graduation for kissing my boyfriend. Dad wasn't happy with my 'choices'." He said bitterly.
Derek started to move but Casey was already in front of him.
"No Derek." She said, placing her hands on his chest.
"He hit Edwin." Derek growled.
Casey reached up and placed a hand on Derek's face.
"Violence isn't the answer and you know it."
Derek sighed and leaned into Casey's hand.
"Huh."
Casey and Derek looked at Lizzie.
"It's just… I didn't think it was true. You guys being married that is. I believe it now." She said.
Casey blushed but Derek just looked cocky.
"I won her over." He said.
"Yes because knocking someone up is the way you go about making someone fall in love with you." Casey said.
Derek shrugged.
"Worked on you didn't?"
"Der-ek!" Casey hissed.
"Love you too babe."
Casey rolled her eyes as Edwin and Lizzie laughed.
"We have to do something about the Marti and Simon situation." Derek said and everyone got somber.
"What are we going to do Derek?" Edwin asked.
"Did you file a police report against George?" Derek asked.
Edwin shook his head.
"Did you at least take pictures or something?"
"I did."
They turned to see Martina.
She was leaning heavily against the doorway and her eye was black.
"Marti!"
Edwin and Derek caught her as she collapsed.
"I had the video camera and filmed George beating Edwin up. I found it last night before I left." She groaned.
"What happened?" Derek demanded as they helped her over to the couch.
"Nora found out that Cory was sniffing around about you and Casey. She went ballistic and beat the shit out of me. I waited till everyone was asleep, grabbed Simon and took off. I googled Cory Matthews at a library and headed here. Barely got through customs but I think they thought I was running from my abusive husband or something."
"Smartina?" A small, soft voice called from the doorway.
A small boy with curly brown hair stood there, looking terrified.
"Come here Smimon." Martina said.
The boy timidly walked over and crawled in Martina's lap.
"Smimon I'd like you to meet Smerek, Casey, Lizzie and Edwin. They're our family."
Simon's eyes widened.
"But we aren't supposed to talk bout them!" The little boy said franticly.
"Don't worry Simon. You guys aren't going back there." Derek said as he crouched down next to the two.
"We aren't?" Simon asked.
"We aren't?" Martina echoed.
"I promise Smarti." Derek swore.
"Her name is Smartina." Simon said.
Martina shook her head.
"No Simon. It's defiantly Smarti." She said gently.
"I'm calling the cops." Edwin said as he pulled out his cellphone.
"No we're going to the hospital. Then we call the cops." Derek said.
"Is everything… oh my god what happened?" Topanga asked as she rushed out of the back.
Cory followed and paled when he saw Marti.
"Martina?" He asked.
"Marti." Marti grunted.
"Did your father do this to you?" Cory asked.
"Nora did." Marti said quickly.
"Cory, Topanga can you watch Maddie while we take care of this?" Derek asked.
"Of course we will. Do you want me to pull the paperwork for petition custody?" Topanga asked, switching into lawyer mode.
"If you don't mind." Derek said.
"Mommy! Daddy!" Maddie called as she ran into the room.
She froze at the sight of the random strangers.
Her eyes fell on Marti and her black and she frowned.
"Who did that to you? Do I need to go punch them?" She demanded.
Casey groaned as she picked Maddie up.
"I swear to god Maddie. Violence is your answer to everything." She said.
"Sometimes violence is the only way to get your point across." Maddie said solemnly.
Casey glared at Derek.
"This is your fault!" She accused.
"She's her father's daughter." Derek said.
"So this is your kid huh?" Edwin asked.
"She looks just like you Case. Well, all but the hair. That curl is all Venturi." Lizzie said.
"This might sound rude but who are you?" Maddie asked.
Derek chuckled.
"Maddie this is Lizzie, Edwin, Marti and Simon. They're mommy and Daddy's siblings." He said.
"Aunt Lizzie is mommy's sister right? And Uncle Edwin and Aunt Marti are yours? Whose Simon?" Maddie rattled off.
"Yes, yes and he is mine and mommy's little brother. He's a little older than you."
Maddie cocked her head to the side but shrugged.
"Ok. Love you!"
Maddie jumped out of Casey's arms.
She paused and glanced at Simon.
"Wanna play?" She asked.
Simon shook his head no.
"We have to go somewhere baby." Casey said.
"Ok! Don't worry Simon. We'll play later!"
The Venturi-McDonald clan sat in the examine room, waiting patiently for the results of Marti's x ray.
