Casey's hands moved over the same coffee cup again and again as she continued to wash it. Her eyes were glued to the back yard, or someone in particular, about to mow the lawn. He was shirtless, the whole scene moving in slow motion. His smile widened as he talked to her eldest son, a pair of sunglasses shading those dark eyes that she knew all too well.

He reached down and pulled, his muscles moving perfectly in sync with the motion as he started the lawn mower.

He was back in town.

He was back in her life.

It was easier having him live across the world, living out his rockstar fantasies in Paris.

"So! You gonna come home again soon? Like, you know, before the kids go to university?"

"Hey, Case…"

"Yes, Der?"

"I was just thinking: do you still have that guest house in your backyard?"

"Who wants to know?"

He shrugged, shoving his hands into the pocket of his jeans. "I think having family around may be good for Skyler."

Casey gave him a sideways glance, crossing her arms over her chest. "And you want to what? Move into my backyard?"

Derek chuckled, looking up at the stage as his fourteen-year-old daughter began to sing. He was beaming with pride. It was hard to imagine. Derek Venturi as a single father. While Skyler did have a mother whom she talked to regularly, she'd always been with Derek, ever since she was born. True, Skyler was about the easiest child to ever exist, but a kid none-the-less.

"And what would be good for you?" Casey found herself asking.

He tore his gaze from the stage and glanced at her. His confidence seemed to wane just a bit. But they were in their 30's with four children between them. It was amazing how much Derek had grown up over the years. "I miss this."

"This?" Casey cocked an eyebrow upwards, her heart beat betraying her as it jumped in her chest.

"You know…family. Dad and Nora know Skyler from facetime mostly. Marti's getting married, Lizzie's getting divorced, Simon's a complete disaster…and Edwin still can't a date and desperately needs his big bros expertise to guide him through life. You know, that sort of thing."

"Aren't you forgetting someone?"

"Nope. No one I can think of."

"Derek…" Casey said, giving him a stern glance, though a smile tugged at the corner of her lips.

"It just sucks that Peter is always gone; you work full time…your kids are nuts. Let me help you, Case."

And just like that, he moved in.

He moved into the backyard yes, but most of the time he hung around the main house, chasing after Kai when he "accidentally" got into the syrup and reading Molly her favorite book of poetry even if he did butcher his delivery and she'd tell him to start over and get it right this time.

She'd even overheard him giving Luca the sex talk when her older son had a date with Bridget Mouser, the hottest girl in school. Casey about lost it. She knew Derek as a teenager. He was going to corrupt Luca and turn him into the school's biggest player like he had been. But that was two decades ago.

He was no longer that Derek apparently.

He'd told him to hold out. That meaningless sex wasn't all it was cracked up to be, and to make sure to treat Bridget with respect and kindness. And then he said he remembered what it was like to be a "horny son-of-a-bitch," so he slipped him a few packs of condoms incase downstairs Luca won out over his brain.

Casey couldn't be mad. He really was trying.

"Aunt, Casey?"

Casey dropped the cup she'd still be cleaning as Skyler sauntered into the room. It chipped. Great.

She cleared her throat, putting on her brightest smile as she leaned her soapy hands against the sink.

"Hey, Sky! What's up?"

"Are you okay?" Skyler asked, her brows furrowing as she looked at her step-aunt closely.

"Yeah, yeah. Why do you ask?"

"Because you were cleaning that same cup twenty minutes ago when I went upstairs to change for school."

Busted.

"Um…well…I…there was this dark ring inside that I was trying to get. It required a lot of…elbow grease. See!" Casey said, her voice a little too loud for her own ears. "I got the ring! All clean."

"Except now there is a chip and you'll cut your lip."

"Right," Casey breathed, turning the mug around in her fingers to exam it. "I guess I should throw it away."

The back door slammed shut, causing Casey to jump once more. Shit. What was wrong with her?

With a heavy sigh, she rinsed her hands and dried them, giving up on the dishes for right now. Derek came inside, still shirtless, and acting like it was no big deal.

"Hey, Skyler."

"Dad," she said in greeting, but her voice was filled with affection despite the one word.

"Need a ride?"

"Nope. I'll take the bus."

"Lunch money?"

"Got it covered," she said swiftly, throwing her backpack over her shoulder and heading for the door.

"Love you."

"Love you too, Dad!" she yelled back.

"Wait for, Luca!"

"Hey! I'll take that ride," the fifteen-year-old said from behind Derek as his fingers moved swiftly over his phone, texting a girl most likely.

"Beat it," Derek said, pushing Luca towards the front door by his head. "You miss that bus, you can walk."

"And I thought you didn't play favorites, Uncle Derek."

"I never said anything like that," Derek whispered, wrinkling his nose while trying to keep from smiling. "And if you keep trying to get your way all the time, I'll tell your mom about that little bike trick you pulled last week."

"Later!" Luca exclaimed, heading out after Skyler and far away from any drama that may unfold.

