My name is Edwin Venturi, and my girlfriend's name is Lizzie MacDonald. We live in Boston, Massachusetts. Our family lives in London, Ontario.

The interesting thing about us is that the people who care don't get it, and the people who get it don't care. Or maybe it's not so much the interesting thing as the unfortunate thing. But either way it's true.

My father and Lizzie's mother are married. They tied the knot when we were about eleven. Those would be the first people. Well I don't really know. They don't know about us yet. We're waiting for college graduation first. My brother and her sister (who feel the same way we do about each other) their very close friends, Sam and Emily, my little sister Marti and our Bostonian friends would be the second people. The people who can put our stepsibling relationship aside and realize that we love each other and really, the only thing making us stepsiblings at all is our parents wedding certificate. If you don't count Derek and Casey, who obviously get it seeing as they have experienced it first hand, there is still a large group of friends and my sister, who all love us and care about us.

Derek and Casey and Lizzie and I live in a two-bedroom apartment in Boston. There are probably a dozen colleges and universities in the Boston area. That's how Casey and Derek ended up there to begin with. Casey got a full tuition scholarship to Harvard. Derek was being scouted by plenty of colleges with hockey programs, so he ended up choosing a Boston school, which also gave him a scholarship. It was well known for hockey, and he easily explained away his decision to attend saying it would be easier financially on Dad, Nora, Casey, and himself, if the two of them shared an apartment. The wool was still completely covering their eyes, so they readily agreed.

The thing about them though is that even though they love each other, their relationship used to be really rocky. Tumultuous even. There would be yelling, door slamming, a new entry in Casey's diary, and some new dents in the garage door from where Derek's hockey puck hit it. A few hours, or days, or on occasion weeks later, we'd hear Derek's bed springs squeaking and know the freeze-out was over. After all, sex and fighting are what Casey and Derek do best. I guess that worked well for them, anyway. I mean, our parents certainly never noticed anything between the two of them what with all the screaming matches. And yet, they still got along well enough that living with each other didn't seem like a huge stretch. Derek could have chosen another school across the country from Casey, you know? It was a strange balance to begin with, I suppose. But it worked for them.

Lizzie and I were completely in love by the time they moved out. So it was a lot harder for us to keep our secret living in the same house with Dad and Nora without the drama and excitement Derek and Casey always seemed to leave our house in. I mean, what with all the spying and teaming up we did, from the time Dad and Nora got married, we've probably only had three or four really big fights. We did pretty well, though. We'd done our fair share of sneaking around before we got together, so we knew what we were doing. I mean, living with teenagers like the two of them, something worth spying on was always going on. Dad and Nora never suspected.

When we were seniors, (incidentally, Casey and Derek were classified seniors in college) and started looking into colleges, Nora actually encouraged us to look at schools in Boston. Which was great anyway, because Casey and I were two peas in the academic pod, and I'd gotten full tuition to Harvard as well. Lizzie received a partial scholarship to a school there too, as if fate were working with everyone's pocketbook to force it to happen. Derek and Casey were less than thrilled at sharing with us, but as they were about to graduate and the jobs they'd gotten weren't exactly paying them enough to refuse, here we were. Not to mention Casey was getting her masters, and still in school. All of us made an agreement that no one would tell our parents about us or about Derek and Casey until Lizzie and I graduated from college. That way, in case something horrible happened, we'd have real jobs and could afford it if they disowned us, or something.

We'd settled in quite nicely. Being far away from home and only each other to turn to, Derek and Casey's fighting became a lot less frequent, and by the time the two of us moved in, they only fight every once in a while. Three and a half years into this arrangement, and we were all having a blast. Marti called us every week to complain about how empty the house is, and Derek and I received countless emails from her that, among other things, nagged us to hurry up and propose already! Well, he hadn't yet taken the bait, but I bit the bullet and had elaborate plans set in motion for this Friday. Marti, Casey, Derek and Emily were all involved in these plans. You see, I wanted to propose to Lizzie back in London, where we fell in love. But I didn't want her to know that's why she was back in London. So Marti was to tell one of her wild tales to get Lizzie to come home. I'd already ordered the plane tickets, so I hoped Lizzie agreed to go. The email she got from Marti went something like this:

"Dear Lizzie,

J S Thompson High is having a soccer day camp Saturday the 23rd. One of the helpers backed out and your old coach wanted me to ask you if you could help out. Nora said she'd buy you a plane ticket if you wanted to do it. Please get back to me by next weekend.

