Disclaimer: Clearly, I don’t own Life With Derek, otherwise I wouldn’t be sitting here writing fanfics now would I? I also don’t own any of the movies mentioned. ‘Nuff said.

Author’s Note: I know, I know. It’s been over a month since my last update, and I’m sorry, but I’ve been REALLY busy with school lately. Hopefully, this chapter will make it up to you guys.

Enjoy!

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Action and Reaction
Family Fun Time (I)

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Needless to say, George and Nora had been quite surprised when their two eldest - who were usually at each other’s throats - approached them later that morning, asking for permission to go to the movies that afternoon. Together.

Though the idea of Derek and Casey willingly hanging out and getting along was farfetched and more than a little suspicious, both parents were quick to push their suspicions aside and embrace this bizarre turn of events, mostly because they were sick of all the bickering and were looking forward to a household full of peace and tranquility.

Of course, neither parent was going to completely forget about Derek’s punishment, and much to said boy’s dismay, the only way he (and Casey) were going to be able to go to the movies and spend time together was if their younger siblings tagged along. If that wasn’t bad enough, he also had to act as their damn chauffer!

Reluctantly, Derek agreed, despite the fact that it went against just about everything he believed in. After all, if it would help him in his quest to woo Casey, so to speak, then it was worth it. He just needed a way to keep the younger ones preoccupied.

X

“Okay, so let me get this straight…” Edwin stopped pacing around to turn and face his brother once the elder of the two had finished explaining his ‘plan’. “You want me -” he motioned to himself, “ - to somehow convince Lizzie and Marti to see a different movie so that you and Casey can see the one we were all originally going to see?”

“Pretty much, yeah.” Derek replied. “So, are you in?”

Edwin furrowed his brow.

“Why, though?” He asked. “Why can’t we all just go together?”

“Because,” said Derek. “Because… because… wait. Why do I even need to explain myself? Just… because. I said so. Now, are you in or not?”

“I don’t know…” said Edwin, crossing his arms and leaning against the wall. “I mean, what’s in it for me?”

“Uhh… a lifetime of gratitude?” Derek offered lamely.

Edwin smirked, and Derek suddenly felt like he was looking into a mirror. He blinked.

Weird.

“Okay,” he said. “What do you want?”

“Your jacket.”

“Not on your life. Pick something else.”

Edwin sighed. Padding across the room, he collapsed on the edge of Derek’s bed and fell back with his arms spread out, closing his eyes as he thought about what, exactly, he wanted from his brother - other than his jacket, of course. He thought long and hard, and after wasting two minutes of his life contemplating, he opened his eyes and sat up.

“An explanation.” He said.

“What?”

“You heard me. I want an explanation.”

“Care to me more specific? I’m not exactly a mind reader, you know.”

Edwin rolled his eyes.

“Isn’t it obvious?” He asked. “Just tell me why you want to be alone with Casey and I’ll do what you want, free of charge.”

Derek stared incredulously at his younger brother, his jaw hung open in shock. He quickly snapped out of it, though, and shook his head.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He scoffed.

“Bull. Dad and Nora might not be able to see through your little act, but I can and so can Lizzie. Marti, too. We’re not as blind as you think, Derek. We know something’s up and we’ve known for a while. Now, I haven’t really gone into much detail about the incident at breakfast with Lizzie -”

“What incident?” Derek interrupted.

“ - just yet,” Edwin went on, narrowing his eyes in hopes of silencing his older brother. “But once I do, we’ll be able to put two and two together and figure it out eventually.” He took a deep breath before continuing. “Now, Derek, it looks to me like you’ve got two choices: you can either tell me what’s going on right now, or… I find out later - with Lizzie and anyone else present. Either way, you’re busted.” Edwin’s eyes twinkled knowingly. “It’s your choice, Bro.”

Derek opened his mouth to say something, but found that no words would come out. He was speechless. For the first time in his life, he was actually at loss for words.

In retrospect, however, his mind was practically overflowing with questions.

For example, since when did his brother - his loyal minion - have a backbone? When had it happened? It seemed like only yesterday that he was terrified of even so much as having a different opinion than him. What happened? Was it a result of puberty or was it something entirely different?

Perhaps he’d just grown a pair over night or something.

It was possible… right? Right?

Damn it. Why was he arguing with himself? That sort of thing was for people like Casey.

Shaking his head, Derek snapped out of his reverie and glared at Edwin, whose all-knowing expression was still plastered on his face.

“You’re not going to just take a hike, are you?”

Edwin shook his head, still smirking.

“What if I threaten you?”

