Life With Luca
Disclaimer: I don't own a damn thing!
AN: My take on what could (but will never) happen on Life With Luca, the Life with Derek spin-off.

Derek's daughter Sky is type A. Casey's son Luca is type... Z? And against all odds, the universe decided to put Casey and Derek under one roof together again, co-parenting. (Dasey*)

Life With Luca

Derek was sitting on the back porch when he heard Casey come out and join him. He was exhausted. Mentally, physically, and even emotionally...exhausted. She offered him a glass filled with a familiar amber liquid. He didn't ask what was in it, he didn't need to. She knew exactly what he needed. She always did. Even after all those years. So he just mumbled 'thank's' and took it, grateful for the small distraction.

It had been a day... A week. He had flown in from LA with his daughter for spring break because she specifically asked to spend time with his family. Her only family. Living in LA made it hard for her to connect with her cousins: Ed's twin toddlers, Lizzie's newborn, and Casey's teenage son Luca. Sky managed to facetime with the family occasionally and every once in a while they would fly out to LA. But it just wasn't the same.

But this specific trip left Derek feeling defeated. He hadn't been back since before the death of Casey's husband Mike in September. He didn't come in for the funeral, not knowing what was appropriate. The thing is, he and Mike didn't get along. Or well, they did, sort of, but it was all smoke and mirrors for Casey's sake. They managed to come to an unspoken agreement of holding their tongues and avoiding each other at all costs. So when Mike passed, tragically on duty as a fireman, Derek wasn't sure what to do. It didn't feel right, attending the funeral of a man who you were at odds with. But Casey, Casey needed him... Or did she? He wasn't sure. And there was that line he never was very good with. So he sent some flowers, and his condolences and decided to stay in LA instead.

So seeing Casey, this different mourning version of her, was hard. Harder than what he expected. And her son, Luca… Well, to no one's surprise he was taking the loss of her father really bad. Making Casey's already hard life, a little bit harder. Acting out. Getting into fights. The works. It was giving Derek major flashbacks to his youth. And on this specific trip with Sky, Luca kicked it up tenfold. He was fighting with his cousin any and every time they were in the same room together. It was almost like he decided that Sky was the reason he lost his father and needed to be punished for it. When Derek tried to mediate, Sky glared at him like he just killed a puppy. He didn't understand it. He wondered if she was regretting her decision to spend spring break in Canada.

"You ok?" Casey asked softly, taking a seat next to him. She had her glass cupped in her hand but she made no move to drink it. It was more of an ornament in her small hands. The wedding band she still wore clicking gently against the glass rhythmically.

It was weird being back in their childhood home. It gave him a sense of nostalgia. Especially sitting back there with Casey. If he closed his eyes hard enough, he could almost hear her high pitched screams; "Der-ek!" Memories rippled through him like he was watching a movie montage. It was hard to keep all those thoughts at bay. Hard not to smile when they washed over him, making him feel warm and fuzzy for what was. But he ignored it all, pushing it away like a recovered addict trying his very best.

"Dandy," he replied dryly. The one word dripped sarcasm. He wasn't ok. He took a sip of his drink feeling the liquor burn down his throat. "My daughter... hates me," he explained after a while into the quiet night enveloping them.

He knew it was a lie. Skylar didn't hate him. He was just being dramatic, but their relationship had been rocky for the last few years and it had killed him. When she was born, she was daddy's little girl. How could she not be with the way he was with Marti? Of course, Sky had him wrapped around her tiny little finger. And as she became a toddler, it was all princess dress up games and tea parties, all of which Daddy Derek participated in religiously. Whatever she wanted, he made it happen.

But as she grew up, she outgrew the games she played with Derek. She preferred books and math. And although he was beyond proud, it hurt that he wasn't included in fun times with her. So he did all he could. He brought her all the books and tried to read them to her. But she preferred to read herself. And eventually to read alone. And yeah, that fucking hurt, but what could he do? He kept trying in other ways. Getting her all sorts of science kits and DIY experiments they could do together. But again, she would rather do those things alone.

