A/N: Here I am! Sorry, I've been distracted working in the library… Which led to the discovery of new books and manga… Which then led to me reading/buying all 9 volumes of Maid-Sama. Super cute manga!

Nora and Casey make their way into the kitchen. Nora begins chopping the vegetables for tonight's dinner as Casey grabs a glass of water.

"So how are you? School? Stuff?" Nora doesn't look up from her chopping.

"Everything is going so well." Casey says. "Grades are great. I can't wait for you to meet Kennedy. I owe her a lot. Derek too actually." She stares into her cup of water and frowns slightly. "It kind of scares me sometimes. We along so well now."

Nora snorted and out a laugh. "Well, he doesn't have to prank you to get your attention now. So, I knew you two would be fine as a couple."

Casey stared at her mother, "You knew? Even back then?"

Nora gathered her thoughts as she diced. "I knew Derek had a crush on you." The more she mauled it over the more silly she thought she was for not seeing it. "I just didn't know he loved you. I think I might have seen it but dismissed it because I knew he would never do anything about it."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, George and I talked about having two teenagers in the house before we moved in. It was something George had brought up actually. I didn't really understand why, but I didn't really know Derek back then. And seeing where we are now… I guess it was good that he did. I knew Derek would never act on it because he was too scared. Not in the way you're thinking. But rather, he was scared because he didn't know what he was feeling. He knew he had someone to challenge him but he know what to name his other feelings."

Casey could see her mom's lip tremble as she spoke, "Oh mom."

Nora shook her head dismissingly. "It's the damn onions."

DASEY

Derek entered the kitchen right as Casey and Nora were hugging. "Everything okay?"

Casey pulled back from her mom and laughed as she used her sweater to wipe away her tears. "We're fine. Just silly girl stuff."

Derek looked to Nora and decided not to press any further. "Okay, well, can I borrow Case for a sec?"

"Of course," Nora quickly blew her nose and shooed the lovers away.

Derek still confused by the events he walked in on quickly dashed away with Casey. Walking outside in the front they started to make their way towards a small park nearby. Just a couple blocks later Casey dusted off a swing and sat. Derek did not follow but instead began pacing in front of her.

"Is something wrong?" She asked, her eyes beginning to tire as she watched him walk back and forth.

Derek paused his pacing and faced her. "Well, I was hoping you had a plan… to tell the family. And maybe a plan for when… we should tell them."

Casey sighed deeply. It calmed her a bit to finally see Derek a bit nervous. "I was thinking after dinner. I don't want to put it off. We'll end up sneaking around and get caught by someone."

Derek raised his eyebrow at the suggestion. "Oh? There would be sneaking around? Ducking into closets for a quick kiss? Copping a feel under the dinner table?"

Casey laughed and pulled Derek from his fantasy. "No. It would more be like you trying to start something that Edwin would walk in on. Then proceed by him asking why you were trying to touch my butt."

Derek chuckled and nodded in agreement. "Yeah, that sounds more likely." He briefly paused. "So what are we going to say?"

Casey shrugged. "I hadn't really thought about it. I guess we'll just tell them the truth. We became friends after some time apart and then began dating."

Derek nodded, "Not too complicated. It'll work."

Casey then noticed the snow started to fall again.

Back inside George came beside Nora, "Is everything okay?"

Nora nodded. "Yeah, they're going to tell everyone tonight." George looked concerned but calm. Nora noticed his concern first. "Are you alright?"

George began to nod, something he had picked up over the years. Nodding before you actually thought about how you felt. But George stopped himself.

"I want them to be happy. I do. I'm still scared the response Edwin and Lizzie might have. I don't think Marti won't care either way."

Nora nodded understanding his concern. "We'll get through this. We will."

George didn't say anything.

Dinner was soon called. Edwin and Derek were first at the table. Nora smiled and realized how much she missed having her whole family together again. As soon as she set down the large plate of green beans Nora slowly began to vision her kids coming home during Christmas. Only this time they were all older.

DASEY (Cue time warp ripple)

George's hair was stark white. She couldn't help but smile as she thanked the lord for allowing her to age gracefully. She only had a white stripe across her bangs, her dark brown hair slightly lost its luster but it was something she could live with. George helped her chopped the veggies as she tended to the turkey and stuffing. George had retired from his firm was currently teaching at the community college. His passion really grew for the law when he began teaching young lawyers.

