_______________________________

You gave me a lot without even trying

A friend, a brother, a sister, another mother

Thank you, thank you

I'm so glad we got this second chance to just be

Together

______________________________

"Ethaaaaaaaaaaaaan, what if she hates me?" I pace. "What should I wear? Oh my gosh, Ethan."

"She won't hate you." Ethan leans against the door frame. "Wear what you'd wear hanging out with any other friend. Kaisley is the last person who'll care about fashion. Why do you want to meet her again anyway?"

"Because she's going to be my sister. I've always wanted a sister. And I want your whole family to love me. Kaisley is the only member that I haven't won over with my charm."

"That's cause she's gay, Char." Ethan chuckles. "She'll love you, I'm sure of it. Nobody could not love you."

I pout. "I hope so."

Ethan places his hands on my hips. "You belong in my family. She'll see just how happy you make me and she'll know that's true."

"What's her favorite stuff?"

"You'll need to be more specific." Ethan chuckles.

"Activities, food...?" I bite my lip.

Ethan nods. "She's way into sports, been playing her whole life, specifically basketball, soccer, and volleyball. She skateboards. Her favorite food is sub sandwiches piled high with tons of shit. Like, tons. It's disgusting. She likes sushi too. Loves soda."

"We'll do everything!" I bounce. "Let's get her."

"Okay, cupcake." Ethan smiles and grabs his keys.

I smile and follow him. "Is she hard to impress?"

"I'd say so." Ethan nods as we get in the car and drive off.

Biting my lip, I contemplate what to do. I should definitely be myself. I'm good at volleyball, but I get a little competitive, so that might not be the best. "She won't try and take advantage of my need to please, will she?"

"Not if she doesn't know about it." Ethan bites his lip. "She'll try to take advantage of anything, your money too, so watch your spending."

"Aaaaa, females are so scary." I cry.

Ethan rolls his eyes. "No, they're not, baby. We aren't that different." He takes my hand. "Just relax. I'll tell her off when it's needed."

"Okay." I exhale and pat myself down. "I have my anxiety medicine, right?" I keep searching for the bottle until I find it.

"You've got everything you need." Ethan reassures me as we pull into his family's driveway.

I whine. "You weren't this nervous meeting Xaaaaan."

"I don't have anxiety." Ethan pets me. "You're gonna do great. One step at a time, right, love? First step is to get outta the car, okay?"

Nodding, I follow. "I'm glad you're here too." I grab his hand once we're out.

Ethan squeezes mine. "Me too." He smiles and goes up to knock on the door. Kaisley opens it. Her hair is down and she's wearing a short sleeve shirt with the anarchy symbol on it and shorts. On her feet are black vans and over her shoulder she carries a mini backpack instead of a purse.

"Hey. I'm ready for our day out." She puts some chapstick on before sticking it in her pocket. "You still look pretty even when you're not dolled up." She mentions to me.

I blush. "Thank you. I think you're pretty. Definitely a Dechart."

"Really?" She raises her eyebrows. "I-uh-thanks."

"Really." I grin. "So, what do you want to do today? We could get lunch, do some activities, and you could help prepare the dinner picnic."

"I'm down for lunch." She smiles.

"Thank goodness." Ethan rubs his stomach. "I'm so hungry."

"You're always hungry." Kaz chuckles and Ethan flicks her ear.

"You're one to talk. You can put away double what I eat and you'll still end up ninety pounds."

Kaz punches Ethan's arm, "Fuck off! I'm gaining muscle weight now." She sticks out her tongue.

Giggling, I grab Ethan's hand. "Do you want to go to a sub place or a Japanese place?"

Kaz narrows her eyes.

"Whatever you want, babe." Ethan shrugs and Kaz pokes his chest.

"Did you brief him on me?"

"Sorry, I was anxious."

She nods. "That's fine. I get that. Do you want some gum? I like to chew when I'm upset. Helps me not bite my cheeks."

"I'll try it." I smile. "Thank you."

"No problem." She smiles back and hands me a piece.

"Let's get going." Ethan smiles and we all get into the car. "So, which place?"

"It's up to Kaisley."

"Hmm. I haven't had Japanese in ages."

"Sounds good to me." Ethan nods.

I put the address into the gps and hum. "Do you just want sushi or do you want it as a side?"

"Just sushi." She says.

"I'm getting chicken fingers." Ethan smirks.

"From a Japanese place?" I ask. "Just get some sushi or a rice bowl, babe."