As she grew up and grew into her personality, she grew away from Derek and into her shell, and he couldn't pull her out of. It broke his goddamn heart. She hated attention and having Derek as a dad brought a lot of unwanted attention her way. When it wasn't the fact that he was a single dad, carrying an adorable little girl on his shoulders, it was the fact that he was incredible on the ice and people wanted a picture with him. All her friend's dad wanted to meet him. And even some of her teachers wanted to date him. And she hated every second of it. There wasn't much Derek could do but take a step back. Stay away from her school, have someone else pick her up. Not go out anywhere he may be recognized. It was hard. All he wanted to do was shower his kid with love and attention and it seemed like she wanted nothing to do with him.

He didn't need to look at Casey to know she had rolled her eyes at him, and he deserved it. "She does not hate you. God, when did you become such a drama queen, Venturi?" Casey teased, bumping his shoulder. She was trying to cheer him up. That much he knew. But it wasn't going to work this time.

He turned to look at her with somber eyes. "Somehow, Sky's exactly like you. And you hated me. You probably still do," he grumbled. He also knew that the last part was another lie, but he was itching for a fight. To feel anything else than a shitty father. He knew Casey grew to love him. She might not use the words directly, and she might not feel the way he did, but she did it in her own way. He knew it deep down in his bones that they shared something special. Something that couldn't be compared.

"I did not," she practically whined in response, pulling him out of his thoughts.

He gave her a blank even stare till she gave in.

"Ok, maybe a little at first," she smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "But she just doesn't get you. I didn't get you. Not till years later. And you don't get her either to be fair. And that's ok. You just have to try," Casey urged him.

Try. A simple three-letter word that hit him like a punch in the gut. It was a word that taunted him. He had to try to be a good father. Try to raise his kid right. Try to pick up the pieces of a toxic relationship with her mother. Try to fill the void she left. Try to make his daughter like him. He wasn't trying hard enough.

"Oh, like you're trying with Luca?" he countered. He regretted the words as soon as they left his mouth. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Her silence beside him was deafening. They weren't kids anymore. He didn't need to pick stupid fights with her to get her attention. He squeezed his eyes tight, annoyed with himself for even saying those words. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean that. I know you're trying. I'm just feeling…" he trailed off, licking his dry lips. He was feeling a lot of things.

"Defensive?" she asked softly.

He nodded once. Raising a kid alone isn't easy. It wasn't his first choice. He thought that they could make it work. Be a little dysfunctional family the three of them. When they found out Monica was pregnant, he wanted to marry her, do it right, you know? But she wanted a different life. And a kid and marriage? That wasn't part of it. So they tried to make it work for the first few years. And even when she was around, Monica wasn't much of a mom, and Derek took all the responsibility for Sky. But then Derek got hurt… he was forced to retire from the NHL. It was the last straw for Monica who had adjusted to the lifestyle. There wasn't even a custody battle. She gave Skyler up like a pair of old shoes and went on her merry way.

Derek didn't care. Not for himself. But for his daughter. When she looked up at him with her glassy honey-colored eyes asking, "Where mommy, daddy? Is mommy mad?" Tears slipping down her chubby cheeks. He hated Monica for what she did to Sky. He was pretty sure he'd hate her till the day he died.

Casey's voice brought him back. "I know. I've been feeling the same way. But hey, at least your kid just hates you. Mine wants me dead," Casey explained, her fingers circling the rim of her untouched glass. She tried to sound nonchalant about the admission, but it killed her.

"He doesn't want you dead," Derek countered. Luca was a teenage boy who just lost his dad. He was going through a lot and acting out. But he didn't want her dead.

"He does. He said so himself. He said he wished it were me and not his dad." Casey breathed out, her words shaky on her tongue. That when she finally took a sip of her drink, nodding along to herself as she needed encouragement to keep going.

"Case..." Derek said her name like it physically pained him. How was he going to explain to her that it wasn't personal when Luca's words made it very much a direct blow. How could he break down the psyche of a boy whose feelings Derek was all too familiar with?

