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RECAP

It was daytime in the hospital. Frank was laying in the hospital bed, wearing medical equipment on his head. "Here's what you missed on Worlds Colliding (Shameless) last time. I got really drunk. And I'm not sure what happened after that."

(Song:) Breakout - Izler

From 1.04 "Vow of Silence", in the Jackson bathroom, Frank walked into the bathroom to go pee.

Karen suddenly pulled aside the shower curtain, revealing that she was in the bath, of course completely naked, not caring that she was exposing herself to him, doing so intentionally. "Hi, Frank."

Frank jumped in shock. "Shit!"

From 1.04, there were other instances of Karen trying to seduce Frank, including sensually licking her spoon clean and showing her thong off to Frank.

From 1.03 & 1.04, there were flashes of Zia's issues after the drive by, including nightmares, hallucinations of Micah and blood, her stupors where she couldn't move, hurting herself, carving into the wall, and others.

From 1.04 "Vow of Silence", in the Gallagher kitchen, everyone was gathered.

Fiona gave Kimberly a look. "You told JJ to ask his shrink about Zia?"

"Yeah, because she's going through literal hell and we can't do anything to help her if you refuse to ask," Kimberly answered.

"So she's choosing not to talk?" Carl asked.

JJ sighed. "It's more like it's a coping mechanism, with what happened in the drive by, and everything she's been going through since then."

"You mean the zone outs, episodes, seeing Micah in her nightmares and daydreams, acting like the walking dead, and not knowing what's real or not?" Ian asked.

"So what are we supposed to do then?" Debbie asked.

"Just be patient," JJ answered. "Do our best to keep her stress level down."

"You do realize it's called post-traumatic stress disorder for a reason, right?" Kimberly asked.

Debbie frowned. "Is there anything Carl and I can do? To help Zia. Besides making sure the other kids don't make fun of her."

Fiona sighed. "I think we just need to give her some time to figure out all the stuff she's feeling inside."

"How can she figure it out if she can't feel anything?" Natalia asked.

From 1.04 "Vow of Silence", outside the Gallagher house, Zia looked up at Kimberly, whispering in a barely audible voice. "I'm scared. Everything hurts."

Kimberly looked at Zia in sadness, kneeling next to her, wrapping her arms around her tightly, comfortingly. Zia returned the embrace for dear life.

Kimberly brushed down Zia's hair. "If we found a way to get you in to see someone like JJ has to see... would you talk to them? Let them figure out what's going on? And how to help you?"

Zia frowned. "I... think so. But Fiona doesn't want that."

Kimberly got Zia to look at her. "All of us just want you to be okay, all right? For all of us to be okay."

From 1.03 "The Aftermath Damage", in the street, Tristan grabbed JJ, slamming him against the car, strangling him, making JJ gasp and struggle for breath, slamming his fist into JJ's stomach, threatening to tear his stitches on his gunshot wound, making him yell in pain.

JJ just glared at him. "Come on, Tristan." He yelled in furious, devastated pain. "Kill me!" Tristan took out a tiny box, putting it into JJ's coat pocket. "What the fuck is that?'

From 1.03 "The Aftermath Damage", in the boys' room, JJ hesitantly opened the box, revealing a small necklace inside, with baby teeth on the necklace with letters.

The letters on the necklace spelled: "Dead kids can't smile".

JJ looked at the note inside the box, taking it out, opening the note, which read: "When teenagers disrespect adults, little kids pay the price."

JJ realized what this meant, absolutely horrified, dropping the necklace and note.

Lip: (voice over from 1.03 The Aftermath Damage) "I guess that's the kind of thing that happens when he realizes that his father is the one that almost killed him on his goddamn birthday."

From 1.03, there were flashes of JJ's trauma bursting through in episodes of anger and self-destructive behavior, including holding himself under water during a bath, while healing from being shot, destroying his room, nearly choking a teenage boy out for mocking him in the street, and drunkenly standing on the ice at the swimming hole before falling through the ice and nearly dying all over again.

JJ: (voice over from 1.03 The Aftermath Damage) "Sometimes I need to do things that remind me that I'm in control. That I didn't lose complete control over my life because of Tristan."

Lip got to the ice, kicking and punching the rest of the ice away to break it, reaching in to pull JJ up from the freezing water, who gasped for breath.

Kimberly and Lip pulled JJ to the rocks, placing him down.

From 1.04 "Vow of Silence", in JJ's room, JJ was explaining to Kimberly. "Kev and V just told me that they can't adopt me officially. I might not be able to get adopted by them period because I went fucking crazy. I have to jump through all these fucking hoops with the counselor at school and an actual therapist to make sure that I don't go off the deep end again. I have to get Tristan and Eliana to terminate their parental rights. Tristan who tried to kill me on my birthday and killed Micah and almost killed all of us, and the reason why Zia's having her issues. And Eliana, who took off when I was two and hasn't contacted since. And we have to make enough money for us to even be able to afford adoption."

1.04 "Vow of Silence", in Rhodes' office, JJ was finishing up his session with Dr. Rhodes.

"Borderline personality disorder," Rhodes explained. "You have to take medicine."

JJ shook his head. "No, I'm not gonna take any medicine. They make me foggy."

"JJ..." Rhodes trailed off.

"I don't want any meds," JJ told her.

From 1.04 "Vow of Silence", in the Alibi, Woman 2 was flirting with Kevin. "She doesn't care if you have a girlfriend. Neither do I."

"I'm getting married," Kevin told her.

Frank walked around drunkenly, spreading the word. "Kev's getting married to Veronica and they're adopting JJ!"

From 1.04 "Vow of Silence", outside the Fisher-Ball house, Kevin knelt on the ground, reaching a hand toward Veronica. "Veronica Fisher, will you do me the honor of being my wife?"

