“Hey Abby, great check on Mike, I think he went crying to Aunt Debbie.” Aaron grinned, patting his sister on the head.

“Or I’m getting hot chocolate.” Michael answered, coming into the room. “Thanks for backing me up…other people.”

“Oh shut up, Squirt.” Four collective voices replied.

“Sorry.” He said, putting his free hand up defensively. “Abby, have you been lifting lately?”

“Er…” Abby answered, looking at Ian, cheeks flushed.

“Don’t. Just don’t answer.” Andy said quickly. A woman that looked a little bit older than Andy entered the room.

“Oh, guys, this is Heather…my fiancee.” Alec said proudly, as she took a seat next to him.

An awkward silence followed, and Michael looked around at Abby, Aaron and Andrew who were all eyeing each other, most likely thinking the same thing. “Alec…” Andrew started

“A word.” Aaron continued.

“In the kitchen.” Abby finished. Abby got up and gave her hot cocoa to Ian. Alec was looking a little apprehensive as he followed his three younger siblings into the kitchen.

Michael sat next to Ian and said in a very low voice…”It looks like you’re in the clear.” He went back to his seat and tried to make some conversation with Alec’s new fiancee.

Ten minutes later Abby came out of the room shaking her head. She rolled her eyes, and her two other brothers followed suit. “Don’t worry, Heather, it’s not you…we would’ve just liked to have known about you before.”

“Uh…okay.” She said, looking up at a rather miffed looking Abby. Abby went and took her spot next to Ian, who kissed her on the forehead.

“So Heather,” Abby started as Alec finally emerged the kitchen, “tell us about yourself. Where are you from? What do you do? And did you watch the Olympics this summer?”

Heather who was looking overwhelmed already couldn’t have looked more frightened of Abby, who was a much smaller person. “Uh, well I’m from New Haven, I moved to Hartford and went through my residency with Alec, which is where I met him. I’m a neurologist. And yes, I watched the Olympics…mainly the gymnastics, though.”

Abby found this rather acceptable. “Swimming?”

“Some of the time.” Heather answered. “I don’t like it too much though.” Abby choked on her hot cocoa which was very tepid by this point.

Ian leaned towards Abby and whispered “You know…you’re seething with fury.”

Later that night Ian was sitting on the bed listening to Abby rant about Alec’s inability to communicate with the family as she prepared herself for bed. She sat next to him in a huff. “I wish it was Athens again.” She said after finishing her rant. She let out a sigh as she lay down on the bed.

Ian, on top of her, just smiled. “I know…I know.” He gave her a kiss on the lips. “Look, just don’t get yourself too worked up about Alec and Heather.” He said, as he moved to lie next to her. “If he’s in love, then just leave him be, even if he didn’t tell you anything about her. I’m sure he’d be the same with you.”

Abby was silent for a while. “Ian…keep talking, I just love listening to your Australian accent.”

“Oh…if you want a real Australian accent, you’ll have to hear Michael Klim…or even Grant Hackett. But I’d prefer you talk to Klimmy because Grant is a bastard.” Ian said matter-of-factly.

There was a knock at the door, which Abby opened after springing up from the bed. “Hey kids, just checking on you both…Abby your brothers are coming, just a warning.” Her dad said, lowering his voice. “Hi Ian! You’re comfy, I hope?”

“Yeah, it’s fine, Mr. Stewart.” Ian replied.

“Please, call me Cliff.” He grinned. “Okay well…good night, and we’ll see you in the morning. Hey Ian, all of us men are going to go and chop wood after breakfast, Abby will find you a warmer jacket and a hat and gloves and everything, except boots maybe.

Abby watched as her dad went down the hallway to check on Michael. “I love how he still thinks I’m ten.”

There was another knock at the door. This time it was Alec, with Aaron and Andrew at his sides. “Yes?”

“We’d like to speak with Ian.” Aaron said, simply, arms crossed over his chest.

“It’ll be quick.”

“Five minutes, tops.” Alec finished. Abby looked at Ian and nodded her head in their direction. “We’ll have him back in one piece.”

“Physically.”

“Oh shut up Andy.” Abby replied, shutting the door.

Ian was lead back to the sitting room where they all shared hot chocolate earlier. “So,” Alec started, how long have you and Abby been seeing each other?”

“We met in August at the Olympics, and met up with each other again in France just a month ago.” Ian answered.

“And, you realize that if anything happens to her, it’ll be your doom, right?” Andrew added. Ian nodded.

“And if you beat Michael too many times during races…we may have to disown Abby.” Aaron said, for good measure. “I mean come on...”

Ian laughed. “Well, we’ll see. I’m pretty sure she’s still more loyal to him swim-wise, being family and all.”

Aaron, Andrew and Alec looked at each other. “We need to have a chat…hold on Ian.” Alec said, as he went over to his brothers in a huddle. Ian sat nervously pulling at the loose fibers on his shirt. “Okay…interrogation complete.” He heard Alec say.

“Congratulations.”

“We approve.”

“So relax and enjoy your stay here.” Andy nodded at him, as they led him back to Abby’s room. “If we hadn’t approved…we would’ve made life hell, which we’re really good at.”

“But we’ll be nice. We’ll treat you better than Michael.” Aaron said with a smirk. “And that says a lot. So, night, man. See ya in the morning.”

Ian went into Abby’s room to find her sleeping already. He shook his head and decided to tell her that her brothers were completely mad, but in the good sense, in the morning.