"Where's Grace?" Lily asked Rick while she unpacked the groceries she just brought in.

"I think I saw her head into Eli's room" Rick replied, as he put away three boxes of cereal.

Lily stopped packing for a moment, and turned to look at Rick "are they getting-" she stopped for a moment, making sure he was looking at her "getting closer?" she asked.

LILY I don't know what it is- I've seen Grace look at him sometimes, as though he weren't her stepbrother, just another boy from school. But I can't blame her, I mean, that's what he was to her, before Rick and I started seeing each other. They'll ease into the role of 'stepsiblings' eventually.

Rick walked towards her, leaning against the kitchen bench "Yeah, I guess they are- I mean, they're spending more time together" he said

"That's a good thing, right?" he asked.

Lily sighed, "Yeah, I mean, I guess so," she said, rubbing her brow.

"But what?" Rick asked walking towards her, and resting his hands on her shoulders, he began to rub soothingly.

Lily sighed, as she felt herself relax "I don't know- I mean it is good- it's great, but-" she paused for a moment, sighing, "they're at that age- and, they're both not seeing anyone-" Lily began, but Rick cut in.

"They're step siblings!" he said abruptly, and Lily turned to look at him, trying to smile "So you don't think-" she began, but Rick simply shook his head.

Lily sighed with relief, and then laughed, "Stupid- I know it's stupid to even think that!" she laughed, and she went back to unpacking the groceries.


Grace and Eli were lying on his bed; Grace's head nestled against his chest, while he stroked her hair.

"What will we do if they forbid us to see one another?" Grace asked, feeling Eli's strong hand run gently through her loose hair.

Eli sighed, concentrating on Grace's hair as it scattered across his chest "Run away" he said, half seriously.

Grace laughed, and gently poked Eli in the stomach, and he let out a half laugh, part squeal.

"Where to?" she asked.

Eli thought for a moment "Hawaii?" he asked.

Grace sighed "Somewhere within our budget" she said.

Eli thought for a moment longer "South Carolina" he said, looking down at her.

Grace brought her head up to look at Eli "I wouldn't take you for a lazy-town kinda guy" she said, smiling "why there?" she asked.

"I just like the idea of a small town, where everybody knows everyone else- it's, friendly!" Eli said, and Grace smiled warmly, nestling her head back on his chest.

"But we're not going to have to run away" Eli said, stroking her hair again "because we are going to tell them the truth, and it'll all work out once we make them see" he said soothingly.

There was silence for a moment "at least we have a back up plan" Grace said, and Eli could tell she was a little nervous and scared about telling them, but he didn't say anything.

Grace closed her eyes, pressing her ear harder against Eli's chest, hearing the beat of his heart.

"Play our song" Grace said softly.

Eli smiled, rubbing her neck gently "we still need a name for our song" he said.

Grace kept listening to Eli's beat, and smiled, raising her head to meet his eyes.

"Heart" she said, smiling.

"Heart?" Eli repeated, letting the word sink in "I like that" he said.

Grace sat up, moving next to Eli while he grabbed his guitar from under the bed, opening the case and bringing it to rest in his arms.

He strummed it once, and Grace smiled as Eli's sultry voice began to sing the words, which were now burnt into her soul!


Jessie weaved Zoë's dark hair, separating the strands with her fingers and twirling them together, making an almost perfect braid.

"So, after dinner tonight, you and me have to come upstairs while Eli and Grace talk to mum and dad" Jessie said, concentrating as she weaved the last bits of Zoë's hair.

"Ok" Zoë replied, glancing up at the mirror in front of her, making sure Jessie was doing a fine job of her hair.

"All done" Jessie said, wrapping an elastic band around the tips of the braid.

"Thanks Jessie" Zoë said, as she walked into the bathroom for a closer look.

"I'm going to go and see Eli" Jessie said, rising herself from Zoë's bed, and walking out the door.

Zoë was too busy admiring herself in the mirror to take much notice of Jessie as she walked out of her room.

Jessie walked down to the basement, but just as she approached Eli's door, she heard the sound of his guitar and accompanied by his deep voice, singing an unfamiliar tune.

Jessie slowly pushed the door open, only a crack, and saw Eli and Grace sitting on his bed, Eli playing a song to her while she listened contently.

JESSIE Am I losing a brother? I mean, I want to see him happy, and if Grace makes him happy- well great! But I want him to still be here, when I need him. I still want to have that brother/sister bond thing we have, and something tells me I'm going to have to fight for that now that Grace is definitely in the picture.

Jessie sighed, pushing the door open further and walking in, going unnoticed until she fully approached the bed they were sitting on.

"Eli" she said.

Eli stopped playing abruptly, and he and Grace both snapped their heads around to stare at Jessie.

"God- don't sneak up on us like that!" he said, annoyed that he didn't get to finish the last bar of the song.

"Sorry" Jessie said, glancing at Grace, hoping that she'd leave.

Grace, looked down at her hands, and then up at Eli "I'm going to go" she said, having read Jessie's signals, she climbed off the bed.

"No, wait- Jessie, will this only take a second?" Eli said, looking from Grace to his sister.

Jessie didn't say anything, only looking down at her hands, but Grace intervened.

"No, I have homework" Grace said, smiling at Eli.

As she walked past Jessie she brushed her hand against Jessie's, and Jessie, still looking down, smiled.

JESSIE Maybe Grace, being a sister herself, understands the bonds siblings have. I don't think I really have to fight over Eli with her.

Eli sighed as he watched Grace leave, and then looked at Jessie.

"Did you want something?" he asked, turning around to put his guitar away.

Jessie climbed up on his bed, lying down on her stomach, but turning her head to watch Eli.

"No" she said simply, and Eli sighed, as he went to lie down on his stomach, next to her.

There was silence for a moment, and then he rocked his body towards her, bumping shoulders; and she turned to look at him.

"Thanks" he said simply.

"For what?" Jessie asked, already knowing the answer.

Eli sighed, she was always a compliment addict, he thought to himself; "for being so great about Grace and me," he said, turning and smiling at her.

"Don't go getting all mushy with me Eli Sammler" Jessie laughed.

"Yeah well- thanks for being an awesome sister Jessie Sammler" Eli said, a hint of laughter in his voice.

They stopped and looked at one another for a moment, reflecting puppy dog eyes with one another "this is so Brady Bunch" Eli said, laughing.

Jessie smiled widely "yeah, come to think of it, you and Grace are a lot like Marcia and Greg- there was always sexual tension between those two!" Jessie laughed, and Eli punched her softly in the arm.

"Hey!" Jessie said, raising herself slightly so she could get some height on Eli while she tickled him.

He rolled over, only to pull her back down onto her back while he returned the tickles, her squealing almost ear piercing.

And Grace laughed, while she listened to Eli and Jessie play tickle torture, while she leaned against Eli's door.

GRACE I've seen all these sides to Eli. But I think I like him best as 'the big brother'. I mean, I see how much he loves his family; especially Jessie- and I can't help but think, he'll make a great dad someday. It's really sweet.

Grace smiled again, listening as Jessie squealed louder. And finally, after listening for a few more seconds, walked up the stairs to Zoë's room, deciding to offer her some help with her homework.