"Wait!" Casey exclaimed, placing one hand on her hip as she studied Derek intently. "What bike trick?"

"Sorry, Case," he said. He moved towards her slowly, his chest still glistening with a sheen of sweat. The September heat continued to be a scorcher. He washed his hands, his arm brushing against her front because she hadn't moved a muscle from her original position in front of the sink. He reached past her, a little too slowly, and grabbed a towel to wipe his hands. "He did as he was told. I can't be a nark unless he completely fucks up."

"Uncle Derek said a bad word!" Kai exclaimed running into the kitchen and around the island at record speed.

"Yes, he did. And what does that mean?" Casey asked smugly, a smile playing on her lips.

"You have to put a dollar in the swear jar!"

"That's right. One of these days, Uncle Derek may learn."

Derek scoffed. "A buck is nothing. I was rolling in the dough back in Paris."

"Yet you're now living in my back yard," Casey teased, naturally trying to egg him on. Old habits die hard.

"No because I'm broke, Princess," Derek immediately says with a wink, and just like that, the teasing his over.

Casey swallowed hard, clearing her throat.

"Kai, can you go get Molly. We're about to leave for school."

"Molly! Get your butt down here!"

Casey rolled her eyes before grabbing her lawyer robes and brief case. "She risked one more glance back at Derek, shook to find his dark eyes remained steadfast on her."

"I'll be home at five. Can you pick Kai and Molly up from school?"

"Always do, Case. That's what I'm here for. To help."

Casey lets out a sigh; one filled with relief, yet a more intense feeling was beginning to creep back into her after all these years.

A feeling of remembrance and regret.

It scared her more than anything.

"Thanks, Der."

"Anytime, Case."

Twenty years ago

"You're such a jerk!"

"And you're complete bitch. News flash, Princess. Neither of us are perfect!"

"You had no right to hit him like that. He'll probably never talk to me again, and I swear to God, I won't forgive you."

"I could care less about you forgiving me. After a year and a half of living under the same roof, I'm kinda used to the idea of us hating each other. Actually, if you never spoke to me again, it wouldn't be too soon."

"I wish my Mom had never met your Dad."

"Yeah, well I wish my Dad had never met your Mom. Because then I wouldn't be stuck with such a dumb priss for a step-sister."

"Who are you calling dumb? Mr. "I rely on my charm and good looks" to get me through life because I can't pass a test if the whole world depended on it."

"Okay," Derek smirked, falling onto Casey's bed, he leaned back on his hands for support. "You really have to get over me switching our tests. It was for the good of humanity. Not everyone lives in Casey's perfect world where she ignores reality."

"It was good for the hockey team. Not humanity. You jocks are far from human."

Derek's dark eyes darkened even further. Casey pretended not to notice as she scrubbed the make up off her face furiously from her computer chair, using a tiny hand held mirror to do so. She knew going to one of Clink's never-ending parties was a bad idea. Nothing good ever came out of those nights.

When Derek failed to mumble a shot back at her, Casey tore her gaze away and looked at the bane of her existence. His gaze was firmly in place, unmoving. Unwavering. His jaw was set in a harsh line as the muscle worked furiously. It wasn't like Derek to be speechless. What gives?

"Tyler isn't the man for you," he breathed then, his voice a little tired. Casey furrowed her brow and set her mirror down gently. Derek had his faults…like calling her a bitch for instance. He was a misogynistic a – hole. But he had his moments, even if Casey hated to admit it. She knew something had happened, but she was just too scared to ask. "Don't ask what happened. Just let it go."

He could read her mind too easily most days and she hated it with every fiber of her being.

"Der…"

"We're sixteen, Case. Just live in lala land a little bit longer, because before you know it, the real world is going to swallow up girls like you. And until that time happens, I'm going to punch people. Understood?"

Casey opened her mouth to fight back, but then closed it tightly, swallowing hard at his words. Not knowing what happened was going to kill her. And as much as she hated Derek Venturi, he'd never actually hit Sam or Max despite fighting with both of them over stupid stuff. Even Derek knew the limit. Tyler looked like he'd been hit by car when Casey heard the chanting coming from the other room at Clink's party.

Fight. Fight. Fight.

Go Derek.

Beat his ass.

His eyes were nearly swollen shut and Derek's knuckles were red and bleeding, though his own lips was split and bleeding.

And Casey knew that neither of them would tell her Mom and his Dad what really happened for him to get that busted lip.

Casey nodded her head.

"Hey, Der?" Casey asked as her step-brother went to leave. His back stiffened with his hand on the door.

"Hmm?

"If you hate me so much, why do what you do? You know…with Tyler, Scott, even Benny a few weeks ago?"

Derek chuckled sarcastically before turning his 'oh so charming' smile her way, giving her one of his carefree winks before opening the door and shutting it softly behind him.

"You know what they say about a fine line, Princess. Hating someone is just easier than the alternative."