Veronica broke out into an excited grin, running down the stairs instantly. "Yes!"

Veronica jumped into Kevin's arms as Kevin stood, catching her in his arms, both clinging onto the other tightly, happily.

From 1.04 "Vow of Silence", outside the Gallagher house, Kevin and Fiona stood together.

"You don't seem very happy to be getting married," Fiona pointed out.

Kevin sighed. "It's because I'm already married."

(Song Ends)

⫷⑅⫸ Worlds Colliding (Shameless) ⫷⑅⫸

Theme Song: The Luck You Got - The High Strung

In the Gallagher bathroom.

First segment, Frank was sleeping on the floor. Fiona walked in, trying to kick Frank awake, but when that didn't work, she dragged him out of the bathroom so that she could go pee, walking out of the room.

Second segment, Carl walked into the bathroom, climbing up the toilet to sit on the back of it, drinking a soda, before tossing the can down, jumping down to the floor, walking out of the room.

Third segment, Ian was using the bathroom, reading a gay magazine, when Kevin walked in to grab his plaid shirt on the floor. Ian hit his magazine between his legs, looking panicked, watching Kevin walked out of the room.

Fourth segment, Debbie walked into the bathroom, brushing her teeth, before walking out.

Fifth segment, Zia led Liam into the bathroom by his hands, kneeling next to him to wrap toilet paper all around Liam, as both were smiling.

Sixth segment, Kimberly helped an injured JJ into the bathroom, having him sit down on the floor, kneeling down to help him with a broken nose, snapping it back into place, which caused a lot of pain, and treating the rest of his wounds. They both stared at each other.

Seventh segment, Lip walked into the bathroom, looking for his cigarette pack, finding the pack and a lighter. Natalia walked in, sitting on the edge of the tub. Lip lit his cigarette, taking a hit. Natalia held out her hand, so Lip handed her the cigarette, so that Natalia could take a hit. They both walked out of the room.

Eighth segment, Kevin sat on a stool, tilting his head back because of a bleeding nose. Veronica sat next to him, using toilet paper to stuff into his nose to stop the bleeding.

Ninth segment, Debbie was going through Fiona's makeup bag.

Tenth segment, Carl pulled a stuffed animal out of the toilet.

Eleventh segment, Liam dipped his toothbrush into the toilet, brushing his teeth.

Twelfth segment, Lip was peeing into the toilet, while Ian was peeing into the sink.

Thirteenth segment, Zia sat on the floor, making pictures and drawings with a mess of belongings around her.

Fourteenth segment, Kimberly was looking into the mirror, putting makeup on.

Fifteenth segment, Steve backed Fiona into the bathroom, lifting her up to put her on the sink, as they started to have sex.

⫷⑅⫸ Worlds Colliding (Shameless) ⫷⑅⫸

Day One

Morning - Public Bathroom

(Song:) What's a Fella Gotta Do - Eels

Fiona and Veronica were in the process of stealing toilet paper, seen through the bottom of the stall doors, while Fiona was wearing combat boots and Veronica was wearing high heeled boots.

"Even with the adoption of JJ coming up, I wasn't even thinking about getting married until Kev brought it up," Veronica explained. "Now I'm, like, obsessed. Phillips."

They switched screw drivers.

"Wasn't he drunk when he proposed?" Fiona asked.

"Oh, yeah, it was like that David Hasselhoff video, eating a cheeseburger," Veronica answered.

They stood, continuing their work on stealing toilet paper.

"I never saw that," Fiona admitted.

"Oh, YouTube it, it's a car wreck," Veronica suggested. "You can't not watch."

"You really want a drunk proposal to be the story you tell your grandkids?" Fiona asked.

A lady walked out of the stall next to Fiona's. "My husband proposed to me at the top of the Sears Tower. Champagne and roses." Fiona stepped onto the toilet to peer over the top of the door toward the lady to make sure that she wasn't suspicious about what they were doing, but the lady was just washing her hands and fixing her hair. "Six months into the marriage, I found out he was fucking my sister."

Fiona shook her head, stepping down to the floor.

"And the moral of the story is?" Veronica asked.

"My sister's a bitch," the lady answered, walking out of the bathroom.

Fiona continued her conversation with Veronica. "Other than presents and booze, give me three good reasons why you want to get married."

"Lots of people who love each other get married every day, Fiona," Veronica pointed out.

Once they got the rolls of toilet paper out of their containers, they stepped out of the stalls, facing each other.

"I don't know, V," Fiona admitted. "The way things are between you and Kevin right now, about to adopt JJ if you guys can figure everything out with the therapy and fostering and all that, it seems perfect. Why ruin it? Plus, with everything going on with JJ and his medical bills, and the fostering, can you guys even pull off getting married on top of it?"

Fiona walked away.

Veronica frowned, confused and looking a little hurt by Fiona seeming to drag her down, when Fiona was trying to look out for her though she didn't know it.

(Song Ends)

⫷⑅⫸

South Region Health Clinic - Waiting Room

Frank was in a waiting area for a doctor, looking at the man sitting next to him, who was wearing a neck brace. "What do you get for that?"

"What?" the man asked.

"What are they paying for the neck thing?" Frank asked. "Disability."

"674 bucks a month," the man answered.

Frank chuckled. "That's what I get." He moved around his head and neck. "But look, I can do this." He stood, walking over to grab a newspaper, looking at the woman next to him, who was on crutches and in a full body cast. "While I admire your commitment, I gotta tell you, it's a bit over the top." The woman replied in Hungarian, which of course Frank ignored as he didn't understand a word. "I told them I get migraines. Genius, huh? Try proving I don't have them. I bet it itches like you got crabs in there."

