The next morning the four of them shared breakfast in the little sitting area that was part of the suite. They discussed where they wanted to go. Somewhere sunny and warm they decided. Cassia for one was anxious to get out of the city mostly because of her brother and none of the other three could blame her considering what they had seen of how her brother acted. Cassia wouldn't put it past Alastair to try to drag her back home, even though she had been an adult before Alastair was. She knew Alastair would believe that he was saving her from making a mistake, even when the opposite was true. Alastair didn't seem to realize that he was only making her miserable. Her brother didn't seem to care about her happiness, which was one of the reasons she had taken the actions she had.

"What about Hawaii?" Sabella suggested. "We've never been there. I've read that there are plenty of beaches for all sorts of activities surfing, snorkeling, waterboarding."

"OK, with me," Cassia agreed enthusiastically. "I've never been to Hawaii either. There's supposed to be lots of things to see and do and also lots of sports mostly those having to do with the water. You're supposed to be able to rent things like jet ski's or boats to go on tour with or without a guide."

"That sounds fine to me," Aaron put in his opinion.

"Then Hawaii it will be," Dave agreed. "It doesn't really matter where we go. We could even move there if you wanted."

"That actually doesn't sound like a bad idea," Cassia said. "It's far enough away from home and from my brother that it should be safe. We could even have a wedding there."

"It's also still in the States so they will speak English," Sabella added.

"Most countries have English-speaking people though, even if it's not the official language," Dave reminded Sabella. "It is a popular language after all and spoken by those outside the United States. I won't say everybody in the world speaks it, but billions of people do."

"We're immortal and we can't stick to just the States forever," Aaron reminded Sabella.

"Still, I think Hawaii is a good idea," Cassia said. "We could easily spend the next 50 years there if we cared to."

"True," Dave said.

"I guess we need to make plans then," Aaron said. "I know Cassia at least is anxious to get out of the city she was born in. Considering what we saw of her brother's behavior none of us can blame her for that."

"No, none of us really can," Sabella said, as she gave Cassia a little hug from where she was sitting beside her new sister. "She can't help it if her brother is a pain in the rear. As Cassia suggested if he learns where we are he'll probably come and try to drag his sister back home where he feels she belongs."

"I have very little patience to put up with his behavior. I'll always love my brother, just not the way he acts," Cassia sad. "Right now, he's an embarrassment."

"Of course you love him. He's your brother. You grew up with him," Dave said. "But right now he's not thinking straight."

"Understatement!" Cassia exclaimed obviously in complete agreement with Dave's statement. "Petra actually accepted it easier than I figured she would. I figured she'd also be a bit of a problem. I'm glad I was wrong about that as Alastair is bad enough."

"Your sister loves you and can tell you're happy and since she truly cares about your welfare she would have wanted you to be happy," Aaron suggested.

"A good point," Cassia admitted after a moment of considering the point Aaron had just made. "She would've been able to tell I was happy and so long as I am she won't interfere. After putting up with Alastair for so long, which wasn't too difficult until you appeared in my life..."

"Once we settle in your sister is welcome to visit at some point," Dave said, "but that's probably going to be a few months from now at least."

"Looks like we interrupted your nice quiet life," Sabella said with a teasing smirk.