Edwin had grown taller than Derek when he was the same age. He still had his boyish grin underneath his long locks (60's style had made a comeback). She rolled her eyes as she saw him stuff a dinner roll into his pocket and run out of the kitchen. For being fresh out of college he still acted like a kid.

Lizzie had surprised us all when she decided marry her college roommate of two years. Apparently they had been dating in secret. They now had a one year old daughter. She knew Lizzie and her family would be late to dinner simply because of that precious little girl. Nora smiled as couldn't wait to get her hands on those chubby cheeks again.

All of a sudden she heard the pounding of footsteps coming towards them.

"What in the world?" George muttered looking around.

Nora chuckled, "I don't know why you act so surprised."

The thundering of footsteps grew louder as three boys came running into the kitchen. Nora already had four dinner rolls made into small sandwiches containing sliced turkey and a bit of provel cheese. The boys smiled widely at her as she gave them each a sandwich.

"And what do you say to grandma?" Nora chuckled as she heard Casey's voice ring loud with authority.

"Thank you, Grandma!" All three shouted at once. The three boys, Derek Jr. (7), Devin (6), and Dominic (5) all scampered off towards the backyard to eat their mini treat.

Nora waited patiently to give away the last sandwich in her hand as a trade offer. She saw her oldest daughter round the corner and smiled as she huffed a piece of hair from out of her eyes. Casey caught eyes with her and grinned. "Hi, mom."

Nora laughed as she hugged her daughter. Casey looked a bit tired but still glowed. Casey was made to be a mother. She was so excited about her first child that she allowed Derek to make him a junior, something Nora thought she'd never do.

"How are you?" Nora asked her.

Casey shrugged. "Tired, but good." Casey glanced down at the sandwich in her hand grinned even wider. "They're coming around the corner. He's just taking his time because he knows you'll hog her the entire time we're here."

Nora frowned. "You all are an hour away! How can I not hog her while she's here?"

Just as she finished speaking she saw Casey husband round the corner carrying her beautiful granddaughter.

"Hey, mom," Nora's breath always caught when she heard Derek call her mom. Derek knew it too, which is why he always used it and followed with a wicked grin.

Nora held out the dinner roll sandwich as a trade/ peace offering.

Derek narrowed his eyes at the sandwich and then at Nora. "If you think I'm going to trade my baby girl for a sandwich…. You might be right." Derek handed over Catherine, grabbed the sandwich and dashed to join his boys.

"Derek!" Casey rolled her eyes and missed as she tried to smack his head.

Catherine was definitely a daddy's girl and Derek couldn't be more in love. Casey and Derek were going to stop having children after their third boy Dominic but Derek wanted to try one more time. And then Catherine (1 ½ now) was born and Casey bawled her eyes out. Even though Casey doted on Devin who favored Casey most of all. He was a perfectionist and made perfect grades. Derek Jr. was Derek made over as well. He was already a ladies' man and was the most popular boy in school. All at the age of seven. Dominic the youngest of the boys was super excited to have a younger sister and a new friend.

As Nora gazed upon her granddaughter she couldn't help but think how perfect this all is. How happy her family was.

"Nora… Nora? Nora?" Nora shook her head as she came out of her dream. She was back in the present and staring at her husband's concerned face. "Are you alright?" George asked.

"Yeah, I think we'll all be okay."

DASEY

Dinner for the most part was pretty uneventful. Casey and Derek both had extra helpings of food. Derek almost choked his peas due his "inhale" food method of eating. Casey told her stories of college and how happy she was for a break. Nora loved the smile on her daughters face as she recalled all her experiences.

Casey volunteered herself and Derek to do the dishes. Both Nora and George were shocked but didn't argue. They both figured they were just happy to be home… and to probably stall their big announcement.

Which was exactly Casey's plan. Casey wanted to talk with Derek before they made their big announcement. She needed Derek to calm her. She waited patiently for him to finish his food. She ran the warm water and suds. The sounds of the water running already seemed to calm her. Casey began to dump the dirty dishes into the water when Derek came up from behind her.

"Space Case?"

Casey jumped but didn't scream.

Derek frowned, "You okay?" Casey shrugged but Derek could already read her face. She looked scared, worried, and just plain vulnerable. He didn't say anything; he just picked up a rag and began to dry the dishes. He knew Casey would tell him what's wrong eventually.