⫷⑅⫸

Zia's Dream

Night - Gallagher House - Girls' Room

Zia was sleeping on her bed in the girls' room. When she rolled over, she could see that the bed was floating several miles above a waterfall and a lake, looking down at the waterfall below, in utter shock, jolting up, but in doing so, the bed tilted and caused Zia to fall straight down to the river below, making her scream the entire time.

⫷⑅⫸

Reality

Day - Gallagher House - Girls' Room

In reality, Zia woke with a start, gasping as she sat up. She realized that it was just a dream, sighing, closing her eyes, putting a hand to her head.

⫷⑅⫸

Kitchen

Zia walked down to the kitchen to get a glass of water. When she did so, she noticed the back door open. She hesitantly stepped toward the backdoor to check, picking up the baseball bat on her way in case, looking outside with the baseball bat in hand. When she didn't see anything, she closed the door and locked it, sighing, steadying herself, closing her eyes, leaning her head against the door.

Kimberly walked in from the living room, seeing Zia do this. "Z? You doing okay?"

Zia turned toward Kimberly, frowning, paranoid and confused. "I... I thought I heard... or saw..." She shook her head. "I don't know."

Kimberly walked closer, kneeling in front of Zia to take the bat from her, placing it aside. "Did you have another nightmare?" Zia nodded. "Did you see Micah?"

"Not this time," Zia answered. "I... it was like my bed was floating over a waterfall, and I started to fall. And I couldn't stop screaming."

Kimberly looked at Zia sadly, rubbing her shoulders calmingly. "Shh. It's okay. You're okay."

Zia sniffled. "I don't know what's happening to me, Kimberly. Right now... it doesn't feel any different than my dreams. My nightmares."

"Being awake feels no different," Kimberly stated. "Like you're still dreaming?"

Zia nodded, poking Kimberly softly in the cheek. "Is this real? Real face."

Kimberly took Zia's hands in hers, holding them comfortingly, trying to help her, but not knowing how to. "This is real. I promise, we'll figure everything out. Okay?"

Zia still had her numb, dazed, distant look in her glassy eyes as she was struggling to even tell what she was thinking or feeling, but nodded just barely. Kimberly wrapped her arms around Zia comfortingly, kissing her head, brushing her hair down with her hand softly, soothingly.

Ian and Lip were listening from the living room, looking at each other in concern, not knowing what to do to help.

⫷⑅⫸

Outside - Street

Natalia and JJ were walking home after an early morning shift at the diner they worked at together.

Malcolm was sitting outside, smoking a cigarette. "Hey."

"Hey, Malcolm," Natalia replied. "How are you?"

"Not too good," Malcolm answered. "But not as bad as normal, so..."

"We get that," JJ told him.

"How are you doing, JJ?" Malcolm asked.

"Same as you, I guess," JJ answered. "Told everyone about my BPD and what it means."

"What does it mean, anyway?" Malcolm asked.

"It's just a chemical imbalance, an illness," JJ answered. "I'm not going into detail right now, but it's not something that I have to be..."

"Ashamed of," Natalia finished.

"Yeah," JJ agreed. "It just made me feel so hopeless. Like I was never gonna be normal."

"You will be," Malcolm told him.

JJ sighed. "Yeah, maybe. Veronica and Kevin are trying to help, but, uh... they think that I don't know that they're sending me to some place. To a hospital or to one of those boarding houses where they lock you up."

Natalia frowned at the paranoia in JJ's voice. "How do you know?"

"It's like they're afraid to leave me alone," JJ answered. "That I'll hurt myself, so they always have someone with me even when they can't be. That's why you walked home with me, isn't it, Natalia?" Natalia didn't know how to answer, looking down. "Yeah. They just want to get rid of me."

"What have they said to you?" Malcolm asked.

"Nothing," JJ answered. "But they're probably just afraid that I'll run away, or... I don't know."

"Are you sure you're not just--" Natalia started.

"What, being paranoid?" JJ asked. "Because I'm crazy?"

"You're not crazy," Malcolm told him.

JJ sighed, frustrated, not knowing what to believe. "They're always whispering, and when I walk into the room, they shut right up."

"Maybe you should talk to them," Natalia suggested. "Figure everything out. Okay?"

JJ nodded barely, looking down. "Okay. I'll, uh... I'll see you guys later."

"Yeah," Malcolm agreed sympathetically. JJ walked away toward his house, walking inside. Natalia and Malcolm exchanged a concerned look. Malcolm took out another cigarette. "Looks like you could use this."

Natalia walked closer, sitting next to Malcolm on his porch. "After that, hell yeah."

Natalia took out her lighter and lit the cigarette, taking a hit.

"He's not on his meds yet, is he?" Malcolm asked.

"He's being stubborn, thinking he doesn't need them," Natalia answered. "But sooner or later, he's gonna have to take them."

"Yeah," Malcolm agreed. "And you? How you doing, Natalia?"

"Same answer as both of yours," Natalia answered.

Malcolm nodded. "Still looking for a place to stay?"

"Yeah, permanently," Natalia answered. "About to lose my crash pad again. Why?"

"Well, because without a steady job right now, I'm not really making enough money for rent right now," Malcolm answered. "And I've been looking for a job, but, uh, you see how hard that's been." Natalia nodded in agreement. "Been looking for a roommate, but I don't know that many people, especially ones that I trust, so..."

Natalia raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Wait, are you offering me a place as a roommate?"

Malcolm chuckled. "Yeah, if you think that you need it that bad. I know that I need help. And it's not pity, by the way. And it's not just letting you stay for free, which is why I know why you keep turning down offers from the Gallaghers, JJ, Veronica and Kevin to stay."