Without giving it a second thought his arm curled around her, pulling her into his chest in one swift movement. His hand settled on the perfect curve of her waist. He closed his eyes and breathed her in. Casey always smelled like warm honey and vanilla. Like comfort, with a dash of cinnamon spice depending on the day. It washed over him like a wave of calm and serenity. It had been so long since he had held her, but the feeling was one he wished he could live in.

Slowly, like she had to give herself permission first, she curled into him. One arm slipping behind his back, turning her entire body into him, she laid her head on his shoulder and a hand curled around his middle. She was holding him like a teddy bear, and he didn't mind one bit. It was easy in those moments. In between words and away from everyone else. It could be so easy if it was just them.

"You want to switch?" she asked after a while, her voice vibrating against his chest. He could see a small smile tipped up at the corner of her mouth. A fake smile. It didn't cover up the glossiness in her eyes. The tears threatening to spill overboard. He knew he was having a hard time. Between losing her husband and her son's rebellion, she was struggling to keep her head above water. "You take Luca for a week, I take Sky?" She went on to explain.

Derek reached out his free hand to cup her cheek. A thumb gently caressing her smooth skin. Time had done nothing to age her. She was still painfully beautiful to him. But losing her husband... that had aged her. It hurt to see her that way. It had sucked the luster from her skin and the glow from her eyes. He wished those blue eyes still had some sparkle left in them... But they were sad, stormy, and dull now. His thumb reached up, wiping away the single tear that had managed to escape.

He watched her for a moment as he thought about what she had said. Her ridiculous idea and conversation pivot. "Can we?" he asked, entertaining her. He was sure that he could handle Luca. He was a mini Derek after all, even drove Casey crazy in the same way, if not worse. He understood the kid. And Sky… Sky adored Casey. Maybe because she saw Casey as a mother figure that she never really had. The perfect A-typical mind that echoed her brilliant one? He wasn't sure. But those two worked well together. He was ashamed to admit how long he had kept them apart. Mostly because it was hard coming home, hard being around her pretending.

Casey half shrugged. "Or, you could just move in," she finally said, eyes flicking away from his, her bottom lip slipping between her teeth.

"What?" he asked, confused. He didn't see that coming.

"Move in," Casey repeated, slowly tilting her head up to meet his stare again. "I can help with Sky. You can help with Luca. We used to be such a good team together. Why not? Lord knows I could use the help." And then so much softer, she asked a question that had been plaguing her for years. "What's keeping you in California?" Her voice broke like she was scared to hear the answer.

Was it a real offer? Or just something to say in passing cause it sounded right and could fill the void? "I…" he started and stopped. What was keeping him in California? Well, his job playing for the LA Kings was what took him to LA. Then there was his relationship with Monica. But those two things were long gone. The only reason he stayed was that Skyler had a whole life that was built in California. Could he move them? Should he?

Softly, like the words weren't meant to be heard, she added, "Come home, Der."

Sky called a family meeting. And by family, she meant Derek, Alfred, her hamster, and her trusted whiteboard. She made a pro/con list for moving to Ontario. LUCA was at the very top of her con list in capital letters, underlined, and everything. But her pro list… it was long. Aunt Casey topped the list. Casey's name was followed by the name of everyone in Derek's family. Her only family. The family she had not grown up with because of California. What followed was a list of opportunities she could have had in Ontario, because of course, she had done her research. The museums she could visit. The science programs she could try. She even looked into the local high school she would attend and highlighted some things she might like doing. Science club. Debate team. Yearbook. Band. She also pointed out that if there was ever a time to move, it would be the upcoming summer before she started high school. The best time to transition.

During the entire thing, Derek sat quietly and listened, cradling Alfred in his hands. He answered any questions she had but made it clear that it would be her decision. Too much had been taken from his daughter, and he was not about to take California away just because Casey made him consider it.

At the end of the family meeting, Sky agreed to the move in the summer, right before the beginning of her freshman year of high school.

