Chapter 4

Victoria walked downstairs in her black boots, black mini-skirt, and long sleeve pink shirt. She smiled when she saw her brother Damien eating breakfast on the counter in the kitchen.

"Good morning, bro." she said in a taunting tone. "So how was your walk last night?"

Instead of answering, he just shot her a look of hatred for bringing up the subject again. Vivian and Gabriel came downstairs and Victoria grinned even more.

"I think I'm going to be sick." Damien said about to gag. He ran out of the house as fast as he could. Victoria finished off his toast.

"Morning, hun." Vivian said grabbing a cup of coffee.

"Morning mom…dad." She replied giving her dad a hug and kiss on the cheek. "So, how was your night last night after Damien left?"

"Fine." Her mom said before she took a sip of her coffee. "And babe, don't tease your brother about this please. It was traumatic for the three of us."

"Fine." Victoria sighed. "So is today the day we go pick out our costumes?"

"Yep, we'll go after you kids get out of school." Vivian replied with a smile.

"Cool."

"So, what are you and Eric going to be?"

Victoria took a bite of her toast and said, "I don't know. We haven't decided yet."

All of a sudden Finn came running into their house. Well not running, more like hopping. Finn was dressed in a bunny costume from head to toe. His costume was white, had big floppy ears, and a pink bow around his neck. Gabriel looked at him quizzically, Vivian smacked her forehead, and Victoria giggled. And in his hands was his new pet bunny, Shirley.

"Finn, what in the world are you wearing? Or holding for that matter?" Victoria asked.

"Well this is Shirley, and I'm wearing my Halloween costume." Finn said twirling once to show off his whole costume.

"And what is Christina? A princess bunny?" Victoria retorted.

"I asked her, but she said no."

"Can't imagine why. You do know Halloween is in a few days, right?" Vivian said drinking more of her coffee. It was too early for this.

"Yeah, but I wanted to get the feel of being a bunny. Really get the experience." Finn replied smiling from ear to ear.

"Why not just ask Shirley?" Gabriel asked sarcastically.

"She's not much of a talker."

"Well, I'd love to stay and chat…but I should probably go find Damien and have a talk with him." With that, Gabriel left.

As Gabriel left, Peter came down the stairs. Eric and his mom walked in next. When the two of them saw Finn, Christina smacked her forehead, and Eric just laughed. He gave Victoria a peck on the lips and wrapped an arm around her waist. She looked up into his eyes and smiled.

"That reminds me…you're dead meat." Peter growled at Eric.

"OH SHIT!"

Eric took off running.

"I'll help son!" Finn shouted. He gave Shirley to Christina and started to hop after Eric and Peter. "Guys wait up!"

"Come on! Leave him alone. Its not like we were having sex!" Victoria shouted. Peter stopped chasing Eric and looked at his sister. Eric stopped running and was bent over trying to catch his breath. "You can't keep doing this. He's my boyfriend."

"Yeah, and soon to be husband." Finn added. Victoria smacked her forehead.

"What?" Peter shouted.

"Oh yeah. Didn't you know? These two love birds have been engaged for almost a week now." Finn continued with a smile. Victoria shot him a look. "And you weren't supposed to know…I'm going to go now."

Finn grabbed Shirley and hopped out the door.

"Does dad know about this?" Peter asked.

"No, and lets keep it that way." Vivian said.

"Who else knows about this?"

Eric and Victoria cringed. "Everyone." The two of them said in unison.

"My sister gets engaged and I don't hear a word about it." Peter said obviously upset.

"And that's why, Peter! You would have reacted like this." Victoria said taking a step toward him.

"If I would have known from the beginning, I would have dealt with you being engaged to…" he took a gulp and cringed. "Him. But you didn't even tell me."

"Are you serious? You really wouldn't have chased him across the room like a maniac?" Victoria asked with her hands on her hips. Peter smirked.

"You're right. I would have…LIKE I AM RIGHT NOW!"

Without another word, Peter continued to chase Eric around the living room. Vivian rolled her eyes, and put down her cup of coffee.

"That is enough Peter." Vivian said sternly to her son. Peter stopped while Eric collapsed to the floor. "Victoria and Eric are engaged and you are just going to have to accept that. I approve and your father…well I approve and that's what counts at the moment. Now please keep this a secret for now."

"Yes ma'am." Peter said with puppy dog eyes.

"Now go help Eric off the floor." Vivian said as she walked out of the room with Christina.

"I'm watching you." Peter whispered as he helped Eric off the floor. Peter walked out the door while Victoria made her way to Eric. She kissed him on the cheek and apologized for her brother. Victoria took his hand and walked out the front door.

Later that day, when everyone was out of school, they all went to the costume shop downtown. Even though Finn already had his costume, he came along. They all broke off into groups. Eric and Victoria, Gabriel and Finn, Christina and Vivian, the Four and the Five.

"So, babe…what are we going to be?" Victoria asked excitedly. Eric paused in thought.

"How about a two headed football player?"

"No."

"Two headed business man?"

"No."

"Two headed-"

"Nothing two headed!" Victoria said almost shouting.

"Poop and toilet paper? Bra and panties?"

Victoria gave him a look. "Um…I don't think so."

The two of them stood there for a moment thinking. After two minutes, they both turned to each other and said, "I have the perfect idea!"

Meanwhile…

"So sweetie…what are you going to be? A princess?" Finn asked while Gabriel went to the bathroom.

"Maybe…what about this? Cat woman." Christina said holding the costume. Finn gave the costume a once over.

"That's ridiculous."

"Oh, and a bunny is much better?" Christina said putting the costume back. Suddenly, her cell phone rang. She looked at the number and didn't recognize it. But she answered it. "Hello?"

"Its Rick…from the bar last night."

"Oh…uh hold on a second." Christina put her hand over the part she talks into. "I have to take this outside." Once Christina was outside she said, "So…what's up?"

"Nothing much…I was wondering if maybe you would want to go out and get coffee sometime."

"Like a date?"

"Maybe."

"I'm sorry, Rick. I'm married."

"I forgot…I'm sorry."

"Its ok. We can be friends."

"I'd like that."

"Cool, well I have to go. Talk to you later, bye."

"Bye."

Christina walked back inside to find the place a ruckus. Gabriel was chasing Finn around the shop and the Four and the Five were arguing. Christina rolled her eyes and made her way over to Vivian.

"Let me guess, Finn gave you a compliment and Gabriel chased him."

"Actually no. Finn walked in on Gabriel in the bathroom, he made a comment, and now this."

"Oh. What are they yelling about?"

"The usual around this time of year. Costumes." Vivian said sorting through the rack of costumes.

"WE THOUGHT OF IT FIRST!"

"NO! WE'RE OLDER WE WIN!"

"NO! JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE OLDER DOESN'T MEAN YOU WIN!"

"Look, I have a way to settle this." Willem said. Everyone became quiet and stood there ears open. "We have a duel. Whoever wins gets the costume idea, and the losers have to wear what the winners pick out for them."

They stood there in thought and finally Damien said, "You're on."

"Tonight at eight sharp, by the river." Ulf said.

"We'll be there."

So, after about an hour the gang left. Some with costumes, others without. Halloween was coming up soon, and it was going to be a little busier than handing out candy to trick-or-treaters.

Author's Note: So, did you guys like this chapter?