"What else can we possibly do, Nora? What if…what if Ed and Lizzie think it's okay for them to act that way?"

"Maybe…" Nora mused aloud.

"What?"

"Maybe we should consider counseling."

"You know Derek would never go for that."

"I meant family counseling," Nora explained, "so we can introduce this to the kids in a professional setting with someone else who can neutrally explain it to them. And maybe…maybe Derek and Casey would open up a little more."

George sat silent for a moment.

"I think…" he began, trailing off momentarily, "I think that's a good idea."

Meanwhile, Edwin and Marti were growing suspicious at the strange pact of silence that had somehow formed among their parents, Lizzie, Derek, and Casey.

There was also the matter of the fact that dinner had apparently been completely forgotten, their parents lost in their own little world, telling him to order a pizza on a school night, Lizzie's steadfast distance in general, among other things.

The most notable observation was the fact that Derek and Casey, two people who had never gotten along since they met, were somehow coexisting in the same room peacefully.

Edwin wanted answers. He knocked on his stepsister's door loudly, causing the two teens on the other side to rouse from their nap, one that had not been preceded by the very things George forbid them to do.

Clearly, progress was happening.

"And I was just starting to fall asleep," Derek grumbled.

"What's going on?" Edwin asked.

"Shit," Derek groaned, resting his head against Casey's shoulder briefly before walking to the door.

He cracked the door open, bleary eyed. "You woke me up. What is so important?"

Marti looked at her brother and frowned. "Smerek, we aren't stupid!"

"What Marti said. We know something's up."

"What's going on with you and Casey?"

Before Derek could utter a word, George appeared.

"Leave him alone," he said, "He'll tell you in therapy."

"Therapy?!" All three siblings yelled in unison.

"You're sending us to therapy?" Lizzie said in distaste, walking over to Edwin's side to ensure her opinion was heard.

"Family sessions will be good for us. Now stop bugging him and go do your homework."

"No!" Marti said rebelliously.

"Smarti," Derek warned.

"We want to know. Now." Edwin snapped.

"They're dating. Like, actually dating. But mom and George hate it." Lizzie said bluntly, ignoring the shock on Edwin's face, "That's why they want therapy. For the kids. Supposedly." She shot a look at George, "For the record, if they're happy, I don't care."

"Uhh…" Edwin uttered astutely.

Casey appeared by Derek's side, and smiled at her sister.

Derek knew it was more complicated than that for Liz. Ultimately, however, Lizzie did want her sister to be happy. She seemed to believe he could do that, and he wanted to hug her.

"Do you love each other?" Marti asked bluntly.

"Yes," they both said softly.

Marti shrugged. "Okay." And the youngest bounded off to her room, no doubt about to reenact the scene with her barbies, and possibly create a wedding.

George sighed, and gave up on secrecy. "Nora's trying to set up an appointment as soon as possible. I don't care what you say. You're all going, and that's final."

Lizzie chose to slip away before George could say anything more to her. Perhaps she could simply forget to go. Ed followed her, presumably to ask how she'd known these things, but she gave him that cryptic smile she gave everyone and said, "Sorry, Ed. I'm pretty tired."

"Whatever," he muttered, going to his room.

Then there were three.

"Non-negotiable. You're going." George said finally.

"Okay." Casey said, nodding her head. "That's fair."

"It is?"Derek said incredulously.

"Yes, it is. We have to compromise somehow." Casey said.

"I don't want to go to therapy!"

"George, I'll get him to come somehow." She said in exasperation.

Both Venturis looked at her awkwardly.

"You will, will you?" Derek said, never one to give up the chance to embarrass her, cocking an eyebrow.

Casey turned red. "I meant to therapy, you pervert!"

"Right. Well. I, ah, suppose…Nora should…know the kids know. I'll…ah…leave you two alone." George stammered clearly embarrassed. But not embarrassed enough to say in a hushed tone, as he exited the door, "No funny business."

"Oh, God." Casey mumbled, burying her face in her hands. Derek closed the door and sat down beside her, playing with the short wispy hairs on the back of her neck.

"They don't give us enough credit," Derek whispered in his ear.

"Mm. I think things are going to work out, though."

He snaked an arm across her belly, running his index finger across the thin strip of skin that her tank top revealed. "But I'm not going to therapy."

"Yes, you are."

"No, I'm not." Derek said, bringing his finger to her face. "You skin is so damn soft." He whispered, leaning into kiss her; she turned away, growing agitated.

"Don't change the subject. Derek, you can't always have what you want! We need to help our family accept this!"

"Why? In case you didn't notice, the sibs have no issue with this, it's their problem. Not mine, not yours, just theirs." he argued.

Casey pulled away from his touch completely. "You're being selfish, Derek. We have to help them see things our way."

"And if it's really just a way to get us to see things their way?"

"Do you really think I would stop loving you after a stupid counseling session?" Casey asked, annoyed.

"No, I think they could make it seem so wrong, and so shameful, that it fucks things up." Derek said icily.

"Why not just go, to one meeting, just to see what it's like. And if there's anything you don't think you should have to listen to, you can leave. But at least try." She said softly, pleadingly.

"Fine," he gave in finally, "But I mean it, Case. If they say anything to make us feel bad, I'm leaving and taking you with me."

"Thank you," she whispered, kissing him.

He put his arms around her, still unsettled with the idea.