co-written by RatedrKjErIcHo

Ted and Amber pulled up in front of Holly's apartment. She hadn't really wanted to go but Holly had been pretty insistent on it. She smiled and looked over at Ted as he squeezed her hand.

"It's going to be fine. You can get to know this Alex guy better and you can finally make a mends with Randy and ask him to be in the wedding."

"I just don't know if I trust this Alex guy. He seems so nice. Too nice maybe."

"It's going to be fine. Get to know him for Holly. You don't want to fight with your siblings. You guys aren't kids anymore." Ted smiled.

Amber laughed. "If we were kids, then Randy would be protecting Holly and he and I would be fighting over who gets the first brownie from Holly's easy bake oven."

"You never had an easy bake oven?"

"I did but I was more melt my barbies in it than cook."

"And I'm marrying a Barbie serial killer." He said smiling as she swatted his arm. "I love you and we're getting married. Nothing is going to change that. But I know you'd be unhappy if he wasn't there." She nodded and leaned in to kiss him before they got out of the car and walked up to the front door.

"Glad you came." Holly said opening the door. "Lunch is almost ready. Alex and Randy are in the living room. Dena is the kitchen."

"Great." Amber said as they walked in. She saw Alex and Randy on the sofa. "I'm going to help in the kitchen."

Ted nodded and sat down by Alex. "Hey, man." Alex said to him.

"Hey. Randy."

"Ted."

Amber sighed and walked into the kitchen. "So, this looks good. Are mom and dad coming?"

"No, mom called and said they were heading out of town. I guess it's some romantic weekend."

"Eww, Holly I don't want to know about mom and dad's sex life."

"Obviously they had one. Otherwise we wouldn't be here." Holly laughed.

"You're so gross."

"So what about you Holly? Have you and Alex..."

Holly blushed a little bit. "We have but it wasn't until our fourth date. I really like him."

"Hol, how much do you know about him?" Amber asked. "Have you met his family?"

"His parents are dead. His godfather raised him. We're suppose to have dinner with him sometimes this week so I can meet him."

"So, you guys are serious?" Amber asked.

"We are. Do you not like him?" She asked her sister.

"I don't know enough about him to really have an opinion. But he seems sort of fake. Like he's trying too hard to be nice and impress us."

"I think you're wrong. He's not fake. He's a nice guy." Holly said to her. "Randy likes him and if Randy is okay with him, then why can't you be? Don't you trust our brother's judgment?"

"Oh give me a break Holly! We're not 3 anymore and in constant need of our big brother to protect us. Stop being such a Stepford sister and think for yourself."

"I think for myself all the time. I'm not a Stepford sister. I just trust his opinion." Holly said as everyone in the living room came to the kitchen. "It's not my fault that he doesn't approve of your fiancée. So don't take that out on me."

"Why did I even agree to this? God, I'm just trying to look out for you. I'll drop it okay?"

"Can we table this?" Randy said coming into the kitchen. "Let's enjoy a nice lunch."

"Fine." Holly said turning away. She finished putting everything on the table.

Dena sighed and looked at her husband. She wished he would just tell Amber he approved of Ted and be done with it. She loved his family but sometimes she wondered about it. Elaine and Bob were nice. But it was Randy's sisters that she worried and wondered about most. Amber was the one who went against everything anyone wanted her to do and Holly was the exact opposite.

"Randy, isn't there something you'd like to say to Amber?"

"No."

"Randal..." He sighed.

"Fine. I guess I'm fine with you marrying Ted."

"You guess you're fine with it? If Holly was to announce tomorrow she was marrying Alex, you'd throw them a fucking parade."

"That's not true." Randy replied. "It would be too soon for them to get married."

Amber groaned. "Randy, I want you at the wedding and a part of it, but you have to really be okay with me marrying him. I wish you would support me in something instead of not."

"I just want to protect you from marrying a cop. We are in danger every day we work."

"Dena doesn't' have a problem neither does mom. I grew up with dad as a cop. I'm not afraid and Ted is a good person. But I guess since I'm not the one who does what you say or always needs your protection, you don't care."

"That's not true. You're my sister. I love you that's why I'm trying to protect you from this."

"Unlike some, I don't need your protection or approval. If you don't want to be in my wedding, then fine don't."

She walked out of the kitchen. Randy looked at Dena and Holly. "Why does she have to be such a drama queen?"

"Says the king of all things dramatic." Dena said. "Go talk to her and make this right. Now!"

Randy sighed and walked out. He followed her to Holly's guest bedroom. He saw her sitting on the bed. "We should talk Amber."

"Do we have anything to say?" She replied. "You don't approve of Ted but yet you approve of Alex? You want to protect me? I'm not five anymore. I'm twenty three. I'm old enough to know what I want and who I want. I don't need you to look out for me. I'm capable of that."

Randy sighed and sat down on the bed next to her. "I know you're old enough to make your own decision and live your life but I'm your brother. I just want to protect you. I know how tough the life of cop can be and I didn't want you deal with that. I don't want you to be hurt or unhappy. Just like I don't want Holly to be hurt or unhappy. It's my job as your brother to make sure that doesn't happen."

"I know that. But Teddy is a great guy Randy. He would never do anything to hurt me. He loves me Randy. And I love him. So much. I guess I was just hoping you'd be happy for us. And trust that I've thought this through. I know what I'm getting myself into. And I'm ready for it."

Randy sighed. "I trust you and if you're happy, then I'm happy."

Amber smiled and hugged him. "Seriously?"

"Seriously. Now let's go back out there and enjoy this lunch. And try to get to know Alex. He's a nice guy."

"Fine. I will try to get to know him."

"Be nice for me Sprout. Okay?"

"I will if you never call me Sprout again." She said smiling.

"But that's your nickname."

"From when I was like 6." She said getting up and headed back to the kitchen. She walked in and saw everyone else at the table. "I'm sorry about the outburst."

"Did you and Randy get everything straight?" Holly asked.

"We did. So let's eat." She took her seat and Randy took his.

The rest of the afternoon was pretty calm and everyone headed home. Holly hoped the next family get together was better and less fireworks.

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