"I don't really eat seafood. I guess a rice bowl is fine." Ethan shrugs.

"His taste buds are pathetic and uncultured." Kaz says. "It's truly sad."

"I guess I now know to never cook seafood for you." I sigh. "I'll just have Ry and Kaisley over instead."

Ethan pouts.

"What? You don't like it. So I'll never have seafood pasta with you."

"Do you like it a lot?" Ethan asks.

"My recipes? Yes. You know how much I love to feed you."

"Maybe I can give it another shot, for you."

"Do you have that feeding kink?" Kaisley asks.

I almost choke on the gum.

Ethan pats my back. "No, Kaz, don't ask about his kinks again or Mom will hear about it."

Kaisley grumbles. "It was just a question."

"She's just in that stage of being curious." I calm down. "No, I don't have that kink."

"Has Mom had the talk with you yet?" Ethan asks her and she scoffs.

"Yeah, like three years ago, dingus."

I grin. "Don't let Ethan make you feel bad. He was probably worse."

Ethan gasps and Kaisley giggles.

"Exploration is great and lessens the chance of you turning out like Ethan." I chuckle. "It's nice to feel comfortable in your sexuality sooner rather than later."

Kaz nods. "Yeah, totally. Ethan's an idiot."

"Hey!"

"Your boyfriend is on my side now so don't even try." Kaz smirks boldly.

I giggle. "Ethan, I love yoooooou." I grab his hand as we get closer to our destination.

Still pouting, Ethan kisses my hand.

"I like your new tattoo by the way." Kaz tells me. "It looks sick."

"Which one?" I grin, showing off both of them.

"The pirate skull for sure, but that's pretty too."

"We got matching ones." Ethan shows her his.

"Woah," she looks between us. "You must be really serious about him."

Ethan nods. "He's the love of my life. We hope to marry."

I smile. "Ethan drew the pirate tattoo for me and he tattooed his initials on me." I gush.

Kaz grabs my arms and looks closer. "Damn."

How close she's looking makes me a little nervous and I just laugh it off. "Yeah. I'm pretty reckless."

She releases me. "I can't wait to get tattoos. I have tons planned."

"I bet you'll hate all of them by the time you're eighteen." Ethan mocks.

"Will not." Kaz huffs.

I chuckle. "Do you hate any of your tattoos?" I ask, doubting that he does since most of them mean something.

"Nope." Ethan shakes his head. "But if I'd gotten all the ones I planned at fourteen I would."

"It's nice to dream."

"Yeah, for sure." Ethan agrees and we park.

"You guys are paying, right?" Kaz asks.

"Definitely." I bounce. "I don't want you to stress about anything. I just want to get to know each other."

"Cool." She smiles and we all get out.

I get us a table and grin.

"What would you like for a drink?" The server asks.

Kaz orders a Japanese soda and Ethan gets water.

I order a taro slush with boba and order some sushi for an appetizer.

They nod and leave and I look at the siblings. "I'm honestly really nervous of fucking up."

"In front of me?" Kaz asks. "Dude, I don't think that's possible. You're so sweet, like sickeningly sweet. And you're funny. What could go wrong?"

"I didn't think you liked me." I blush.

Kaz looks puzzled. "Why?"

I play with the utensils on the table. "When I was over for dinner, we didn't talk much and I thought you didn't like me because I showed up in dress clothes."

"I'm not good around strangers." Kaz says, surprising me with her honesty. "People usually never get a good first impression of me. I didn't really know how to talk to you. And the clothes comment was just me making fun of you, but I didn't mean it in a mean way. That's just how we are." She looks at Ethan. "I didn't realize I should treat you different, I guess. It probably did come off rude."

"Well, I'm overly analytical and I wanted the family to like me." I hide my face. "You don't have to behave differently around me. I want to know you."

"Nobody ever really notices me. Especially not Ethan's friends." She plays with her hands.

I look into her eyes. "I notice you and I want to be friends."

"But you're so old."

Ethan cuffs her.

"Well, like, in a big brotherly way. Sorry. I probably sound creepy. I just have always wanted a little sister."

"You want one until you have one." Ethan mutters and Kaz glares at him.

"Shut up, I know you love me."

"Mm, maybe a little." Kaz glares more and Ethan breaks, chuckling. "Okay, a lot."

Kaz smirks and turns back to me. "I think you're a pretty cool guy, Charlie. I wouldn't mind being your sister-in-law."

I light up. "Really?"

"Yeah." Kaz chuckles.

