Sloth: Hi everybody! It's been a fun ride, but like all rides, it must end. This is the final chapter to On The Edge of Reality. Derek and Casey finally makes their life changing decision, it's been a fun ride. for all those who stuck with me, this chapter is for you.

P.S. the winner to the chapter eight contest is.....kmr04.

They had finally made it. Graduation was over. School was over. The latest book in the series and finally written and it was time to start on the next one. With high school behind them, they were about to venture out into the world and start their lives as adults. Casey herself would be starting Queens in the fall. She was ecstatic to have found a school close to her family, and yet still far enough to be independent. Emily would be going to England for the summer and the two agreed to email and keep in contact with one another. She didn't know her own summer plans, but from what she gathered over the past few months, the best adventures are those that come unexpectedly. It was why she was packing her suitcase at this very moment. Who knew when she would need it, but even through spontaneous events, Casey would be prepared.

Lizzie smiled as she watched Casey walk around her room and pack what she could. She looked to the room to Casey's left and frowned slightly. They should be happy, but with Derek you never knew. It had come out as a shock when Derek was diagnosed as being manic depressive. If he didn't have such a weird family, Derek would probably be wallowing in self pity and stay in his room. Fortunately that wasn't the case. Although, sometimes Casey and Edwin did have to drag the stubborn idiot out of his wallowing. Literally. Just the other day Derek didn't want to go to the park and the next thing she knew Casey and Edwin were pulling a screaming Derek out of the room while Marti went to get his jacket.

And they never acted differently around him either. Sure at first they tried to be careful. However, when you're part of the McDonald/Venturi family, careful goes out the window the moment the car starts moving. And you couldn't say they nagged him more because face it, both Nora and Casey were nagging Derek to do stuff from day one. Only now it was "did you take your pills" instead of "don't take drugs". Yup, they were a weird bunch.

"What are we looking at?"

"Our possible future." She replied smoothly. Edwin cringed.

"I don't want to be emotionally unstable."

She elbowed him in the gut without even looking up. Yes, this was another thing that didn't change. The McDonald/Venturi family was the only one who could actually joke about each others' mental stability so casually. Hell Derek even encouraged it. Said it helped him feel sane. Edwin draped an arm around her shoulder and if they weren't in the open, she'd lean in.

"What's on your mind?"

"Nothing."

"Liar."

She wondered how he got to know her so well. If this was them at three years, she'd hate/love to see them when they graduated.

"Casey and Derek. They've changed a lot."

"For the better or for the worse?"

"The better. I mean they hated each other before, but now look at them."

"Like pieces of a puzzle."

"Yeah, a complicated math puzzles."

"But they still fit together." Edwin said. She had to agree with that. They watch Casey look around the room before she hollered into the air.

"Derek have you seen my red cap!"

There was a moment of silence before his muffled reply could be heard.

"Have you checked under your clothes hamper?"

Ten seconds later…

"Thank you!"

She had to hold back a giggle. They knew each other so well now. Edwin stood up, stretching his limps.

"Come, I want to play Babe Raider." He said, pulling her along the way.

"Edwin, you know I think that game's a sexist manifestation of a man's desires!"

"Yeah, but that didn't stop you from playing the other night."

She kicked him.

"Ow! No fair you take Tea Kwon Do!"

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.

.

Derek was browsing the web when his cell phone rang. Things were getting back on track for him. Casey had explained that though he was trying to look out for everyone else, he never once thought about himself, which was why she was being so nosy. She wanted to make sure he had his head on his shoulder. Now that he thought about it, it was kind of funny. He found some of Casey's previous antics to help him humorous. Like when she mistook Sam and Dean for drug dealers or when she tried to get him to go outside. Although did she really have to get Edwin to help her kidnap him? He did not appreciate being forcibly taken out of his room. He laughed about it later that day. And sure he teetered to having crying fits when he thought too negatively, but he was managing. And he still wanted to hunt, but that idea was thoroughly postponed until he was older and, as Edwin put it, crying at a broken fingernail. Edwin didn't seem to be able to hold back his atomic wedgy tear at night.

"Y'ello…Oh, hey Pops."

Yes, he was still keeping in contact with Bobby. However, he realized that calling Bobby Dad was kind of hurting George. It was actually why he wanted to stay in his room the day Casey wanted him to go out. Later that night he and George had a chat and they had come to an understanding. George didn't mind if Derek wanted to get closer to Bobby or call him Dad. However, Derek settled for called his birth father Pops. For one there was less confusion now, and two, Dad was reserved official for the guy who raised him.

"Yeah, I'm doing fine…uh no, I'm actually on the waiting list for Queens. Casey got in though….No I'm not going just because she is. I don't chase girls, they chase me….Hey, it's ok. Graduation wasn't that big of an event. Although Edwin did do this whole Masked Wrestler entrance right after Casey's speech….Yeah he's suspended before school starts…..Uh, no, Sam didn't call actually, why?.....Pops I'm fine, I'm not going to go loopy. You can tell me…..Yeah I'm sure. Besides, if you don't, I've got Sam's number and you know I can pester people…..You are not going to upset me…."

There was a long pause and Derek wondered if Bobby had hung up on him. The next words he heard almost made him fall off his chair.

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When Casey came down for dinner, she saw Derek, George, and Nora sitting at the table looking solemn. She suddenly became worried. She had briefly caught George asking Derek if he was sure before she became the center of their attention. She treaded carefully.

"Is something wrong?" she asked them. They looked at each other and Nora stood up.

"Casey…um…We know you don't know them that well, but you remember Sam and Dean don't you? The nice guys who made sure Derek got home safely?"