"My life needed shaking up, even if I didn't realize it at the time," Cassia said. "Petra and I couldn't continue on like we had been with Alastair blocking us from even going out on a date."

~~~Dave, Sabella, Aaron, Cassia~~~

Epilogue

"Well, here we are," Dave said. He looked out the window where they had just landed at Kahului Airport in Maui. It had been a relatively short flight compared to even 50 years ago. Things like planes had improved a lot. Really, the old airplanes were a thing of the past and the newer versions didn't have wings at all anymore. The current ones were more streamlined and did more things. In fact, they were now called shuttles, which was straight out of all the old science-fiction shows like Star Trek and had more capabilities than the old airplanes.

Cassia had relaxed a great deal once they were in the air and the others understood that she was afraid of her brother showing up. Cassia had no idea that her brother had genuinely had a change of heart after Petra had talked to him yet again, as at the moment she didn't care if he had changed, as she was still rather annoyed at him and had every right to be. Really, Alastair wasn't a bad man, just a man with separation from his siblings issues. He had still been quite young really when his parents had died. Not that it excused his behavior but at least it was more understandable then if he had been in his 20s when the unfortunate had happened. Cassia was at the end of her rope where it concerned her baby brother. Next scene he made he was toast.

"Yes, here we are," Cassia agreed with a lot less tension in her voice then there had been just hours ago.

The four of them disembarked and collected their luggage as they talked quietly ready to head to the hotel that Dave had already reserved. It was a five star of course as her new lovers would never stay anywhere less than a four-star unless it was a quaint little inn somewhere that was clean and quiet.

Cassia's communicator beeped just then and she answered it after seeing it was her sister.

"Yes Petra?" Cassia answered. "Problem?"

It was a week later and Cassia had left the family home behind probably for the last time.

"I'll believe that when I see it with my own two eyes Pet," Cassia snorted in disbelief answering her sister's words. "OK, if you're sure. He'll be invited to the wedding. Maybe you better come at least a couple of days before, as I won't have him try to disrupt it. You make sure he knows that this is his last chance to prove that he can act like an adult and if he doesn't I'll cut off all contact with him."

Cassia ended the call to find the others waiting on her.

"So that was your sister and I'm assuming it had to do with your brother," Sabella said.

"Yep," Cassia said. "She claims Alastair has changed. Really changed this time. You heard me tell her I would give him a chance to prove he had, but this was his last chance to prove he wasn't a brat."

"At least where it concerns you in a relationship much less getting married," Dave put in.

"Precisely," Cassia agreed, even as they exited the front doors of the shuttleport and into a waiting cab. "You all know I want Alastair there when I do marry you guys, but it's a good idea to make sure he's really changed before we hold the actual ceremony. On the other hand, Petra knows our rather scallywag of a brother. Being brought home by the police might just be the knock upside the head that he needed to straighten himself out."

"So he's never been brought home by a cop before," Aaron said and Cassia shook her head.

"Nope, he hasn't. He usually just pitches a fit until we give in to shut him up, but that's not gonna happen this time. He has the money to get his own apartment, but stays in the family home. It's paid for as you know and I think we all decided to just live together once our parent's passed. It was left to all three of us equally, but Petra and I can force him out until he grows up.

"He could report you. I know that's unlikely since he is your brother and I'm assuming he loves you," Sabella suggested.

"It's not a crime to kick out a family member that's being a pain in the rear. I know the house was left to all three of us, but I doubt mom and dad knew what a pain Alastair would become at least when it came to either of his sisters settling down. Who's he going to report it to really? He might get some sympathy at a bar somewhere, but if the true story ever got to be known they'd probably be more sympathy for Petra and me for having to deal with such a difficult family member."

"Especially from any woman who's ever had to deal with anything similar," Sabella said.

"A lot of the men would sympathize too," Dave added. "If anybody knows how difficult the gender can be is another man.

"But you know very well some men will think that it's Alastair right to live in the house whether he's being difficult or not," Aaron added. "Some men would even kick their relations out, even they're siblings.

"Alastair would never do that," Cassia said. "He might be a pain in the butt when it comes to his sisters settling down, but he would never attempt to throw us out of our home. For one thing he's the baby of the family and we might've coddled him too much just as mom and dad did. Yes, we do love each other a lot and it would never occur to him to throw out of where we grew up or to hire a lawyer to force us to leave.

"He'll remember every time we were there for him when he was a child before mom and dad passed away. He'll remember how we protected him from some boys that were picking on him. Pet and me stopped him from being beat up at the very least on several occasions. All I'm saying is that he'll remember all the good times. Besides, Petra has the most authority because she's the oldest. We'll see what happens," Cassia decided.

The other three agreed that this was Cassia's right since it was her brother that was causing the problem.

~~~Dave, Sabella, Aaron, Cassia~~~

A month later

"Alastair," Cassia studied her brother. Her tone was absolutely neutral, no emotion whatsoever.

Alastair and Petra had arrived in Hawaii and Cassia had already decided that she wasn't going to meet him at the hotel that she and the others were staying at.

"Cass," Alastair said his eyes downcast, as if he was ashamed to look at her.

"Petra has told me that you have finally changed your tune and while I want to believe her I'm not sure I can," Cassia told her brother. "You have caused no end of heartache for both Petra and me ever since our parents died."

"Petra has made it clear my behavior was unacceptable," Alistair said.

"What has changed now?" Cassia inquired with a skeptically raised eyebrow. "Both of us made it clear your behavior was not how we expected you to conduct yourself when you encountered one of our boyfriends or in my case fiancés."

"Being brought home like some kind of little boy by that cop made me realize that I had to simply change. This time I escaped having a record but it won't be so next time. I embarrassed you and Petra as the whole neighborhood saw me brought home in the back of that police car, drunk. You've always looked after me no matter how I acted out, but the neighbors are now flapping their lips about my behavior. Before, my behavior was always kept private. You telling me that you never wanted to see me again really woke me up and once I had a chance to think I knew I had caused it. I knew you were deadly serious when you told me that and I couldn't bear never seeing you again or just calling you to chat."