"You won't regret it." I beam. "I'm good at cooking and baking and I can help you out if you're ever in trouble and you're scared of how some people may react." I give Ethan a look.

"Thanks." She smiles.

Ethan pats my shoulder. "See? I told you it'd go well."

"I'm glad." I giggle and perk up once our drinks and sushi arrives.

"Do you know what you'd like to order?" The server asks.

Kaz orders her sushi and Ethan lets me order for him since he's apparently unable to do so himself.

"One order of spicy kimchi ramen and a chicken rice bowl," I order and the server smiles before leaving.

"Fuuuuuuck, this drink is so good."

"Let me try." Ethan grabs it.

"Don't choke on the boba." I giggle and let him drink it.

"Mmm." He flutters his eyelashes. "That is good."

Kaz chuckles and sips her soda. "You're such a dork."

"Am not!" Ethan puffs out his cheeks.

I kiss his cheek. "My dorky cowboy."

"Noooo, I'm not a dork." Ethan pouts and Kaz laughs.

"You're still into all that cowboy stuff? Wow."

"Don't start." Ethan glares.

"Aww, Kaisley, don't judge him. I think he's sexy." I giggle and grab his hand.

"Ew! No, no sexy!" She fake pukes.

Ethan just smirks and kisses me.

I kiss back. "You say that, yet you seem interested in my kinks, which I'd participate in with your sexy brother."

Kaz puts her fingers in her ears. "La, la, la, la!"

"She's funny." I giggle. "I'm surprised she didn't say 'kinky.'"

"Oh my god, babe, you gotta let that one go."

"But it was so cuuuuuute."

Ethan shakes his head and Kaz slowly pulls her fingers back out.

"I wanna spoil her."

"Be careful. Remember what I said." Ethan reminds me and Kaz claps when our food gets here. She starts eating immediately.

"This is great, guys, thanks." She says with her mouth full.

I smile. "You're welcome." I rub Ethan's stomach. "If you need more food, tell me, babe."

Ethan smiles and kisses my cheek. "You wanna feed me too, Mama?"

"I thought I was Daddy," I tease.

Ethan slaps his hand over my mouth as Kaz spits out her soda.

"What?"

My face warms up and I just start speaking Italian to confuse her.

Ethan puts his head in his hands and Kaz scoffs.

"You two are fucking weirdos."

"So judgy." I stick my tongue out.

She sticks hers out back.

Ethan just chuckles and eats his rice bowl.

I just return to my ramen. "You're just jealous that we're so kinky."

"Why would I be? People get kinky when their vanilla sex gets lame. So that means you have no spark." She clicks her tongue.

I pout. "We have spark."

"Definitely." Ethan kisses my temple. "Don't listen to her, Charlie, she's never even been in a relationship."

I hug his arm. "Do you feel a spark when you look at me, Ethan?"

He cups my cheek and our eyes meet. "I feel a whole fire."

My face warms up. "You're my sun."

"You're my world."

Blushing further, I kiss him.

He kisses back, licking my lips when it's over. "You taste spicy."

"Sorry." I giggle.

"I like it." Ethan promises.

"Cutie." I ruffle his hair. "Now, eat your food. I wanna do more stuff with Kaz—Kaisley."

"Kaz is fine." Kaisley shrugs.

I grin. "Thanks. So, what do you want to do after this? Go to the skate shop or something?"

Kaz perks up. "You'll buy me things?"

"W-Within reason." I remember Ethan's warning.

"I did break my board the other day." She breathes through her teeth. "It'd be nice to get a new one. Do you skateboard?" She gets excited.

"No, but I'd be willing to learn. I play volleyball and I was in gymnastics for a long time and I'm thinking about somehow getting back into them." I scratch my head.

Did she break her skateboard or did someone else?

Kaz smiles. "I used to play volleyball! It was really fun in middle school but..." the light in her eyes dims. "...not anymore. I'd totally take you on though."

"Our school has a volleyball team don't they?" Ethan says. "It's all women right now but i don't think there's any rules against co-Ed."

I blush. "I prefer the all boys teams." I wiggle my eyebrows. "The high school has girls' volleyball and boys' volleyball. I think they have a co-ed one they're trying to start. You could join the boys' team or the new one." I gage Kaz's reaction.

She furrows her brows, thinking about it, but seeming to run into an obstacle. "I could try, I guess."

I feel protective of her. "Can your backpack hold a skateboard?"

"It'll stick out at the top, but yeah. Why?" She looks at Ethan. "Are we gonna steal one?"