Before they knew it, the sky had wrapped up 8th grade. Their LA house was packed up and sent over to Canada in a moving truck. And Derek and Sky were going to spend the first few weeks of summer road-tripping across America. They hit up all the tourist traps (for Derek) and all the historical places (for Sky).

Spending all that time in the car together was good for them. They listened to a few podcasts, Dereks very specific playlists. They listened to the entire Harry Potter series via audiobook. He made her take all the goofy pictures of him at every tourist trap he could find. And she dragged him along every museum she could find. By the time they crossed over the border to Canada, her new home, things were already looking up for Derek. Maybe coming home really was the best decision for them.

Casey knew that Luca hated the idea of living with his "dorky" and "not cool" younger cousin Skyler. And he also hated the possibility of going to the same high school with her if they moved. He was very vocal about his feelings when Casey mentioned Sky and Derek moving in.

The cousins had only met a handful of times, most recently when Derek came by during spring break, but it seems that Sky had made quite the impression on Luca. He threatened to move out when Casey suggested the possibility. He said he wanted to live with his paternal grandparents instead. That Casey's side of the family was mostly insane (and well to be fair… her family was a little hectic.) Luca wanted to be with his dad's family. "Simple. Traditional. Not messy!" He wanted to sleep in his dad's old room at his grandparent's house. He wanted to be close to them instead of dealing with the chaos of home. And Casey understood it. That's why she let him spend the entire summer with his father's side of the family.

She hated to admit it, but having some alone time was a blessing. Luca was a lot to deal with. And it was still hard to get out of bed most days. And with him gone she could wallow in her feelings for a while. Allow her mind, body, and soul to grieve without worrying about Luca seeing it.

Eventually, Casey reminded Luca that sure, he'd have to live with Sky. But that would also mean that he got to live with his badass, cool, ex-hockey player uncle Derek. (Luca swore that Derek was the best part of his twisted insane family.)

So yeah, in the end, he was ok with the move.

The move was mostly painless. When Derek and Sky arrived, Luca and (mostly) Casey had made some space for the pair. There was a guest room prepared for Sky. And Derek was going to crash on the couch till they figured out the mess in the basement. He said he didn't mind, he was just trying to make a little change/adjustments as possible. He briefly considered staying at the Venturi-McDonald residence. There was a ton of space there. But Casey wanted them at her place. And he wasn't going to leave Sky there alone. So the couch would have to do. (Plus, it was Casey's couch, so it was made out of the fluffiest clouds money could buy.)

But as soon as Derek and Sky arrived, there was one thing Luca had not shut up about. He was asking, no, begging to take a ride on Derek's motorcycle. He had not stopped asking since Derek parked his bike next to Casey's suburban mom-mobile in the garage. The contrast was drastic. Casey, being such a mom, very adamantly said no. Serval times. But that didn't stop Luca from asking and it was going to drive Derek insane if he kept it up.

Derek had to take Casey aside and beg her as well. A conversation between just the parents, away from Luca's ears. Luca was driving Derek up the walls and he needed a break. So he begged Casey.

At the end of their first week of school, Derek pulled up to the oh too familiar high school to pick Luca up for a ride on his shiny black and red Ducati.

Being back at the school triggered the memories of Derek. Everywhere he looked reminded him of something. Of sneaking around to pull pranks. Of kisses in the backseat of The Prince in the parking lot of the school after hours. Of hockey practice and cheerleaders. Of Casey…. Of Casey…. Oh, and more memories of Casey.

Derek shook his head free of those thoughts. Just like in his youth, he still turned a few heads when he pulled up to the school, but he used to it. But he wasn't used to the fact that current-day SJST HS had beautiful faculty, who were eyeing him down the second he pulled up. And if he wasn't such a good dad, he would maybe pay a little more attention to a few of them who were attractive. But, he was not going down that road, not with the way Sky felt about attention. He pulled off his helmet and looked around for Luca. He knew Sky was going to band tryouts and wouldn't be out yet, so he took the opportunity and ran with it.