"Besides the fact that Fiona doesn't really like me staying over so much," Natalia agreed. "Plus, I wanted to protect them from my father finding out where I'm at and threatening the people I'm staying with to get them to kick me out. He does that shit to both me and Mandy."

"Yeah, well, after what Tristan and Terry did to Micah and all of you, there's nothing they can fucking do to me that's any worse than taking my brother away from me," Malcolm replied. "Terry doesn't have anything over me, so if he wants to threaten me, he can go for it. He doesn't have anything to threaten me with."

Natalia nodded in understanding. "Ah, I see. This is also about you defying the men that killed Micah without getting you or anyone else killed."

"Maybe," Malcolm answered. "You can say no. I don't care either way. But lately you guys are the only friends I have, so..."

Natalia looked at  Malcolm sympathetically, nodding barely. "We'll definitely have to talk about this, but, uh... I'm running out of options, so..."

"Yeah," Malcolm agreed. "Me too."

"Just... tell me how much you need from me, and I'll make it work," Natalia told him.

Malcolm nodded in agreement. "We'll make it work."

Natalia nodded.

⫷⑅⫸

Fisher-Ball House - Kev and V's Room

Veronica was laying in bed with her hands behind her head, while Kevin was underneath the blanket giving her oral, but she seemed far too distracted to feel anything. "Kev, come out."

Kevin peaked out of the blanket, wiping his mouth. "You done?"

"Why are we getting married?" Veronica asked.

"What?" Kevin asked.

"Other than the presents and the booze, can you tell me three good reasons why you want to get married?" Veronica asked.

Kevin laid down next to her. "Not really. Wait a minute. This isn't one of those tests, is it? Where I'm supposed to change your mind?"

Veronica scoffed a chuckle. "If it is, you just failed."

"You're saying you don't want to get married?" Kevin asked.

Veronica shrugged. "I mean, things between us are pretty great. I don't want to ruin it. Besides, we have a lot to worry about with everything about JJ, and..."

Kevin looked away, considering. "What would we tell people?"

"That the wedding's off," Veronica answered, giving him a look. "No one's damn business why."

"Yeah?" Kevin asked, as if surprised that would work.

"Yeah," Veronica answered.

"Well, great then," Kevin told her.

Veronica sighed. "Guess I gotta tell Mama."

"Oh, yeah," Kevin agreed. "That's gonna suck."

"She's on her way over to talk about the blessed event, and the adoption and Tristan and all that," Veronica explained.

"Sorry," Kevin apologized. "I know that after everything, you and JJ really don't wanna talk about Tristan since he's the reason why those guys went after the kids."

"Yeah," Veronica sighed. "But we gotta talk about it. And I am gonna miss getting a free KitchenAid mixer." She turned her head to look at Kevin. "Can you still register for gifts if you're not getting married?"

Kevin just looked at her, still lustful. "I got a gift for you."

Veronica grinned. "Yeah?"

Kevin nodded, going back down on Veronica. "Mm-hmm."

Both of them laughed.

⫷⑅⫸

Foyer

Carol was standing outside the front door with a garment bag with a white wedding dress inside, singing. "Here comes the bride / All dressed in white. Which I think you can still get away with, V."

JJ opened the door, smirking slightly in amusement. "Hey, Grandma."

Carol walked in, squealing with laughter and happiness, giving JJ a hug. "Oh, I can't believe it." Veronica and Kevin walked closer. Carol gave Veronica a hug. "I can't believe it."

"JJ, did you take your meds this morning?" Kevin asked.

"No," JJ answered.

They gave him a look.

"JJ, you have to take your meds," Carol told him.

JJ shook his head. "I can't. I can't."

"I will call Dr. Rhodes and find something else we can do," Veronica told him. "But--"

"Why would you do that?" JJ asked. "If you do that, they're gonna come for me. You wouldn't do that. Why would you call them?"

"Because we're trying to help you, JJ," Kevin answered. "What's wrong?"

"I don't--I don't feel good when I'm on medications," JJ answered. "I'm so much clearer without them."

"You've gotta take your medication," Carol told him.

"Why don't you just take your medication?" Veronica asked.

There was a knock on the door.

Kevin opened the door, seeing a teenage boy outside.

The boy had a camera. "Can I do an interview for a school project on mental illness?"

"No," Kevin answered, slamming the door closed.

"It's for a school project!" the boy called.

Kevin turned to Carol, Veronica and JJ. "Don't pay any attention."

"Who's that?" JJ asked. "That's not Rick D'Angelo, is it?"

"That's him," Veronica answered.

"He's the one that's spreading stories about me at school?" JJ asked.

"People are stupid," Kevin told him. "They don't know what they're saying."

"Don't let them get to you," Veronica agreed.

"JJ, please," Carol told him. "You have to take your meds."

JJ was really frustrated. "Why, or else Kev and V will send me away to some psych ward or whatever?"

Kevin and Veronica frowned.

"Whoever gave you that idea?" Carol asked.

"Ask them, how they're always whispering but when I come into the room, they shut up," JJ replied.

Kevin sighed, closing his eyes. "JJ, you do have a real risk of going to a place like that, not because of us, but because of the system."

"Anya did get you a chance to be with us, so that we can take care of you," Veronica explained. "But in order for this to work, you have to keep going to your sessions with the school counselor, and Dr. Rhodes, and you have to take your medications."

"And if I don't?" JJ asked.

"They'll take you away," Kevin answered. "And we won't be able to adopt you."

JJ frowned, none of them happy at all.

Carol took JJ's hand. "Look, you've been in a bad foster home situation before, when Tristan was spiraling and Eliana left. Off and on for most of your life. We can't let you go back to that. But we need your help here."