“Nothing unusual about that.” Edwin replied, shrugging. “Besides, I think I’m more afraid of Lizzie than you.”

Ouch.

He must be really losing his touch if a twelve-year-old girl was suddenly more intimidating than him.

Derek sighed.

“Fine.” He said. “I’ll tell you, but you have to promise you won’t tell anyone. Not Lizzie, not Marti, not our parents and certainly not Casey. Got it?”

Edwin nodded eagerly.

“My lips are sealed.” He promised.

Derek nodded before standing up and walking across the room. He opened his door and made sure that no one was outside eavesdropping before closing it and locking it. Then, he shooed his brother off his bed and got comfortable (he was not going to confess anything unless he was comfortable) before propping himself against the headboard and glancing over at Edwin, who had settled down at his desk.

“Alright, so -” Edwin started, but Derek cut him off.

“I’m in love with Casey.”

Edwin’s eyes went wide.

“You’re what?” He cried.

“Yeah, I know. Shocking, isn’t it? I could hardly believe it myself, but… yeah. I am.”

“That’s… kind of a big leap there, D. Are you sure that you’re actually… in love with her? I mean… you said the same thing about Sally and… well…” Edwin trailed off. “It’s probably just infatuation or something… I mean… you’re two teenagers living in the same house… there’s bound to be physical attraction and stuff… but… love? I thought you hated her.”

“I never hated her!” Derek snapped. “I just didn’t like her attitude.”

“And she didn’t like yours.” Edwin replied. “Hence the constant arguing.”

“Somewhat true.”

“Somewhat?”

“After about a month, I got used to her bossiness, and after that… the only reason I picked fights with her was to get her all riled up. It was hot.”

“Okay, too much info.”

“Hey, you’re the one who wanted to know.”

Edwin glared.

“Just go on.”

“You’re starting to sound really mouthy there, Ed. I would advise you to hold your tongue until this conversation is over or I’ll be forced to do something that might land me in jail.”

Edwin didn’t say anything after that.

Derek smirked.

“Like you, at first, I thought it was just attraction, and I thought that it would eventually just… go away.” Derek sighed. “I was naïve. If anything, it got worse! It got to the point where I couldn’t even go out with brunettes anymore because they’d just remind me of her! So, I convinced myself to start dating blondes in hopes that I’d be able to forget about her. First Kendra, then -”

“Sally.” Edwin finished.

Derek nodded.

“Yeah. Then Sally… and… for a while, it worked, because I was attracted to Sally the same way I was attracted to Casey. The only difference was that I could actually have Sally… once she broke up with Patrick, I mean. I couldn’t have Casey. Too many obstacles. Our parents were married, we were supposed to hate each other… it just wouldn’t work out. So when Sally came along, I was relieved, because she held my attention for a while - but only for a while.”

“What happened?” asked Edwin.

“She became like all the other girls I dated.” Derek replied. “All needy and affectionate and stuff… I couldn’t stand it, and I realized that… if our parents never got married and Casey and I met accidentally and ended up together, neither of us would change for the other. We’re too stubborn for that. That’s why I was attracted to Casey so much… she was unlike any girl I’ve ever met. She defied all my rules and she wasn’t afraid to stand up for what she believed in and if we ever got together… it’d still be like that.”

“Alright, so we’ve established that you’ve been attracted to her since the beginning… but how do you know that you actually… love her?” asked Edwin.

“I just… know it.” Derek said. “I know it sounds cheesy, but… I’ve never felt this way about any girl before. It’s weird. I feel like… I could actually spend the rest of my life with her.”

“Really? Even though you two would be disagreeing all the time?”

Derek nodded.

“It’s weird, isn’t it?”

“Just a little bit.” Edwin replied. “But… I have a question. You said that you guys would never change if you got together… but what about now? What about this morning?”

Derek sighed.

“I knew that would eventually come up.” He said. “And… like I said before… if there weren’t so many damn obstacles in the way… or if Casey and I had just randomly met on the street one day… then it wouldn’t be a problem… but because our parents are married and Casey’s under the impression that I’m the spawn of Satan… it changes everything. I have to change so that I can prove to her that I can be a halfway decent guy.”

“And… when, exactly, do you plan to tell her that?”

“Now’s too soon. I was thinking towards the end of the year or something. We’ll both be heading off to college and -”

“You’re going to college?” Edwin piped up.

Derek narrowed his eyes.

“One more smart-ass comment out of you and I swear to God -”

“Relax, Bro. I’m kidding. Continue.”

“I’ll tell her at Prom.”

“That’s like… three months from now.” Edwin said. “What if she gets romantically involved with someone else?”