"Yeah, the ones who I thought were drug dealers. I remember."

"Well…" It seemed like Nora didn't know how to finish. After taking a breath and leading Casey to her own seat, Nora continued, "Dean passed away last night."

"What? But he looked fine."

"Dean was a special case sweet heart. He had…he was sick, let's leave it at that."

She looked over at Derek, who kept staring at the ground. She reached over and rubbed his shoulder. She knew Derek sort of saw Dean as an older brother figure. The two were practically twins from the way they acted. She wasn't surprised when he wiped the bridge of his nose, a sign he had cried a bit.

"I'm sorry…"

"Casey, there's more," Nora began. At this, the couple turned to Derek, who took over.

"People Bobby knows, hunters….they've been disappearing. He's already lost contact with six of them. We've talked it over….and we think it's safer if I go live with Bobby for a while."

And there was the bomb. He was leaving.

"What? You're leaving?"

"It's just until things blow over," George explained. "Only hunters and their family have gone missing. One man's son disappeared while he was at school. It's safer for Derek if he was with someone who knew his way around the hunter's world."

"But didn't you hunt?"

"Casey, I've been off the radar for almost 19 years now. And Derek's just gotten onto the radar."

She raised an eyebrow.

"Apparently I'm known as The Noob across Canada." Derek muttered darkly. "Casey, you got to know, Bobby's place is practically known as a safe house. We even built a demonic panic room in the basement." Everything stared at him. "What? We had a weekend off." He said ever so casually.

"See Casey," Nora began, taking her daughter's hand and staring at her with concern and understanding. "He'll be safe and back before you know it. It'll be just like last summer. You understand right."

"Yeah…Just like last summer."

.

.

.

"You've got everything?"

"Yup."

"Some books too? We don't want you taking this as a vacation Derek."

"I know."

"Gas tank full? Do you have enough money?"

"How about food for the trip? And your medication?"

"Dad, Nora I'm fine!" he told them, holding up his hands to stop them from bombarding him with questions. He gave them a small smile. "You guys worry too much. I'll be fine."

"We're sorry. Just want to make sure you get there safely." George said, putting his hands on Derek's shoulder.

"I will. I just have to meet Bobby at Toronto and we'll continue the rest of the way."

"I still say you should just let George drive you to Toronto," Nora added her two cents. Derek gave her a puppy look.

"But then I won't have the Prince." He said, childishly petting the car. George and Nora couldn't help but chuckle at his antics. At this point, Lizzie, Edwin, and Marti came out of the house.

"Smerek!" Marti cried, racing over and jumping into Derek's open arms, almost plowing him over. "I'm going to miss you."

"Awe, don't worry Marti, I'll be back before you know it. And then we can go bike riding together."

"Just like you showed me?"

"Yeah….well, maybe without the crashing part."

The young girl giggled wildly as he spun her around.

"And no more being sad ok?"

"I won't if you're not."

"Agreed."

Derek put her down just as Edwin came over, smiling proudly. He returned the grin and pulled the younger boy into a noogie.

"Argh you little rascal. Make me proud when they finally let you into high school."

"Will do bro." Edwin replied, not caring that his perfectly combed hair had just been demolished. "I'll make sure the Venturi name goes down in history books."

"Let's just hope it goes down in a good way," Lizzie teased, making Edwin go red. She then walked over to Derek and handed him bracelet made from colorful braided yarn. "I made that for you. Something to let you know we're still with you."

"Awe, thanks Lizzie," he slipped it onto his wrist, "just like the scarf you knitted."

Nora came forward and pulled Derek into a hug.

"Be careful Derek," she told him, "you'll always be the son I hope not to have."

He laughed at that. "Careful or the baby might just turn out that way."

Finally, George came over and hugged Derek. "I'm proud of you, you know that?"

"Yeah Dad. And for the record, you didn't do that half bad a job in raising me. And I'm glad you did."

Derek looked around the yard and at his family. He knew Casey wouldn't come down to see him off and as much as it hurt him, he knew it was best if they didn't. Saying good bye to Casey would be the most painful thing to do of the day. He turned to the Prince and slid into the driver seat. Waving off, he started pulling the car out of the driveway.

"WAIT!"

Heads turned to see Casey stumble out the front door with a suitcase at her heel. She sprinted towards them, almost stumbling twice.

"Don't hit the gas!"

"Casey?"

"Sweet heart what are you doing?" Nora asked her as she ran passed the family and over to the Prince. Catching her breath at the trunk of the car, Casey tapped it, signaling Derek to pop it open. He didn't make a move until he repeated that move. Without saying a word she added her suitcase next to Derek's bag pack, before moving towards the passenger seat.

"Ok, let's go." She told Derek, who stared at her with wide eyes.

"Uh, someone mind explaining what just happened?" Edwin asked. Casey smiled at him.

"Well, Mom said Derek leaving would be just like last summer right? And I agreed. Just me and Derek, traveling the open American road. Only this time it'll be more fun."

"Fun?"

"Yeah, well, as long as you don't start crying in the middle of every song on the radio."

"Hey, I don't cry! I wallow."

As Casey and Derek began arguing over the definition of crying, Nora and George had a silent conversation. They smiled and George waved his hand at the two.

"Just go you two. Before the neighbors start yelling at you. Again."

A set of grins looked at the family before Derek pulled out. The McDonald/Venturi family waved the two off. Nora leaned into George and asked if they've grown up.

"I made egg salad sandwiches for the trip!" They heard Casey announce as the car turned away.

"Oh really? Can I see them?" A baggie of sandwiches were tossed out Derek's side of the car, right into the Davis' trash bin.

"De-rek!"

"Not at All."