"We need you to work with us on this," Veronica agreed. "Please, JJ."

JJ was conflicted and upset, tilting his head, sighing.

Kevin held up the morning pills, and JJ hesitated before taking the pills, washing them down with water.

Veronica, Kevin and Carol sighed in relief.

"Thank you," Kevin told him. "Dr. Rhodes said that it might take the meds a few days to actually stay in your system for long, and to work, but..."

"So I'm still gonna have hell days for the next couple of days, before I'm all foggy and out of it?" JJ asked, nodding sarcastically. "Great. Just great."

Carol rubbed JJ's shoulder comfortingly. "It'll be okay."

Veronica looked between JJ and Carol. "There's something else we need to talk about."

⫷⑅⫸

Living Room

The Fisher-Balls sat in the living room, after Kevin and Veronica explained that they wanted to call off the wedding.

Carol was distressed. "I can't believe this. What happened?"

"Nothing happened, Mama," Veronica answered.

"How could you do this to me?" Carol asked.

Veronica sat down next to JJ and Carol. "Look, Mama, nothing's gonna change. Kev and I are still together, we're still working on adopting JJ."

"Yeah, Mama--" Kevin started.

Carol gave him a side eyed look. "Don't call me 'mama'."

"We're just cutting out all the paperwork, right?" Kevin asked. JJ shrugged in agreement. "You know, and besides, until gay people..." Veronica looked confused. "Can get married in this state..." JJ and Carol gave Kevin a confused look. "I'm not gonna."

"What the hell does that have to do with anything?" JJ asked.

Kevin shrugged slightly, looking down.

Carol looked at Veronica. "This isn't what your father wants. You know that, don't you?"

"Daddy's dead, Mama," Veronica told her. "He doesn't want anything."

"Wish mine was," JJ whispered to himself.

Carol gave Veronica a look. "Your daddy, rest his soul, wants to see his little girl married. And he'd be so proud of you for what you're doing for JJ, getting him away from Tristan, but he would want to see you do something for yourself, too."

Veronica sighed. "Look, Mama, all--"

"He set a little something aside for you, for once you finally settled down," Carol explained.

Veronica raised an eyebrow. "A little what?"

JJ and Kevin exchanged a look.

"Daddy left you money for your first home once you got married," Carol answered.

"A house?" Veronica asked.

Carol nodded. "He thought it might keep you from being somebody's baby mama."

"How much?" JJ asked.

Carol shook her head. "I don't know." She looked at Veronica. "He wanted the envelope opened on your wedding day. Now I guess we'll never know."

JJ, Veronica and Kevin shared a look, knowing they needed whatever money they could get for the adoption and JJ's medical bills.

Veronica looked at Carol. "I just... I never knew how much it meant to Daddy."

"The world," Carol answered.

Veronica placed a hand on Carol's shoulder, looking at Kevin. "Maybe we should reconsider, babe."

Kevin let out a nervous chuckle. "But what about the gay people?"

"They got their parades, they can wait," Veronica replied.

(Song:) Holla At Me - KU

Kevin sighed heavily, sitting back in his seat, running his hand through his hair. "It's hot. I'm hot. Are you guys hot?"

Kevin fanned out his long sleeve over shirt, taking the shirt off, wearing a black T-shirt underneath.

JJ raised an eyebrow in confusion, noticing how off Kevin was acting.

⫷⑅⫸

Gallagher House - Bathroom

Fiona was going pee into a cup, finishing up, standing, waddling out of the bathroom with her pants still down (the door had been open).

⫷⑅⫸

Kitchen

Fiona pulled her underwear and pants up, placing the pee cup on the counter, walking over to the sink to wash her hands.

There was a knock on the door. "Fiona."

Fiona walked over to the door, opening it, letting a woman with a baby and a lasagna pan inside. "Hi."

"Hey," the woman replied, noticing the pee cup on the counter where Fiona had placed it. "Oh, it's fresh?"

"And clean as a whistle," Fiona answered.

The woman gave her the lasagna pan. "Thanks, Fiona. You have no idea what this means to me."

Fiona put the lid on the cup, placing the pan down on the counter. "Means you get to smoke weed and keep your government job and I get to eat."

"It's lasagna, straight from the oven," the woman explained. "Still warm."

Fiona handed her the pee cup. "So is this. Keep it that way if you wanna pass." The woman put the pee cup in her bra, turning around, walking toward the back door. Fiona carried the lasagna over to the table, calling up to the kids. "Lunch! Eat it or miss it, people."

"Thanks, bye," the woman told her, walking out.

The kids walked downstairs.

"What, more piss food?" Lip asked.

"You know it," Fiona answered.

Zia was the last one to walk downstairs, looking out of it.

Noticing her disoriented look and wanting to cheer her up, Lip reached out to tickle Zia on the sides, making her jump in surprise and turn to him. "Hey."

Zia hit his hands. "Don't do that, Lip."

The other siblings smiled.

"Aw, so cute," Ian teased.

Lip ruffled Zia's hair. "She knows it too."

Zia narrowed her eyes at Ian and Lip, walking toward the table with Carl and Debbie.

Lip, Kimberly, Fiona and Ian smiled slightly at seeing more of a reaction from her today, even if it wasn't much.

"All right," Kimberly said, placing Liam down in his chair.

Zia, Carl and Debbie sat at the table.

Ian went to wash his hands.

Lip went to grab cups. "Cup-a-lasagna, anyone?"

"Right here," Ian answered.

Lip brought the cups over to the dinner table.

Kimberly took half of the cups from Lip so they could pass them out between the kids, setting one out for themselves, and one for Ian.

"Who was on dishes today?" Fiona asked.

Ian looked at her sheepishly. "Uh, I'll get them after lunch."