Thanks, Marti."

The genius of this is that it is actually true. Lizzie's old coach really did want her help with a soccer camp. Marti forwarded me her reply, which went something like this:

"Marti,

Please tell coach Jansen I'm flattered she thought of me and I'd be glad to help out.

Love ya, Lizzie."

I had originally planned to drive Lizzie to the airport because my plane took off two hours later than hers. Casey had to pick up a coworker from a business trip only ten minutes after Lizzie needed to be at the airport though and volunteered to take her. Derek said he'd take me because he hadn't had a chance to talk to me lately, since I spent all my time in the library working on research papers. Both of them were going to spend Friday night at home and pretend to be completely surprised when Lizzie calls to tell them the good news. Well, at least, I hope it's good news. We'll find out Friday.

As Derek and I were on our way to the airport, he decided it was confession time. "So Ed, you're proposing to Lizzie."

"Um, yeah, way to state the obvious, D."

"Okay, forget the segue, I'll jump right in. Do you think it's weird that you guys got there first?"

"Eh, not necessarily. The two of you had a much rockier start, and to this day fight more than we do."

"So can I ask your advice?"

"You, the great Derek Venturi, want my advice?"

"Yes, Edwin. The buck has been passed. I am asking for your help. Do you think Casey and I are ready for that step?"

"Yeah, I do. I mean, if it weren't for you and Casey, Lizzie and I never would have had the guts to get together anyhow. You guys have been together for what, over ten years, and show no signs of slowing down. Yeah. You're ready. So go for it. And don't worry, Marti and I will be glad to help with the plans, and I'm sure Lizzie will too."

"Dude, thanks. Now good luck."

"Thanks, man."

During the three hours on the plane, I stewed in nervousness, which resulted in an explanation of the last eleven and a half years to the stranger in the seat next to me, who shifted nervously and just kind of nodded a lot. I'm not sure if they were put off by the whole "stepsibling" thing, or if they just seemed taken aback by a total stranger spilling his life story. Anyway, once the plane landed Emily picked me up. Marti had picked up Lizzie earlier, and when I turned on my cell I found a text message telling me she still doesn't suspect a thing. We went to all this work keeping it a secret, and in about two hours it will all be worth it. I stood in Emily's living room pacing like a madman. She lived with Trevor on the other side of town from our house. It's kind of funny how the bet of two people in high school could affect two others so hugely.

"Edwin!" She gently shoved me onto the couch. "You're wearing a path into my carpet with all this pacing!"

"I'm sorry, Emily, I'm just so nervous! What if she says no? Worse! What if I get so nervous I can't manage to ask her?" I shout, throwing my hands in the air. "Emily!" I grab her shoulders and ask, "What if Dad and Nora are eating at the same restaurant as us and see the whole thing? I can't do this. I'm going to screw up I just know it!"

"Edwin, please." She takes my hands off her shoulders. "She will not say no! She loves you! And you will be able to do it. And if your parents are at the restaurant, don't bother to ask her there, just say you came on a surprise visit. Trust me, it will all work out!"

"Thanks. Sorry for freaking out on you."

"It's cool, happens to us all."

Ten minutes later she dropped me off at the park we spent a lot of time at when we lived here. Marti was dropping Lizzie off to "practice soccer" and was leaving me her car. Emily would take her home. Lizzie was never the type for tons of romance, but like any girl, she needed her fair share of it. The tricky part would be getting her into something she'd like to wear to a nice restaurant and out of her soccer duds without her suspecting what I was really here to do. Marti and Casey are just genius at this stuff actually. Very essential. Without them, my proposal would be pathetic and boring. I really must give credit where credit is due. Anyway, this park is very large. So I was on the opposite end from the soccer field, and I made my way over there. Before I got to it though, I found Lizzie at a picnic table with her laptop open. She didn't see me so I snuck up behind her to see what she was doing. Any thoughts that I had of her saying no were erased when I read the screen. She was emailing me. It read:

"Dear Edwin,

Just dropping you a line to let you know my plane landed safely. I'll send you a longer email after supper, but I only have a little while here at the soccer fields. Just wanted you to know I miss you dearly and wish you were here with me. I'm kind of nervous about this soccer thing. You have no idea what I would give to be in your arms right now. I love you.