“She won’t.” Derek replied. “I’ll make sure that won’t happen.”

“Whatever you say, Bro…” Edwin trailed off and picked up one of Derek’s Playboy magazines from off the ground and began flipping through it nonchalantly.

After about five minutes, the younger Venturi boy sighed and snapped the issue shut before tossing it aside.

“Derek?”

No answer. He tried again.

“Derek?”

Still, no answer.

Edwin glanced over at his brother and frowned when he noticed headphones covering his Derek’s ears while he bobbed his head to whatever music he was listening to, all the while reading some car magazine. Sighing, Edwin stood up and made his way over to his brother and proceeded to tap him on the shoulder repeatedly until Derek finally noticed him and paused his iPod. Pulling down his headphones, he glared at his younger brother.

“What are you still doing here?” He asked. “I told you everything you wanted to know, now go.”

Edwin bit his lip.

“I know, but… I have another favor to ask.” He said.

Derek’s eyes flashed dangerously.

“You’re really starting to push your luck…” He sat up and placed his magazine beside him. “Hurry up. I don’t have all day.”

“I need advice.”

“Advice.” Derek deadpanned.

Edwin nodded.

“What kind of advice?”

“Girl advice.”

Derek shot him a skeptical look.

“I thought you didn’t like my girl advice.” He said. “Didn’t it nearly ruin your chances with that Michelle girl a while back? Just go to Lizzie again or something. I’m sure she’ll be more than happy to help.”

“I… can’t.”

“Why not?”

“I… I just can’t. It’s complicated.” Edwin said. “Just hear me out. Please.”

Derek sighed loudly in annoyance.

“Fine. Talk away.”

Edwin’s eyes darted nervously around the bedroom before his gaze settled on the CD-rack across from Derek’s bed.

“I’ve been having these… dreams lately.” He said. “They’re really weird, too. Like… I don’t know how to explain them… they’re just…”

“What do they usually involve?”

“Me… and a girl… kissing and stuff… sometimes more.”

“And how do you feel when you wake up?”

“Umm…” Edwin’s face flushed.

That was all the confirmation Derek needed.

“Congrats, Edwin. You’ve hit puberty. You’re officially a man now. Now get out.”

“But… Derek… I… I don’t really know -”

“When you wake up, just jack off and you’ll be fine.” Derek assured him.

“What?”

“Didn’t Dad give you ‘The Talk’ already?”

“Yeah, but -”

“But what? It’s not rocket science. When you have a wet dream, you jack off and then everything’s fine. That’s all there is to it.”

“But… I can’t… it’s not…”

“It’s completely normal. Trust me. Every guy does it - even a few girls, too.”

Edwin looked like he was about to faint, but somehow managed to maintain consciousness and continue.

“You don’t understand, Derek!” He cried. “I can’t just… jack off.”

“Why not?” asked Derek.

“Because!”

“Because why?”

“Because… the dreams… the girl in them…” Edwin fidgeted profusely. “It’s almost always Lizzie.”

Derek’s eyes went wide. Once again, he was rendered speechless.

One minute passed, then two, then three… then…

“WHAT?”

Edwin coward away from his brother.

“I knew I shouldn’t have said anything… I’ll just… I’m gonna go now -”

He made a grab for the doorknob, but Derek quickly leapt up and pulled him back.

“No! You’re not going anywhere!” He snapped. “You are going to sit here and tell me everything. Got it?”

Edwin nodded frantically.

“Good. Now, begin.”

X

“We’re seeing two different movies?” asked Casey, slipping into the passenger’s seat beside Derek. “Why?”

“Well, you know… we’ve all got such different tastes and such… turns out the younger ones didn’t want to see Ironman. They wanted to see that new Narnia movie. Isn’t that right, kids?” Derek asked, glancing at their younger siblings through the rearview mirror.

“I don’t. I wanted to see -” Marti started, but Edwin quickly clamped a hand over her mouth.

“Oh, yeah. We can’t wait. The trailer looked so good… and Prince Caspian just looked so handsome, didn’t he, Liz?”

Derek fought the urge to laugh when he caught sight of the confused and horrified expression on his younger step-sister’s face. It was absolutely priceless.

“Whatever.” Casey sighed. “Let’s just go. I don’t want to miss the coming attractions - they’re the best part.”

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And that’s the end of chapter 5. It’s a lot longer than I expected, and I actually like this chapter… particularly the scene with Derek and Edwin, despite the fact that Derek seems to be a little OOC… apart from that, though, I liked how it turned out.

I hope you guys enjoyed!

PLEASE REVIEW!

-Lady Azura-