The doctors had already told her that she had a slight concussion and that she had been lucky to make it to New York at all.
DCF had already been in to take statements.
As had the police.
Simon was currently at Marti's side, asleep.
The doctor walked in.
Derek liked Dr. Christopher 'Topher' Everett.
He was young and nice.
Dereck had worked with him on past cases and the man was known to take child abuse seriously.
From the way Edwin was eyeing him, he was a fan too.
"Sup Doc?" Derek asked.
"Miss Venturi has some cracked ribs and a broken wrist." Topher said with a sigh.
"That from when Nora slammed me on the floor and kicked me." Marti said, giggling.
Thank god for pain meds.
There was a commotion outside the room and Nora and George appeared in the doorway.
"Marti! Simon!" Nora said, looking genuinely relieved.
Her eyes grew cold when she noticed the other people in the room.
"You did this. You took my children." She accused.
"I ain't your kid." Marti growled.
"I want them arrested!" Nora demanded.
"Ma'am with all due respect, are you out of your fucking mind?" Topher asked.
Nora looked incredulous.
"Excuse me? You have no right to talk to my wife like that! These… degenerates kidnapped our children!" George said.
Topher looked at him coldly.
"Was this before or after she punched your sixteen-year-old in the face so hard she blacked out and woke up to her stepmother kicking her in the ribs?" He asked.
George looked at Nora, who looked furious.
"Lies and slander!" She said.
"Ma'am I'm holding the x-rays in my hands."
Edwin glared at the two.
"You know," He sounded tired and bitter, "I get you beating on me for being gay but what the fuck did Marti ever do to you?"
Nora glared back.
"She didn't try hard enough." The woman said.
"At what? Being perfect?" Lizzie snapped.
Nora's eyes fell on her eldest.
"I was so close with you Casey and then you had to go and ruin it by getting knocked up with that little abomination of yours."
Derek stood but wasn't quick enough because Casey was in Nora's face first.
"Don't you dare call my child an abomination!" She screamed.
"You had a baby with your brother!" Nora yelled in disgust.
"STEPBROTHER! I never thought of Derek as a brother! Not once! Edwin? Sure. I even think of Marti as my little sister! But Derek? Never! I always liked Derek. I always wanted him. Somewhere, deep inside I knew he was the love of my life! But that never mattered to you and George! You were so fixated on having your perfect little family that you hurt your kids!" Casey ranted.
"It's not our fault you all turned out like you did!" George said.
"Oh you're right! It isn't your fault that I became a well-respected English teacher." Casey said.
She gestured to Lizzie.
"It isn't your fault that Lizzie is a well-known food blogger."
Casey's gaze shifted to Edwin.
"It isn't your fault that Edwin is being courted by multimillionaire Stuart Minkus to be the accountant for all of Minkus International."
Her gaze landed on Derek.
"And it certainly not your fault that Derek finished college in three years, went to law school and became the newest star of the family court circuit. You didn't do that. We did! Despite you!"
Nora let out a cry of rage and launched herself at Casey.
She never made it because Derek grabbed her by the throat and slammed her against the wall.
"Ever try and touch my wife again and I will end you." He said coldly, squeezing Nora's throat slightly.
"Security!" Topher yelled and two guards came running into the room.
"Sir please put down the woman." One of the guard said.
"Not him! The lady! She tried to attack them." Topher said quickly.
The guards dragged the two older people away.
Marti, Lizzie and Edwin stared at Derek.
"What?" Derek asked, slightly annoyed.
"That was awesome Smerek." Marti breathed.
"I'd thought you'd changed but you haven't. You've just learned how to channel it." Edwin said.
"Channel what?"
"Your Derekness." Lizzie said.
Derek and Casey rolled their eyes.
Derek's phone went off and he looked down at it.
He smirked.
"It seems that Topanga took it upon herself to petition the court to award me and Casey temporary custody of Marti and Simon pending the investigation. It's been granted."
Marti's mouth opened slightly.
"They can't make us go back?" She asked.
"Not anytime soon."
Marti broke out in a grin and started crying.
"Marti!"
Casey took the girl's hand.
"I'm just so happy." She cried.
"Don't worry Marti. We're," Casey glanced around the room at her family, "all together again."
Derek took her other hand and clasped Edwin on the shoulder.
Edwin took Lizzie's hand while Lizzie took Casey's free hand.
"We're all together again and nothing is going to change that."