Natalia, JJ and Veronica walked in.

Natalia was carrying drinks. "Drinks to go!"

"Yay!" Carl cheered. "Thanks, Natalia."

"Seriously," Lip agreed.

Natalia handed out the soda drinks to each one. "Knock yourselves out."

Relieved to have drinks paired with lunch, they all started sipping on their drinks.

"Hey, Kimberly, ready to head out for our first location for the wander project?" JJ asked.

"Yeah, after lunch," Kimberly answered.

"Oh, piss lasagna, huh?" Natalia asked.

"Yep," Fiona answered. "Knock yourselves out."

"Especially since you're not supposed to take your meds on an empty stomach," Veronica agreed, giving JJ a look.

JJ rolled his eyes, grabbing a piece of lasagna, sitting down at the counter. "Hunger is a big problem in this country. So is obesity, which is confusing. Conflict of America, my friends. Two sides of the same fucking coin."

Natalia sat down in the other chair at the counter, grabbing some lasagna. "Dude, what the fuck are you talking about?"

JJ shrugged.

There were some chuckles and laughs from the others.

Ian walked past Natalia and JJ on the way to the table. "Oh, you take your meds already?"

"I think you mean finally," Veronica told him.

JJ made a 'talking' motion with his hand for 'blah blah blah' to tease Veronica, causing the others to smirk.

Veronica looked at the lasagna. "That's either vomit or fancy cheese."

"Can be both if you want," Carl replied.

Debbie looked at Kimberly and JJ. "What's the first place you're going to for your project?"

"Millennium Park," Kimberly answered. She looked at JJ. "Should be a nice distraction, right?"

"Yeah, right," JJ agreed, taking a bite, then a drink of the soda that Natalia gave him.

Lip looked at Natalia. "What took you so long for drinks?"

"Yeah, you're welcome," Natalia replied, causing Lip to smirk. "Uh, Malcolm actually offered me a place to stay."

"Really?" Zia asked.

"Yeah," Natalia answered. "I mean, not for free, like you guys were offering. More like a roommate type of deal where we split the bills for everything."

"That's cool," Ian told her.

Zia nodded, still numb. "Yeah."

"Which means you might still end up living next door like we joked," Lip pointed out.

Natalia chuckled. "Yeah."

Fiona looked at Natalia. "Sure you wanna do that? A lot of responsibility."

"I've got responsibility handled," Natalia replied.

"And you kids have been hanging out with Malcolm a lot since he moved in next door," Veronica pointed out. "As long as you're not on the street anymore, Natalia, I think we'd all be happy."

The kids all nodded in agreement.

"Hell yeah," Kimberly answered. "Besides, having our best friend next door?"

"That'd be awesome," JJ agreed.

Natalia chuckled. "Thanks, guys."

"Zia, Debs, you ready to go to Target?" Veronica asked.

"Oh, yeah," Zia answered. "Sure."

Debbie nodded in agreement.

Kimberly looked at Veronica. "Target?"

"Z and Debs are gonna go help me register for wedding gifts," Veronica explained.

Kimberly fed Liam.

"I thought the wedding was off," Fiona said in confusion.

"Back on," JJ replied.

"Kev know?" Fiona asked uneasily.

"Duh," JJ answered. Veronica walked over to JJ, stealing a bite of his lasagna, causing him to complain comedically. "Hey! V! Seriously?"

Ian, Lip, Natalia and Kimberly smirked.

Zia raised an eyebrow, eating her lasagna.

"Damn," Veronica said. "Tell that girl I will crap on a paper plate for her if it gets me some of this grub."

Kimberly finished up, standing, looking at JJ. "You ready?"

"Yeah, now I am," JJ answered. "Let's go."

⫷⑅⫸

Outside

JJ and Kimberly walked outside, grabbing two bikes from nearby.

JJ noticed Rick nearby with his camera. "Get the hell outta here with that camera before I shove it up your ass, dickhead."

Rick ran off.

"Was that Rick D'Angelo?" Kimberly asked.

"Yeah," JJ answered. "Apparently he wants to interview me for a school project on mental illness."

"He's the one spreading stories about you," Kimberly realized. "Shit."

"Yeah," JJ agreed.

"I'll happily help you kick his ass," Kimberly told him.

JJ and Kimberly exchanged a smirk, before getting onto the bikes, and riding away.

⫷⑅⫸

South Region Health Clinic - Waiting Room

Frank was still waiting, getting some hand sanitizer from the front desk, rubbing it over his hands, before getting some more to rub along his arms, then some more for the exposed skin on his legs, then some more for his face.

The man behind the front desk gave Frank a weird look.

Finally, his name was called. "Francis Gallagher."

"Yeah," Frank agreed, walking away.

The man put away the hand sanitizer.

(Song Ends)

⫷⑅⫸

Examining Room

Frank was getting his check up.

The doctor was smoking. "Drop your pants."

"I don't see how that has any bearings on my migraines," Frank admitted.

"Me neither, but it's on the state form," the doctor replied. Frank stood. "Drop them, sailor." Frank lowered his pants. The doctor blew on her hands, before grabbing Frank's crotch. "Yeah."

Frank gasped. "Still cold."

"Cough," the doctor instructed. Frank gave a cough. "Again." Frank gave a cough. "Again." Frank gave a cough. The doctor let him go, taking off her gloves, throwing them away. "That's weird. Have you ever done a testicular self-examination?"

Frank pulled his pants back on, turning to face the doctor. "Oh, God, no. I say leave those three bad boys down there alone."

"Yeah, well, that's the problem," the doctor told him. "Should only be two testicles invited to this party."

The doctor wrote on a piece of paper, ripping it from her pad, handing it to Frank.

"What's this?" Frank asked.