"Well, that's not what I expected," Cassia said. She studied her brother who looked worse for wear, even a month later. "So long as you stop objecting to my relationship with Dave and Aaron then we can repair our sibling bond. I'm getting married in just a week and I'm really looking forward to it. If you behave between now and then you can be best man, because Dave and Aaron have no one else in mind. They thought about asking Sabella to do it, even though I know it's traditionally a man's roll."

"Females have fulfilled the role in the past few hundred years," Petra said and Cassia nodded in agreement.

"I want you to be maid of honor," Cassia told her older sister.

"I'll be happy to," Petra squealed happily hugging her sister.

"That's one reason I wanted you to come a week early you need to shop for a dress," Cassia said.

"I could've done that back home and just brought it with me," Petra said.

"Risk it being wrinkled or it getting lost, even if I know that doesn't happen very much. I just didn't want to take the risk of you not have an appropriate outfit besides they have a lot of nice dress shops here in Hawaii I've been to a few looking for the perfect dress. Also, you need to get Alastair a suit and have it tailored."

"Not a tuxedo?" Petra inquired.

"It's not gonna be that formal," Cassia told her two siblings. "There aren't going to be very many guests at all I'm afraid so there's no need for a wedding dress or things like tuxedos for the men. We nearly decided just to have it on the beach, since this is Hawaii, known for its weddings and beautiful beaches."

"Anything else I can do?" Petra asked.

"No everything else is taken care of. I have a dress and it's being altered, so it fits perfectly the day of the ceremony. It should be ready tomorrow."

"The venue?" Petra asked.

"It's a small chapel here on the main island," Cassia said.

"No reception?" Petra asked.

"No, dinner at a restaurant that we picked out together, just us and the grooms. Oh and Sabella," Cassia said.

"Of course, the other woman," Alastair said. "She would've had to agree to you joining her husbands in matrimony."

"And she did," Cassia told her brother. "We have all the appropriate paperwork to show the priest at the chapel where we're going to have the ceremony."

This last part was not true, because Dave and Aaron had never actually married Sabella and even if they had any marriage license it would've turned to dust long since.

"Are you sure you don't want more guests?" Petra asked. "Other than Alastair and me?"

"You're not guest you're the wedding party," Cassia said, "and yes, I'm sure. Dave and Aaron have no family other than Sabella. At least none that they acknowledge or even mentioned. They're parents are long since dead and none of them have brothers or sisters they want to invite. As for Sabella she's an orphan and has no idea who for parents are."

"That's so sad," Petra said. "To have no family."

"It is, but it happens," Cassia shrugged. "We're only getting married because I was raised to believe in it and they agreed to accommodate me. I wouldn't feel right having children without at least a small ceremony making our relationship official."

"So they don't necessarily believe in marriage," Alastair said speaking up, "but are willing to go along with what you want.

"Exactly," Cassia told her brother looking at him in surprised astonishment. "That's actually a reasonable observation and something I didn't expect out of your mouth. Maybe you have really changed.

"Maybe I have," Alastair shrugged nonchalantly trying to hide his suddenly reddened cheeks.

"Maybe it's time I introduce you to them officially," Cassia said looking at her sister who nodded soberly.

"Yes, it is. Way past time really," Petra agreed.

"If you behave maybe I'll begin to believe that you actually have changed," Cassia told her brother. "However, if you mess up, especially by trying to disrupt the wedding itself, well just know I will never speak to you again. Aaron and Dave have already agreed to forgive and forget. They're willing to make accommodations for your behavior, because you're my brother, but their sufferance only goes so far."

"That's the way it should be," Petra said. "That they're willing to forgive Alastair's previous behavior says how much they really do love you as a lot of men wouldn't and we all know it."

"It does, because that means that they're willing to try to get along with you Alastair. It's mostly because they know I love you, because you're my brother and so there's no reason to see you as competition for my affections. They understand I have other people I love and are not jealous in the least at that."

"All right I get the point you're trying to make," Alistair said.

"Good," Cassia said approvingly as she kissed Alastair on the cheek. "I'll contact the guys now and then they'll be here in a few minutes."

Cassia took out her communicator and walked away talking softly into it, so that nobody could overhear what she was saying.

Just a few minutes later she came back and said that her fiancés were on their way and would be here in 10 minutes.

