"NOOOOO."

The sound came from the living room and Echo stopped herself. She could either turn around and go back upstairs and ignore the part where she was hungry completely or she could do her best to walk by the room quietly and hope not to be seen.

Usually, her sisters didn't bug her too much but she could hear by the sound of Lena's voice that she was properly horrified by whatever it was she had just been told and that she would be all to eager to share it with her. She considered staying for a second but in the end her anxiety won. Then, just as she turned to go back up... Maru grinned at her brightly as Rocko nearly knocked her over with a soft growl.

"Hi." Maru said with a toothy grin, knowing all too well that Echo was about to go hide.

"Hey." Echo said, staring down at Rocko. His eyes were fixed on her as she realized that she was not going to get a way. Stupid dog. Why did he hate her so much?

"Oh, it's you two. Well, get in here. You'll want to hear it too." Lena said, clenching her hands together as she poked her head out of the room. Maru and Echo turned to her for a second, raising curious brows. She looked just as horrified as she sounded, her face and arms completely flushed.

"Hear what?" Maru asked, walking into the room with Echo silently in tow.

"Lena is being dramatic." Romy said from where she was standing, leaning against the piano that took up the back end of the room. Next to her, with her hands tucked into her pockets was Vera, the second eldest and most motherly of the bunch.

"Lena is in shock, we all are." Vera said sensibly, turning back to Maru and Echo who were making themselves comfortable in the room.

"I'm not." Maru said simply, "Probably because I still have no idea what's going on."

"Well, it's George." Vera said. "He's getting married."

Echo had been slouching back for a second before suddenly straightening up and leaning forward, interested for once. She placed her hands on her knees and tilted her head with a nod as she remembered the woman she'd met a couple of times over the last few months.

"To that woman...." Echo asked, turning to Romy, "Karen or whatever?"

"Yes." Romy said with a slightly vicious grin. "I have to say, I always pictured him with someone much prettier. After all, George is quite nice looking." He was more than just nice looking, Echo thought. If they were realistic, George was pretty damn handsome.

"If they're in love, that type of thing has nothing to do with it." Vera said, scolding them. "You two shouldn't be so mean."

"But it's just not her looks... have you heard her talk? She's soooo...." Maru said, trying to find the words. Echo remembered the very nasal sound that came out of the woman's mouth whenever she spoke. Unfortunately, Echo wasn't great with faces and so she really couldn't remember what poor Karen looked like, only the sound of her less than melodic voice.

"Bubbly?" Romy said, making Maru chuckle.

"You said it." Maru replied.

"Would you guys stop?" Vera said. "Leave poor George alone. This is supposed to be one of the happiest moments of his life and I expect you all to behave and congratulate him with big smiles."

"Of course we will, whenever we see him." Maru said with a sigh, feeling a little ashamed. This was a superpower that only Vera had. She was very good at scolding the girls, even Romy who was older. Vera was a sweet-natured woman, kind and smart and always trying to do the right thing, and get others to do it too, of course. She had a strong moral compass, one that all the girls secretly admired and envied. Somehow, over the years, Vera had become the one to keep after them, the one always checking in and even mothering them sweetly. It was this strange combination of gentility and firm values that would make Vera such a great attorney.

Echo turned to Lena, who sat quietly with her hands folded in her lap, quietly lost in thought. She was being awfully quiet for someone who had been properly horrified only moments before.

"I'm glad to hear that because George and Karen are coming over for dinner tonight." Vera said, making Echo turn back to her.

"I thought it was strange you two were home so early." Echo said with a soft sigh. Great, just what she needed.

"Yes, we were sent ahead to warn the troops." Romy added. "and to make sure cook has something whipped up worthy of our George."

"Right." Vera said, "I'll go talk to cook and the maids and the rest of you just make sure you're in here and ready by 6:30 pm."

Vera glanced around, it was true that none of them were really pleased with George's choice but they wouldn't let him know that. Then, her eyes settled on Echo for a second, taking in the outdated, 90's grunge edition, angry tomboy look she'd been wearing for the last 5 years.

"And if you guys don't mind, mom and dad want us to dress nicely." She added, biting her lip as she did so. Echo smiled, her way of letting Vera know that she was not offended by the comment at all.

"Well, I'm taking Rocko out first." Maru said, standing.

"Is Ben coming?" Lena asked, finally breaking her silence although her voice sounded strange... even to herself.

"Yes." Vera replied.

"Good." Lena said, heading out of the room as fast as her feet could carry her.

Echo watched now as Vera and Romy began to chat among themselves. Physically, they were the most similar- tall beauties with dark honey blonde hair and the same pretty features but while Romy had the cobalt eyes like Lena's, Vera had the same dark ones that Echo sported. Aside from their looks, the two women were quite opposite. Both fashionable in their own way but while Romy's look was runway ready-man eater, Vera always had a very casual, French chic to her.

Even though Romy was the oldest, Echo always felt like Vera was the big sister. She was the one always trying to keep them organized, the person who was constantly cleaning up after them, reminding them to get things done, giving them advice they didn't want... it had been that way all their life. One day, Vera would have a whole bunch of children of her own. Echo knew that, there was no way someone like her wouldn't. It just had to be.

