A/N: Sorry for the delay. Between my eight hundred other continuing stories and other non-writing concerns, this one kinda fell by the wayside. But... hopefully I'll get the other chapters out soon. Thanks for the kind reviews. Warning: If you consider a relationship between ex-stepsiblings to be a little squicky, you might want to check out now.

Chapter 3- Marcia

After I hung up the phone, I frowned.

"What's wrong, hon?"

"Nothing. It's just that... Jan's always been a little too trusting for her own good. I worry about her, you know?"

Wally laughed with that insane expression of his. "January's a grown woman. I'm sure that she can handle herself with a friend."

"But what does he want with her?" I was about to leap up when Wally tugged at my hand.

"Don't worry so much!" I let myself fall into Wally's arms.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. You are a good big sister. But January's got a good head on her shoulders."

I let myself be reassured by Wally. I could feel the tension leaving my body.

'He's so good for me,' I thought, as we curled up on the couch together.

***

On Saturday, Wally and I decided to go out to dinner. I wanted to stay home and wait for Jan's call, but I was not going to miss out on Chez Pierre's. I figured that Wally was right; Jan was responsible and she wouldn't do anything to change that reputation. Besides, she knew as well as I did that getting involved with Brady men could lead to nothing but trouble.

Dinner was perfect. There were candles, and wine, and during dessert, which was Cherries Jubilee, something metallic ended up in my wineglass. I slowly raised the glass to the light and saw that it was a diamond ring. Shocked, I looked at Wally. "This isn't what I think it is..." I whispered to Wally.

"If it isn't, I want my money back!" He quipped. Then he sobered up. "I was going to do this in front of your family, but seeing as how January's not coming home for a while, I didn't want to wait. Marcia, you would make me the happiest man in the world if you became my wife."

"With a proposal like that, how could I say no?" I slipped the ring onto my finger, which it fit perfectly.

***

After I got home, the first thing I did was call my mother. When she answered the phone, I shrieked excitedly, "He proposed! And I said yes!"

"Marcia, that's wonderful! Have you set a date yet?" My mother's voice was warm and gentle, as usual.

"We wanted to wait until after your wedding. After all, planning one wedding at a time is hard enough."

"Well, have you told your sisters?"

"Not yet. I wanted you to be the first to know."

"That's so sweet! Well, I have to run. Jon's coming over with his daughter. She needs to be fitted for her dress. By the way, did you talk to Jan about her fitting?"

I sighed audibly. "She says she's not planning on coming home anytime soon. I have a feeling that she'll be trying to alter the dress the day before the wedding."

"Well, Jan always did what she wanted," my mother said softly. "Well, I'll talk to you later. Would you like to speak to Cindy?"

"Sure, put her on." I heard footsteps and then the voice of my youngest sister. "Hello?"

"Cindy? Hi, this is Marcia."

"Cynthia! Is that too much to ask?"

"Okay! Cynthia, how are you?"

"Good. The new play's shaping up nicely. Other than that, things are dead. What's new with you?"

"Wally proposed to me! I'm an engaged woman!"

"Okay, they're multiplying. Next I'm going to run off with one of the jerks from my school just to stay in with my family. Oh, congratulations."

I laughed at my sister's usual blunt speech. "Did you like your bridesmaid's dress?"

"In a word, no. Who thought that I would look good in yellow?"

"It'll be fine. Well, I have to run. I haven't spoken to Jan yet."

"Tell her I said hi. Bye Marcia."

"Bye Cindy." I hung up the phone before I could hear her sputtering. I dialed Jan's number next.

I spoke briefly to the girl on Bells (fortunately, a different girl than the other night) and was connected to Jan's room.

"Hello?" Laura, Jan's roommate, answered the phone.

"Hi Laura. Is Jan in?"

"No, she's still out on her date. Do you want me to tell her that you called?"

"Yes please."

"Okay. Bye."

I sat back on my couch, deep in thought. I just didn't like the idea of Jan and Peter getting that close to each other. The whole thing just didn't sit right with me.

The phone rang, startling me. Unnerved, I picked it up slowly. "Hello?"

"Marcia? This is January. I just got in."

"You just got in? Isn't it late over there?"

"Since when do I have a curfew? What did you need?"

"Mom really wants you home to try on that dress. Cindy says hi. Oh, and Wally proposed."

"That's great," Jan said sincerely. "Are you and Mom going to have a double wedding?"

"No. I don't feel up to planning a ceremony right now. Besides, Wally and I practically live together now. What's a piece of paper going to change?"

"Well, okay. Um, did you need anything else?"

"Actually, I wanted to know how did your date with Peter go?"

For a long time, there was silence. I almost thought that Jan had hung up when she finally answered softly, "I had a really good time and we're going out again next week."

"As friends, right?" 'Please say yes,' I thought.

"No. It's a date." Before I could protest, Jan said rapidly, "Now I know you don't want me to get hurt. But I am an adult, and I know what I feel. I don't think I've this much chemistry on a date for a long time, and I intend to keep feeling it."

I briefly shut my eyes and exhaled loudly. "Just don't tell me anything, okay? If I don't know about it, I can't protest."

"Marcia..."

"Don't!" I took another deep and breath and said a little more calmly, "I'll call you later. Bye."

"Bye," Jan said a little sadly as she hung up the phone.

I got up off of my couch and walked over to my desk. On there was my phone book that I kept my personal numbers in. As I thumbed through the book, I thought, 'She'll see that I'm doing this for her own good.'

I found the number I had been looking for and dialed it. A man's voice answered.

"Hello?"

"Greg? Hi, it's Marcia."

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Barring unforeseen circumstances, the next chapter should be out soon. Thanks for reading.