The three siblings waited talking softly until Cassia's is fiancés arrived.

~~~Dave, Sabella, Aaron, Cassia~~~

A week later

"I now pronounce you men and wife," announced the preacher.

Alastair fulfilled the role of best man as he truly appeared to have changed from not wanting his sisters to settle down at all. He'd actually gotten to know Dave and Aaron and realized that he actually like them.

That they forgave him for his previous bad behavior was a miracle in his opinion. They seemed to realize that losing his parents like he had was bound to be a major trauma. The fact that he had never seen a psychologist to help him get over it said a lot.

Both of Cassia's men went out of their way to include Alastair in whatever they were doing so that he wouldn't feel all alone or like he was being abandoned by his sisters who were busy shopping for the wedding. They seemed to realize that Cassia wouldn't see her siblings very much and so went out of their way to include both of them.

Sabella and Petra on the other hand, got on like a house on fire and the friendship that had started when they had first met continued to expand, then deepen.

The three ladies of the group often went shopping together in that week and helped Petra pick out a dress for the wedding.

Alistair of course, noticed how beautiful Sabella was, but tried not to acknowledge that because she belonged to another, so she wasn't exactly free to start a relationship. He had promised his sister to behave and going after someone that wasn't available would only get him in trouble.

Alastair had handed over the rings to the minister who had blessed them and then handed them to Dave and Aaron who had put them on Cassia's finger before pronouncing them married.

Now they were at the restaurant where they were having a magnificent dinner that had been arranged in advance for the small wedding party.

"Well, it looks like your brother has a indeed changed," Dave told Cassia as the two twirled around the small dance floor.

"I told you he had," Cassia said. "I know you weren't sure, but I know Alistair better than anyone other than Petra of course."

"He rose to the occasion of our wedding magnificently," Dave said.

"Yes, I was quite proud of him, as he seems to have finally, mostly anyway, gotten over his issues," Cassia said.

"Which in the long run will make him happier," Dave said.

"Oh, definitely," Cassia agreed. "It's actually a really good thing he has."

"Oh, why?" Dave asked.

"Because Petra was telling me recently when Alastair wasn't around that she and that cop that brought Alastair back to the house, Colin Fairweather, have started seeing each other. It's not serious yet, but it'll probably turn into that very soon as neither is dating anyone else."

"Well, that's a surprise," Dave said.

"What do you mean by that?" asked Cassia.

"Just that it's a weird coincidence that you met Aaron and I and then your sister meets Colin all basically at the same time," Dave explained. "It's only been a little over three months since we met and now you tell me your sister is dating that cop that brought your brother back to the house."

"I suppose that is a weird coincidence," Cassia admitted not having thought of it like that before. "I knew Petra was interested in Detective Fairweather, though she did conceal it pretty well from Alastair at the time. I, on the other hand, saw how she blushed even if Alastair didn't notice."

"Your sister deserves someone that she can depend on and that at the end of the day she can come home to," Dave said.

"I totally agree with that," Cassia said, as the song ended and she and Dave parted from where they had been dancing closely.

"Can I have this dance my lady?" Aaron offered coming out to the dance floor. He bowed outrageously causing Cassia to giggle and accept Aaron's offer of a dance.

The two twirled around on the floor confidently while Petra and Alistair were standing over by the food table.

"You see what you tried your best to break up little brother?" Petra told Alastair quietly, as she watched her sister and one of her new husband's dance. "Do you now understand what misery you would've caused not just for Cassia but for Dave and Aaron to?"

Alastair watched the couple dance and he had to admit he had never seen his sister so happy as she was in Aaron's arms and before that in Dave's arms.

"You tried to destroy your sister's happiness, just because of your fear of abandonment," Petra drove her point home.

"I know and I'm more ashamed than I can say," Alastair said hanging his head. "Can we stop discussing it please. This is supposed to be a happy day not a day to remind me how wrong I was."

Petra studied her brother and then nodded seeing that Alastair now understood how wrong he had been.

"Just so you are warned in advance I've started dating Colin Fairweather and you are not to give him a hard time. He'll be around on occasion.

Alastair accepted the news quietly and didn't throw a tantrum like Petra half expected.

"So long as he makes you happy and treats you well I don't have a right to say anything," Alastair finally said. Petra stared at her brother in shock.

"The apocalypse has finally arrived," Petra said in a joking tone. Her tone of voice was still astonished. "My little brother has finally accepted that his sisters have a right to their own lives without his interference."

"You don't have to rub it in sis," Alastair said, as he ran a hand through his hair messing it up.

"I suppose not. At least not today, but I think you deserve to be reminded on occasion what misery you nearly caused because of your attitude. I wouldn't want you to backslide and neither would Cassia."

Alastair sighed and rolled his eyes once Petra turned away.

"And don't you dare roll your eyes at me Alistair Jonathan," came Petra's voice.

"I can't win," Alistair muttered, as he walked away from his sister before he said something that got him in real trouble.

Petra saw Dave watching the scene with an amused expression and she winked at him before heading to the bathroom.

Everything had turned out fine for her sister despite Alistair's interference. Now if only her relationship with Colin would continue to go smoothly she would be happy.