Lizzie"

So I said, "Guess you got your wish," as I wrapped my arms around her from behind. As she turned around in my embrace a look of complete (and happy, might I add) surprise graced her stunning features.

"Edwin! What are you doing here? I thought you were attending a seminar at school this weekend."

"I came to surprise you. Thought I'd brighten up your weekend a little."

"Its perfect, just what I needed. I must admit, the idea of being back here without you was depressing. I mean, honestly, I can't imagine London without you. Before Mom got married, I lived in Toronto; so really, the entire time I lived here you were here. We were always together too. Honestly on the plane here I just kind of got nervous about being away from you because it's the first time really. Heh, so I told the person sitting next to me on the plane why I was so nervous. I think they were sorry they asked."

"At least they asked."

"What?"

"Nothing. How about you come back to Emily's with me and get changed into something nice. I have reservations at Sophia's."

"You made reservations for Sophia's! I brought sweats, nothing nice! Edwin, why?"

"Don't worry, I figured as much. So I also brought you a dress."

She just grinned so hard I thought her cheeks might freeze that way.

While she was getting fixed up, I just sat on Emily's couch trying to calm my nerves. I felt for the ring in my pocket and then I called Derek to tell him we were about to go to the restaurant and that so far all was going well. I then called to double check my reservations. Lizzie came out of the bathroom then looking better than I'd ever seen her. Her hair was falling in ringlets down her back. I'd never seen her in the dress I brought. It was Casey's; Lizzie wasn't much for dressy clothing. Casey looked nice enough in it, but it was made for Liz. It was a nice bright, sparkly sapphire blue strapless dress. It came to about mid calf. I don't really know how else to describe it. But it made her a knockout.

When we got to the restaurant they took us to our booth, which was tucked away in a corner of the restaurant. Perfect. It was just what I'd asked for. Conversation over dinner was pretty lighthearted. Once we'd ordered dessert I decided to turn to the serious. I'd never been as good at words as at actions. The surprise of the evening was supposed to do most of the talking for me. I guess I'm not too great at actions either; Casey and Marti planned a lot of this. Well, as long as I could get the four essential words out I'd be okay. I still wanted to say something else though. I knew it'd sound cheesy, but that's okay.

"Liz, you mean the world to me. I can't imagine living without you in my life. I don't think I could've made it through three and a half years at Harvard without you to turn to when I got stressed. You are the most amazing woman I know. You know exactly how to be everything I need. Will you do me the honor of becoming Mrs. Edwin Venturi?"

As I slid the ring onto her finger, she looked at me, tears streaming down her face and said, "Yes."

I can say in all honesty, that it is the happiest moment in my life.

We went back to our old house that night after the proposal. Marti met us outside wanting to know the answer and squealed in excitement over hearing the good news. Well obviously, what sixteen-year-old girl wouldn't be thrilled to hear about a wedding? Dad and Nora heard her squeal.

"Hey, you two, what are you doing here? And so dressed up?" Nora asks.

Think quickly. It was definitely a surprise; we'd been there less than a month ago for Christmas. Coming home for a surprise visit is easily explained, but formalwear, not so much. Taking inspiration from what really happened I gave the quickest explanation I could come up with.

"Liz and I were invited to an engagement party for some friends of ours, so we thought we'd surprise you guys and visit. Plus, of course, you knew Lizzie would be here for her soccer camp tomorrow."

"Oh, that's tomorrow, I thought it was next weekend!"

Some things never change.

"Come on in and catch us up on what's going on in your lives."

So that's how we ended up sitting around the table staring awkwardly at each other over some snacks Nora threw together. Lizzie and I wanted to talk about our impending wedding, but here we were, with Dad and Nora sitting there.