"I need you and your testicles back here tomorrow for a biopsy," the doctor answered.

Frank frowned, confused. "So I got an extra passenger onboard. What's the big deal?"

"Normal number's two," the doctor answered.

"Not for me," Frank replied. "Third guy's always been there. He's my lucky charm. Gave me eight kids."

The doctor spat on her hand, putting her cigarette out on her hand. "Probably benign, then. You're smart not to worry until you do a biopsy. Gives you something to worry about."

The doctor walked away.

Frank put a hand over his crotch, frowning.

⫷⑅⫸

Target

Veronica and Debbie were standing at the counter to get registered for gifts.

Zia was sitting on a bench nearby, looking off into the distance, unable to help it when her mind slipped into a state of a stupor.

In her nightmare/daydream, Micah appeared next to Zia on the bench. "I'm dead in the ground, and you're helping her register for wedding gifts?"

"Leave me alone," Zia whispered.

"How can I leave you alone when you're going to let everyone forget about me?" Micah asked. "The cops don't care about what happened to me. No one cares."

"We care," Zia said softly.

"Then prove it," Micah told her.

"How?" Zia asked meekly, almost without sound.

"You have to get them to notice, Zia," Micah told her. "You have to make them care. Find out who did this to me and make them pay. Or you're just letting them get away with killing your best friend. Almost killing all of your siblings and friends. And destroying you. You want to feel alive again, Zia?" He raised his voice angrily, loudly. "Then go out there and do something about it! Otherwise you deserve what happened to me too!"

Zia flinched, tears in her eyes, looking down.

In reality, Zia was still in her stupor, eyes glassed over, numb and staring into space, unblinking, body mostly unmoving, except for her hand clawing into her arm, digging and scratching to the point of pain, leaving trails of red, raw skin that started to split.

Veronica and Debbie walked away from the counter, seeing Zia.

Debbie noticed Zia in her stupor, walking closer hurriedly, placing a hand on her arm. "Zia."

Veronica walked closer in concern, noticing Zia's scratching, taking her hand away from her arm so she would stop. "Zia, no."

Zia snapped out of her stupor, looking up at them with sadness and pain in her eyes, confused and disoriented, looking around to make sure that Micah was gone, that it wasn't real, but she was so confused and lost about what was real or not anymore. "Debbie? V?"

"Hey," Veronica told her softly. "Are you okay?"

Zia shook her head, looking down, sniffling, tears burning in her eyes.

"Did you see Micah again?" Debbie asked.

Zia nodded.

"Come on," Veronica told her. "Let's take you two back home."

Zia held her arm in pain, which had bled slightly because of how badly she scratched her arm. "It burns."

"I got something at home that can take the sting out of the burn, okay?" Veronica asked. "It's gonna be just fine."

Debbie pulled Zia up from the bench. "Come on. When we get home, we can play Mario Party 2 with Carl, okay?"

Zia nodded, sniffing. "Okay."

Veronica wrapped an arm around both Zia and Debbie as she led them out of the store. "Come on, girls."

⫷⑅⫸

Trail

JJ and Kimberly were riding their bikes down a trail. Both of them were carefree for the moment, smiling at each other.

"Where would you go if you could go anywhere?" JJ asked.

"California," Kimberly replied instantly. "It's warm and it never snows. I fucking hate Chicago winters."

JJ laughed lightly. "You and me both. Don't you wanna know where I'd go if I could go anywhere?"

Kimberly tilted her head with a smile. "Where would you go if you could go anywhere?"

"I'd go to a place no one's ever been before," JJ answered. "Undiscovered. Untouched. You could come... if you want."

"Well, we're literally about to see the main tourist, wonder traps of Chicago, which we've never actually been to before, so there's something for you," Kimberly pointed out.

JJ chuckled. "True, true."

⫷⑅⫸

Millennium Park

JJ and Kimberly reached Millennium Park, walking through the park, taking pictures of everything around, of the crowd, of the structures of the park, including of 50 foot fountains and so much more.

JJ hopped on top of one of the fountains.

Kimberly looked at him in amusement. "What are you doing?"

Standing on the ledge of the fountain, JJ turned to face Kimberly, holding out his hand. "Get on up here, Kimberly. Come on. Come on, the view is incredible." Kimberly smiled, looking around, before walking to the fountain, taking JJ's hand, climbing up onto the ledge, looking over the view of the park. "Nice."

"Nice," Kimberly replied. "Let's jump. One, two, three."

Kimberly and JJ jumped down from the fountain, landing lightly on their feet.

JJ took out a handful of buttons. "These are what we leave behind. Leaving our mark on these wonders of Chicago." Kimberly smiled. "Pick one." Kimberly took one. "Yeah, that's a good choice."

JJ tossed a button into the fountain.

Kimberly tossed her button into the fountain.

They looked at each other and smiled, walking along through the park, taking pictures of everything around them.

⫷⑅⫸

Gallagher House - Kitchen

Zia, Veronica and Debbie sat at the kitchen table.

Veronica was applying ointment to Zia's arm to help take the sting of the burn away. "We need to trim those nails so you can't do this for a little while, okay?"

Zia nodded. "Okay."

Veronica took some nail clippers, carefully cutting Zia's nails, filing them down so that there were no sharp parts left. "There we go. All done."

"Thank you, V," Zia whispered.

"Of course, Z," Veronica replied softly in concern. "All better."

"Yeah, until it happens again," Debbie replied.

Veronica gave Debbie a look. "Okay."

Lip and Ian walked downstairs, seeing Veronica with the first aid kit next to Zia and Debbie.

"What's going on?" Lip asked, concerned.

"I..." Zia trailed off, having a hard time explaining.

