Derek opened his bedroom door slowly but only wide enough to look out to survey the hallway. Looking into the muted lightness of the area, Derek didn't see nor hear a soul moving around the house – which was expected, considering it was nearly 2am and technically Christmas.

The oldest Venturi then left the confines of his bedroom and tip-toed his way to the stairs. At the top, he listened further, making sure Nora and his dad weren't still up wrapping last minute presents or talking. When he still didn't hear anything, he considered himself safe and ventured down the steps.

Halfway down the stairs he saw it. There, besides the TV, stood the Christmas tree. Its colorful lights were still illuminating the darkened living room, making it easier for "Santa" to see and place the presents under, and by the looks of it, Santa had already paid his visit. Derek rubbed his hands together in excitement.

He quickly walked down the rest of the stairs, hurrying to the tree to inspect the presents and try to find his own. But Derek raised a troubled eyebrow when none of the presents were labeled with his name.

Scratching his head, Derek looked around the room, wondering if his dad placed his presents somewhere else for a change to try and deter his annual, premature gift-opening. He quickly searched the entirety of the first floor, but still came up with nothing. The only alternatives were downstairs in the basement or they just didn't get him anything this year.

Sighing, Derek took a defeated seat on the couch. He reached out to grab the leftover cookies and downed them with the remaining milk.

Derek didn't even know why he continued to carry on the tradition. The first time he did it, it was an act of rebellion after his parent's divorce. But Derek guessed the anticipation of knowing what he got must have been too much to resist after that, especially when he realized that Santa wasn't real and no one was watching the presents to stop him.

Just as he was about to give up and head back to bed, a glint under the tree caught Derek's eye.

The hockey player scurried over to the tree again, now getting down on the ground to get level with the gleam that caught his eye. It was a box, wrapped in shiny red wrapping paper, forced all the way in the back.

Derek pushed the presents of his family to the side and, lo and behold, his name was on it. He grinned wickedly as he reached out for it, but as he pulled, it felt stuck. He tugged on it again, harder this time and was finally able to free it from its stubborn position.

However just as he pulled it free, he heard a click and then what sounded like a marble rolling across a surface, followed shortly by another click sound. And before he could comprehend what was happening, the television along with the stereo both turned on, cracked to the maximum volume.

Derek dropped his present in an effort to save his ears from bursting. In a frenzy, he searched the living room for the remotes, but came up short. It was only when the living room lights turned on and a group of angry, tired faces glared at him did he find them right on his recliner.

"Derek!" his father hollered, after taking the remotes and shutting off the offensive noises. "What the hell are you doing?! It's late!"

"I-I don't know how that happened," Derek answered, "I didn't do it. Why would I?"

George, along with everyone else in the family, sent him looks of disbelief. "I can't say that doing idiotic, pointless things is unusual for you, son."

Derek reluctantly nodded, understanding where his dad was coming from. "Maybe I just sat on the remotes or something," Derek fibbed, realizing now that telling the truth wasn't going to resolve this.

Nora sighed, wiping at her tired eyes. "Alright, just – just don't do it again," she insisted. Derek instantly complied. "Good. Now everyone back to bed," she lightly commanded, already making her way back to the basement with his dad in tow.

Derek let out a relieved breath. His heart had been hammering ever since the television and stereo went off; was it some type of ghostly shit or what?

"You didn't sit on the remotes," he then heard a voice say. He turned to see Casey standing at the bottom of the steps, her arms crossed.

"Yes, I did," he stressed, stepping to the side to get around her, but she only stepped in his way.

"No, you didn't," she stated cockily, her lips twisted into a sadistic grin. "You were trying to open your Christmas presents."

Derek shook his head, trying to laugh it off. "No, I wasn't. That's childish stuff."

Casey snorted. "So you're admitting that for the last 5 years that our families have been joined that you've been a child?"

He glared at her. "I wasn't trying to open my presents."

"Well that's weird then," Casey started, her voice filled with false nonchalance, "since I'm the one that rigged your gifts into turning on the television and stereo…" she finished with a modest shrug.

"You booby trapped my Christmas presents?!" Derek whisper yelled in astonishment.

"Yes, because you do it every year!" she quietly hollered right back. "You ruin the fun of Christmas morning," she explained with an irritated pout and small stomp.

Derek fell back onto the balls of his feet, taking a second to let the situation sink in and settle in his brain to comprehend.

"I can't believe I'm about to say this but," he started, pausing to pinch the bridge of his nose. "I'm oddly proud of you right now."

Casey instantly beamed, clapping her hands together. "Oooh, really?" she asked excitedly, and the feeling instantly diminished.

"Nope," he deadpanned, walking around her to go back up the stairs. "I take it back."

She huffed, following closely behind him. "You can't take it back – no takesie backsies!"

"What are we, 5?" Derek asked, cackling. "And I thought you said I was the child."

"You are the child," she vowed. "I pranked you good and you just won't admit it!"

Derek sighed dramatically. "Fine, good job, you did it," he said unenthusiastically, rolling his eyes. "But that's all you're getting out of me. That's your Christmas present now, so don't be expecting anything else."

Casey then got this weird gleam in her eyes as she looked at him, her smile slow and a tad bashful. "I think I can live with that," she spoke softly, her voice almost a breathy whisper, before she slipped into her room without another word.

Derek confusingly watched her go – her behavior throwing him for a loop. He shook his head. That girl was crazy, but not in an entirely bad way.

A/N: Not too much Dasey in this one, but I just love the idea of Casey pranking Derek like this. lol. Remember, if you're reading, review! You're feedback means a lot to me. Also, as always, if you have ideas for future oneshots, leave it in review for me. :)

REVIEW REPLY:

geetika: Hmmm, I will think about that idea. Thanks for the suggestion though, and thanks for reviewing!

Balyndaba: I don't know if I ever remember reading ANY story of them skiing, unless I just can't remember at the moment. lol. And as for what Derek made Casey do in college, one can only guess what crazy things Derek somehow got Casey involved in. haha! Thanks for reviewing!

jperks: Thanks for reviewing! I always love reading your reviews! :)

tvd1992: Thanks for reviewing!