Now as she walked back up the stairs to find something that would be considered decent for tonight, Echo thought of George. Good old reliable George. They'd known him all their life and he was practically part of the family. He was over for dinner at least once a week, except in the last few months when he'd begun to see Karen. She supposed it was only natural that George would want to get married now. He was 37 now, just a few years older than Ben, and was now the VP of Marketing for her parent's company.

She would have been maybe 6 or 7 when George started as an intern and slowly began to promote up the ladder. Her parents had taken an instant liking to him, hardworking and extremely ethical man that he was. They'd practically adopted him, inviting him over all the time and allowing him to take Ben out as he got older. To Echo, it had been almost like having another brother and so she should be happy for him and she was, she just supposed that like everyone else, she'd expected someone very different for George. Echo frowned as she tried to recall the few things she knew about Karen. Was she tall? Maybe about Echo's height?

"Can you believe it?" Lena asked, nearly making Echo jump back as she reached the end of the hall.

"I mean, he's getting pretty old. It's natural." Echo replied. Lena frowned.

"He's not that old." Lena replied.

"I know but he's old enough I guess." Echo replied.

"Ben's 32, I supposed you're going to tell me he's old too?" Lena replied with an arched brow.

"Of course not, but if he wanted to get married, he's a good age too." Echo said, making Lena frown.

"You never take my side in anything." Lena said suddenly, stomping off. Echo stared for a second.

"This." She said, shaking her head and going into her room. "Then wonder why I'd rather be alone... this."

----

As Echo made it downstairs, she absolutely cringed. She had the distinct feeling she was going to throw up. Usually, it was no big deal that George was there for family dinners but just knowing Karen would be there too was enough to make her want to run.

She wasn't sure what it was about meeting new people that made her so nervous, but she didn't question it either. It wasn't like she had never met Karen before either, but it wouldn't be the first time Echo's anxiety made it hard to remember specific events. She instead focused all her attention on going through the required social motions and making sure she didn't overly embarrass her family. Still, she hated being the last one downstairs because that meant that all eyes would be on her when she entered the room.

"Hi." Echo said in a low voice as she walked into the family room.

"Come on, hug me tighter. Haven't seen you in a while." Ben said, giving her a squeeze and managing to get a smile from her. Ben was one of the few people that Echo felt completely at ease with. Out of all her siblings, and even her parents, he was probably who was closest too and she was fully aware that she was his favorite.

"Maybe because you don't come around as often." Echo said, walking towards George and Karen with Ben's arm around her shoulder.

"Maybe you should come see me." Ben said.

"In the city? Please, like that'll happen." Romy said as they approached them, making Echo look down. She knew Romy didn't mean to make her feel bad, it was just the way she was... with everyone.

"Hey Echo, how are you?" George asked, reaching out to hug her. Echo smiled, turning to Karen.

"Good." Echo said.

"Karen, you remember Echo?" George said and Karen smiled, revealing the weird teeth that had become legend in their house. They weren't ugly, it was just that they were not quite aligned. In fact, one of the bigger teeth was right in the middle and it just looked... well, bizarre.

"Hi." Echo said simply, trying not to stare.

"Hi, nice to see you again." Karen said, obviously taking in Echo's appearance. She had tried best she could but Echo had no experience with this type of thing and it was beyond her interest to try. She'd put on a dress, the type that hung loosely and gave no hint of a figure and she wore an old sweater over it. No make up, hair tied back and combined with a pair of clean sneakers, Echo still looked like Echo.

When she finally managed to escape the inner circle, she found herself with Lena and Maru, listening to them dissect Karen. Twins, but not in the least identical, Maru and Lena were least like each other than anyone else. Lena was tall, Maru was shorter than Echo, Lena sported a pretty olive like glow and Maru was pale as could be. The only thing they had in common was the blue eyes and even then, Maru's were a rare powder blue in contrast to Lena's. Maru was also the only of the sisters to wear her hair short, just barely grazing her shoulders.

"What do you think, Echo?" Maru asked as if they had actually expected her to follow along in the conversation when the only reason she stood with them was to provide herself some sort of shield against the stranger in the room.

"I think she seems nice enough." Echo said, looking her over.

"I think she's all wrong for George." Lena whispered. Echo watched them for a few more minutes before nodding.

"Yes, I think so too." She admitted.

"It's so nice to finally meet all of George's sisters." Karen said later, when they were all seated at dinner. George didn't have any family left, his own parents having died when he was young and so they were as close as it got.

"We're glad we were able to get together at last." Vera said after none of them replied, glaring at them.

"So, Karen, what do you do?" Lena asked, making Echo turn to her.

"I teach fourth grade science." She replied.

"That's nice." Lena said simply.

"And you're still in school?" Karen asked, making Lena get tense.

"That's right." Lena said, making Karen smile.

"Oh to be that young again." Karen said, turning to George and putting a hand on his arm. "They're so adorable."

Lena offered a smile before turning back to her food.

"What about your family, Karen? George told us you don't have any siblings." Michael said.

"I don't, just my parents...which is why..." She said with a big smile, looking around the table. "I was hoping I could count on you girls to fill the role of bridesmaids for me."

Echo's eyes flashed about at her sisters, all of them exchanging the same awkward glances- the same fake smiles plastered on their face.

"Of course, they'd love too." Alice replied, noticing how all her daughters had suddenly forgotten how to speak, even Vera. Karen practically jumped up in her seat with joy.

"Wonderful!" Karen said, raising her glass. "To my new sisters."