"I'll buy you a backpack with the clips. And if another person breaks your skateboard, then I'll show up at the school."

Kaz shrinks. "What? I didn't say anyone broke it. Please do not show up. Jesus, that'd be so embarrassing."

Rolling my eyes, I take a sip of my drink. "Bullying is lame as fuck."

"I'm not being bullied, Charlie." Kaz snaps, angry.

"Sorry." I look down, wanting to disappear.

"It's whatever." She huffs. "I'm not some kid who can't handle herself. I don't need two overprotective assholes on my ass."

"He's only trying to be nice, Kaisley, don't fucking talk to him like that." Ethan scolds and she sighs.

"Sorry, Charlie."

"Sore subject." Ethan whispers.

"I don't want them getting worse," I whisper. "Teen girls are scary. Maybe I should sneak pepper spray into her backpack."

"She has some." Ethan smirks. "She's a tough kid." He says, though he still looks at her worriedly.

"There were a lot of girls who were very toxic towards me in high school," I confess. "I was treated like an accessory rather than a person. Ethan could tell you how it still happens. And there were some guys who wanted to fuck with me because of my sexuality."

"That sucks." Kaz frowns. "Should I show up on your campus too? I can be pretty intimidating." She smirks.

"Ethan scared them off by saying he's my boyfriend." I giggle. "But sure."

"That's all it took?"

"Apparently." Ethan sips his drink, looking embarrassed, probably remembering that night and how we weren't even together yet.

"It was pretty hot."

"Really?" Ethan questions me.

"Yeah. You didn't even 'like' me yet. I became attached. There were a lot of them, so y'know..."

He kisses my cheek.

I giggle. "Sweetbutt."

He raises his eyebrows. "Sweetbutt?"

Kaz laughs. "That's the worst nickname I've ever heard."

"He's got a bangin' ass, Kaz."

"Ugh, unfortunately." She sighs. "At least you didn't have to live through years of hearing his bangin' ass literally banging ass."

"I wish he banged my ass in his room."

"Eww, no, don't talk about that." Kaz shakes her head.

Ethan just chuckles and whispers, "Maybe I will."

I bounce. "We're not eeeew. We're so cute."

"You're cute when you don't make me imagine my brother having sex."

"That's hard because he makes me hard." I laugh.

Kaz gets up. "I think I need to go to the bathroom. To puke." She says then leaves.

"She's cute. I want a girl." I smile widely.

"As a kid?" Ethan asks. "I've never heard anyone but Mom describe Kaz as cute."

"She's a grumpmuffin, and I want a daughter." I shove him.

He chuckles. "A daughter would be wonderful."

"Maybe two."

"Will we adopt?" Ethan asks, taking my hands and smiling fondly.

"I was feeling adoption, but we could do something different if you want."

"I like adoption. It'd be kinda awkward to have someone else carry our baby, plus, a lot of kids need homes. Maybe we can even foster some." He gets excited.

"That'd be so fun. We could foster teens and get them ready for college and everything."

Ethan nods. "I love kids. I love you. I will love having kids with you."

I tackle him. "I love you."

Giggling, Ethan kisses whatever skin he is closest to and holds me close as footsteps approach us.

"Ready to go yet, guys, or are you just gonna cuddle?" Kaz asks, smirking.

"We can go." I grab my drink and clean up everything to the best of my ability. I leave a sizable tip and pay the bill before returning. "Let's go."

Ethan takes my hand and Kaz practically skips out, looking very excited. "You better enjoy Charlie's face while you can, Ethan, cause my board and I are gonna wreck it!"

"Noooooo! Don't ruin my face."

"Don't fall then!" She smirks.

"Ethan and you better be there to catch me."

"Aren't I always?" Ethan flirts.

"Yeah." I hug his arm.

He smiles and we all get in the car. Ethan drives us to the skate shop and Kaz lights up with desire and excitement.

"This place is sick." She says then races off, not knowing where to start.

I follow her around, wanting to learn what she likes.

"I wish it wasn't dorky to get your name on one." She mutters and spins a wheel on her way past. She comes to a stop in front of the boards. "The one I had was a fucking hand-me-down from Ethan and it was so worn and used. I'm surprised it didn't snap in half earlier."

"Good thing you're getting a good one."

She smiles wide. "Thanks to you. You're the best brother-in-law ever." She hugs me.

Lighting up, I hug her back. "You're the best sister-in-law ever."

"Really?" She looks up.