"Luca!" Derek called out when he spotted the boy with a group of friends near the bus stop.

Luca's blue eyes went wide when he spotted Derek. He quickly said his goodbyes to his friends and tried to casually walk up to Derek. But it was more of a jog. "What are you doing here?" he asked cautiously. His eyes were locked on the motorcycle in awe.

Derek hopped off the bike, pulling the spare helmet out, offering it to his nephew. (It still felt weird calling Luca his nephew. Casey wasn't his sister, so Luca by default was not his nephew.) "You getting on?" Derek asked casually. Like it is no big deal.

Luca didn't move to take the helmet. "Can I?" he asked hesitantly, looking for the trick. He knew Casey had said no a million times. He knew she'd be livid when she found out. But it was clear that he wanted nothing more than to hop on and go.

"Why not?" Derek baited him.

"Mom will be pissed if she finds out," Luca reasoned, staring between Derek, the helmet, and the bike.

"Well, I'm not gonna tell her," Derek smirked, pushing the spare helmet to Luca who finally took it with a grin.

"Alright," Luca smiled, pulling the helmet on.

The ride home was quick. The high school wasn't too far from Casey's house. And even with the pit stop so Luca could throw up on the side of the road, they made it home early. But when Derek pulled up to Casey's house, ready to park the bike in the garage, they spotted her. She was standing at the front door, with her arms crossed over her chest. She must have gotten home early from work. And she was pissed. Those piercing blue eyes were staring daggers at Derek and Luca.

"Shit," Derek cursed, killing the engine. He tried not to curse in front of the kids. But it was hard. He had always had a dirty mouth. And being around hockey players for most of his life didn't help. Casey had a swear jar, and he had been keeping it topped up ever since they moved. That was another five bucks.

"I'll just go up to my room," Luca mumbled on shaky legs when he got off the bike, handing Derek the spare helmet.

"You do that," Casey replied, keeping stern eyes locked on Derek. If looks could kill, Derek would be a dead man. But he had been on the receiving end of those eyes far too many times, so he wasn't too worried about it. Nine lives and all that. "You, me, outside. Right now," Casey practically growled at him.

"Yes ma'am," Derek replied, trying his very best not to make a joke about how bossy she was. (And how he was into it.) Instead, he followed her through the house out into the back yard that had quickly become the parents meet up spot.

When they were safely away from listening ears, Casey dropped the act. "So?" she asked Derek softly. Even though she knew her son was out of earshot, she still didn't want to be caught scheming.

"He threw up," Derek smiled in triumph. Maybe he had driven a little dangerously…. Maybe he went a little too fast on a few curves. He did not take it easy on Luca. But that was the plan after all. "Don't think he'll be asking for a ride anytime soon," he explained.

They both knew that Luca was going to keep asking. And the only way to get him off the subject would be to give in. But he knew Luca simply was not ready for the motorcycle life.

"Am I a bad mother?" Casey asked her lip between her teeth in worry, eyes trained on her feet.

"Am I a bad uncle?" he countered, taking a seat on the back steps. They were both to blame, both wrong. Casey came up with the plan and Derek executed it flawlessly. Maybe it wasn't good parenting. But it gave Luca what he needed, and the parents were done hearing about it. So win-win?

"Thanks, Der," she said softly headed to the door, going back inside to have a conversation with her son. "Maybe you can take me out for a ride next. I do miss the wind in my hair," she added with a teasing smile that melted him before she disappeared inside.

Memories hit him like a pile of bricks. Her arms wound tight around his waist. Her thighs wrapped around him like a vice grip as she held on for dear life on his first bike over a decade ago. He could still feel the strands of her hair whipping in the wind around them. And her squeals in his ear, even with the helmet. He shook his head free of the memories. That was a lifetime ago.

AN: Ok so...This was supposed to be a fun little drabble full of hijinks between these 4. But then my brain did a thing. And now they are full-blown. chapters and fleshed-out backstories. Enjoy.