A part of me wanted to tell them right then. Confess the whole story, even Derek and Casey's part. But that was theirs to confess. And they'd been so nice to wait for us. But that didn't mean this wasn't awkward. Once Nora finished grilling us about school and life in Boston, she and Dad finally decided to go to bed.

I'm not normally one to lie to family, parents especially. I mean, I'm not Derek. So the load of crap we kept feeding them as answers tonight, it really hurt. But what was our alternative? Blurting out "We just got engaged, and oh, by the way, we're not the only ones in the family who've been dating for ten years." Yeah right! Not going to happen! Not until Lizzie and I walked across the stage and threw our caps in the air. We only had to keep that secret for three and a half more months. I guess on a night like tonight it was just harder, is all. Finally, they went up to their room. The house had changed a lot since we were all gone. Marti had taken the basement, because what teenage girl (other than Casey, anyway) wouldn't love to have an entire floor all to herself? Even if said floor was semi-underground. Not to mention she got her own bathroom. Dad had knocked out the wall between Derek and Casey's old rooms to create a very large master once Liz and I moved out. That caused lots of laughter between the four of us on the plane ride home that first Christmas break. The irony of taking down the wall between their rooms for a master bedroom. It was just very amusing. I'm not sure what will happen to mine and Lizzie's rooms once we graduate, but for now, they were the same as before, so we went up to my old room in the attic to talk.

"Some weird interruption of our evening, huh?" Lizzie says to me.

"You aren't kidding. So," I say as I sleepily pull her into a snug embrace, "As nervous as I was tonight, I don't think I ever managed to tell you how breathtaking you look in that dress. I'm going to have to convince Case to give it to you, because I definitely want to see you wear it again."

"I don't think she'll mind too much."

"So, when do you want to get married? I was thinking since we've been together for so long, maybe six months?"

"Six months seems like ages from now. But I guess it can't be any sooner. We can't even tell our parents for three months. It's a good thing we've managed to line up full-time jobs after graduation. It's going to be kind of weird getting married before Derek and Casey."

"Derek is planning to propose soon, actually. Maybe we can have a double wedding. We'll be inviting all the same people."

"Edwin, I want to have my own wedding. Besides, Casey will want a big huge bash with every person she's ever met there. I just want a small, intimate gathering of close friends."

"Relax, I was kidding. Let Casey and Derek have their own day. And I agree about a small wedding."

We talked for hours, and fell asleep still dressed in our clothes, mid conversation. It wouldn't be the first time in this house the two of us fell asleep talking; actually it used to happen a lot. So Dad thought nothing of it when he came to wake us up so he and Nora could take us to breakfast before Lizzie's soccer camp. After breakfast Lizzie left and Marti took me to the park.

"I miss you guys. From the time I was born you and Derek were always there, and when I was six Casey and Lizzie came along. When Derek and Casey left I still had you and Lizzie, but now it's just me. The house is too quiet."

"Why don't you come stay with us for spring break? It'll be like old times. Maybe Derek and Casey will even pick a fight for you."

"Really, Edwin? You'd let me come visit for a week?"

"Of course! I'll take you to a Red Sox game and show you the city."

It had been too long since I spent time with my little sister. It reminded me of the days we all lived in the house.

The next day we were getting ready to go back home. Nora came up to my room where Lizzie was folding my clothes and I was checking to see if our flight was going to be on time.

"The four of you think you're pretty sneaky, don't you?"

"The four of us? Um, there are only two people in this room besides you." I say uneasily.

"I mean the two of you and Derek and Casey."

"What about us?" Lizzie says looking at me nervously.

"You think I don't know? You think I haven't always known? I never thought you'd keep the secret this long. I figured you'd break long, long ago."

"Break?" I say.

"About being in love with each other." She says like it is the most obvious thing in the world.

"You know! And you're not mad?" Lizzie asks her.

"Mad? Only about the fact that you thought you had to hide it. Honey, I love you, and if you love Edwin then you have to be happy or what kind of mother does that make me?"

"And Dad? Does he know?" Just because Nora is fine with it didn't mean Dad would be. He's always been a little less likely to push convention than her.