Casey couldn't take the silence anymore. "I'm worried," she whispered.

Derek tried to think of something to say. He knew Casey would get slight cold feet but he was just as nervous, if not more so. He tried to think of something heroic to say but instead all he said, "Me too."

He mentally rolled his eyes at himself. "We're going to get through this Case. We're going to grow old, yell at each other, and probably die a couple of days of each other."

Casey just stared at him. She narrowed her eyes, "Did you watch the Notebook?"

Derek chuckled as he placed another plate in the cabinet. "Maybe I'm just a sentimental guy. Hell, maybe I'm gay." Casey let out a big laugh and smacked him with her wet dish rag. "DAMN WOMAN! That hurt!"

Casey had now doubled over laughing so hard she couldn't catch her breath. "You… would… make a… horrible… GAY!"

This Derek took offense too. "Um, excuse me? I would make a great gay! Men would literally throw themselves at me. Men would line up to be at my beck and call. I would have a signup sheet posted on the internet for a different boy toy every month! And each month it would be full!"

"Uh… Nora said you guys had something to tell us?" Edwin had a look of horror on his face. "I honestly don't know if we need to even hear it."

Derek rolled his eyes. "I'm not gay."

Edwin held his hands up in surrender. "Hey, it's cool. Would you be a top or bottom?"

With that comment Derek ran after his brother while Casey slid to the floor cry laughing.

About fifteen minutes later the whole family was sitting in the living room. Nora and George were sitting together on the love seat. Edwin sat in the newly purchased lazy boy. Lizzie sat on the other love seat legs sprawled out while Marti sat propped up against it on the floor.

Derek shifted his weight from foot to foot. He shoved his into his pockets to hide the fact that they were shaking.

Casey seemed calmer. Even though she wished she could take Derek and run back to their lives at college.

Nora and George seemed the most relaxed. They were patiently waiting to see what the younger kids would have to say.

Finally Casey caved under the silence and began to speak. "Well, Derek and I have an announcement." Casey looked towards her mom for reassurance. Nora smiled and nodded to encourage her daughter to move forward. "Uhh, Derek and I didn't see each other for a couple of months. I kept going to his hockey game just because it made me think of home. Then one night we… uhh… ran into each other."

Casey stopped for a moment getting lost in the thought of their "reconnection."

Derek saw the far off look in her eyes and the blush rising to her cheeks. He was definitely going to have to ask her about that later. For now she needed saving. "I caught her leaving the game and I called her out. We ended up chatting, fighting and pretty much became friends. Then we sort of kept hanging out. Then we sort of starting dating."

Derek waited and waited for some sort of reaction. Casey was looked towards her mom and George. They were looking at the younger kids. Marti was just staring at Derek. Edwin was pinching the bridge of his nose. Lizzie was staring at both Casey and Derek.

Edwin spoke first, "Wait so in one semester you guys went from mortal enemies to dating?"

Derek was thankful for the break in silence. "Yeah. We've both sort of chilled out. And we both realized what freaking awesome people we are!"

Marti laughed, "I think it's about time." Once she spoke her peace she grabbed her phone, smiled at Casey and Derek, and left upstairs.

Derek began to feel the weight lift.

"I don't believe it," Lizzie finally spoke.

Casey snapped her head towards her sister. "What do you mean?"

Lizzie just kept shaking her head. "There's no way you guys are dating." Derek glanced at Casey. No tears yet. "You guys hate each other. You guys are siblings."

And there it was. The comment Casey had been dreading, but worse, she never expected it to come from her sister.

"Whoa Liz, you know we're not siblings. We're step siblings." Derek stepped in front of Casey. That comment hurt him but he knew it hurt Casey even more.

"Same dif," Lizzie said as she got up from the sofa. "You guys are disgusting."

"Lizzie!" Nora gasped.

Lizzie ignored her mother's call and ran upstairs to her room. She slammed the door with a loud thud.

Casey had yet to move from her spot. Derek began to panic. Casey's eyes turned into a glassy sheen. Tear were threatening to spill over. "I'm going to go for a walk."

Derek moved toward her. "Case, wait," he reached out to stop her.

Casey pulled violently away. "Please don't touch me." Derek's hands and his love might as well have been acid.

A/N: I'm being kind of naughty by writing at work. But so far it's been working. At the beginning of this week I only had one full page done. And now I'm finished! Slow time = writing time!