"He's the one who figured it out. Well, about you two. I figured it out about Casey and Derek. We kept it from each other for quite a while, thinking the other might not be cool about it, until it caused a big fight and it all came out. We just kept waiting for you to tell us, but then we finally realized you weren't going to."

"Well, how did Dad find out we were together?"

"From Lizzie's fake prom date. He was in the bathroom on his cell phone with his girlfriend, Edwin's fake date. Your dad overheard his conversation and grilled him about it."

"Our prom dates? That was almost four years ago!"

"I know. And we waited and waited and you never said anything. Why did you keep it a secret anyway?"

"Well, you see, Nora, we thought you guys would be upset. Just because Lizzie and I don't see ourselves as brother and sister doesn't mean you guys don't."

"Edwin, I grew up with brothers. I knew from the very beginning none of you saw yourselves as brother and sister. I never fought with my brothers the way Casey fights with Derek. I wouldn't have dreamed of it. I also never would have spied on my other siblings with him. Maybe a mild mixture of the two, but you guys took nice to an extreme no brother of mine ever dared, and the two of them fought like an old married couple from day one no matter how long they tried to deny it. It was also pretty obvious how jealous Derek got of Casey's boyfriends. Casey got pretty jealous of his dates too. And I never dreamed of looking at my brother the way Lizzie looks at you. And you know how I see it?"

"How do you see it?" I ask.

"Just because you don't see yourself as Lizzie's brother, doesn't mean I can't see you as a son. Because I do. Who better to marry my daughter than someone like you? I know you're good enough for her. Same thing goes for Derek."

"Wow. All this time we thought we had you fooled. And we thought you'd be furious. Nora, will you and Dad come visit us soon? I think Derek and Casey would like to hear this face to face. But first I think there's something you might want to know."

Lizzie walked over to her and said: "Mom, Friday night we weren't at a party for our friends. Friday, Edwin cooked up a big huge surprise for me. It ended with this." She held up her left hand.

Nora pulled us into a big hug and told us she was just thrilled and maybe we ought to go show Dad. As nice as it was to know our parents supported us, this whole thing was just turning into one big awkward bowl of mushiness. I couldn't wait for it to end. Still, I agreed, so the three of us went downstairs where Dad was working.

"George, the kids have some news."

He stopped what he was doing and gave us his full attention.

"Dad, I asked Lizzie to marry me."

"Son, that's wonderful! Well?" He looked at Lizzie expectantly.

"I said yes."

"Oh, finally. It took you long enough! What's it been, eight years?"

"Nine and a half," Lizzie corrected him.

"And you finally broke down and told me."

"Thanks to Nora."

"Did you say something to them?"

"Pretty much everything, George. I just couldn't take it anymore! So I told them we knew. And it all came out from there."

Marti walked in during this conversation and just started laughing.

When we boarded the plane, it was after a happy but tearful goodbye to our parents and sister. Not the scene I had imagined but definitely an enjoyable one. We all agreed that no one would tell Derek and Casey about our parents knowing. They would find out soon enough; our parents were coming with Marti for part of spring break. It was something I was looking forward to. I was also looking forward to not having to lie to my parents anymore.

When we got home, Derek picked us up from the airport. Casey wasn't there, which surprised me. True, she spent all of her free time at the library these days writing her dissertation, she's always been a keener, but I thought she'd want to have one of those giggly girly moments with Lizzie. I soon realized why she wasn't there. When we got home, Derek opened the door, walked in and then shut it on us.

"Derek, why did you shut the door on us?" I opened it. There was a dinner on the table and a banner that said congratulations. Derek and Casey kind of mauled us in hugs. You could tell whose idea this had been. It reeked of girly cheesiness. It was nice in an embarrassing family sort of way. You know that phrase about how you can't pick your family? It applies to stepfamilies just as much. The only people who really get to pick are the parents. But, hell, I love them anyway. I couldn't have picked anything better. What can I say? Except every once in a while I don't mind having a cheesy stepsister who lends Lizzie clothes and tries to make the apartment and everyone who lives in it perfect. Every once in a while, I like Casey's control freaky, overbearing ways. And every once in a while, I have to tell her thanks.