Veronica knew this, looking at Lip and Ian to help. "She had one of her states at the store and, well..."

Veronica gestured to Zia's arm.

"Scratching again?" Ian asked in concern.

"Yeah," Zia whispered.

Ian sighed, walking closer. "Zia..."

Zia looked up. "I'm sorry, Ian."

"You don't need to apologize," Ian told her.

"Yeah, you can't control it," Lip agreed.

Veronica looked at Zia. "You said you saw Micah again. You wanna talk about what you saw, or heard?"

Zia shook her head.

"Z..." Lip trailed off.

Zia sniffled, giving in. "He was blaming me. Everyone. For... 'forgetting him'."

"What do you mean, forgetting?" Ian asked.

"Because no one's doing anything to catch who did this, to him and JJ," Zia answered. "Said that if I didn't do something, I deserve to have it happen to me too."

"Deserve what to happen to you too?" Lip asked.

"What happened... to Micah," Zia answered softly.

"Zia, you know that's not true, right?" Ian asked in concern.

Zia looked down, not answering, which caused Lip, Ian, Veronica and Debbie to become more worried.

Zia wiped her eye when a tear fell.

Lip sat down next to Zia, wrapping an arm around her, kissing her head. "Hey, it's gonna be okay."

Carl walked downstairs. "What's going on?"

Ian and Lip looked at Debbie, nodding to the living room.

Debbie nodded, standing. "Carl, you're playing Mario Party 2 with me and Zia."

"I am?' Carl asked, looking at Zia to see she was in one of her bad states again, nodding. "Okay."

"Thanks, Carl," Ian told him.

Carl walked closer, holding out his hand. "Come on, Zia."

Zia looked at Ian and Lip, who both nodded.

"It's okay," Ian assured. "Go on."

Zia took Carl's hand, as they walked with Debbie into the living room to go play the game.

Veronica, Ian and Lip exchanged a worried look.

"Listen, we'll be okay here with all this," Lip told her. "You, uh... Kimberly and JJ are gonna be back soon. Natalia's making her deal with Malcolm about moving in next door, but, uh... you go do your wedding stuff. We'll be okay."

"You sure?" Veronica asked.

Ian nodded. "Yeah. Thank you, though, for doing all this."

"Of course," Veronica agreed. "Just, uh, keep an eye on her. I can talk to Dr. Rhodes, see if there's a way she could see Zia without much cost."

"That's if Fiona agrees," Ian pointed out.

"Well, it's looking like she's not gonna have much of a choice," Veronica pointed out. "I'll help you guys talk to her."

Ian and Lip nodded thankfully.

Veronica put a hand on Ian and Lip's arms before walking out of the back door.

Ian and Lip exchanged a look, looking into the living room toward Zia, Debbie and Carl where they started to play their game.

⫷⑅⫸

The Alibi Room

Fiona walked into the Alibi with Liam in her arms, walking over to the bar.

"Uh, pretty sure you can't bring a baby into a bar, ma'am," Kevin told her.

"And I'm pretty sure you can't get married if you already are," Fiona replied.

Kevin sighed. "I know, I know."

"Why the hell don't V and JJ know yet?" Fiona asked.

"Because I'm afraid to tell," Kevin answered.

Fiona gave him a look. "Kev!"

"I don't wanna put them through more hell than they already have been going through lately, Fi," Kevin told her. "JJ's almost died twice. His BPD or whatever, everything with Tristan and the adoption and... Jesus. It would break my heart to hurt V."

Fiona was sympathetic, but knew they couldn't keep this a secret. "Just tell them the truth, Kev. If you don't, I will." She put Liam's bottle on the bar. "Can you hit me with a milk refill?"

Kevin nodded, going to do just that.

Frank was sitting nearby at the bar, speaking to a man next to him. "The devil's in my balls, Billy. And he's coming for the rest of me."

Fiona glanced over at Frank. "Let's hope he can swim."

Fiona grabbed Liam's newly filled bottle, walking away toward the door.

"Why, Billy?" Frank complained. "Why me?"

"Because you're an asshole, Frank," Billy answered.

"Doc says it's probably benign," Frank stated.

"Look at Lance Armstrong, he had that ball cancer," Billy told him. "Ends up fucking a rock star."

Frank pointed at him. "That's right. That's--see?"

Just as Fiona was about to walk outside, Veronica walked in, giving Fiona a look. "I need to talk to you later."

"Why, what's wrong?" Fiona asked.

"Debbie, Ian and Lip will explain when you get home," Veronica stated. "It's about Zia." Fiona frowned, but immediately walked out of the bar after hearing that. Veronica walked toward the bar, looking at Kevin. "Hey, baby."

Kevin smiled. "Hey, hey! How you doing?"

Veronica lifted up the door on the bar to walk behind the bar, giving Kevin a kiss and a hug. "Okay, I know this is silly, but I'm really starting to get excited about this whole wedding thing." Kevin rubbed a hand over his face in guilt, walking out from behind the bar. "The gifts and the wedding, and being Mrs. Kevin Ball." Kevin chuckled nervously. Veronica walked closer. "You know old man Parson's place on 5th? I think we should buy it."

"What?" Kevin asked.

"You know, the one where the son went crazy and hit him with an ax?" Veronica asked. "It's for sale. We should start getting our stuff together. All the loans and credit scores and all that. Or we could just use the money to go further to JJ's adoption, but we might need the extra room, if we do have to get another foster kid in order to be able to save up to the adoption." Kevin walked away to the side, sitting down, a hand to his head. Veronica stepped closer to him. "What's the matter, babe?"

Kevin sighed, taking Veronica's hands in his. "I can't marry you, Veronica. I'm already married."

⫷⑅⫸

Night - Gallagher House - Living Room

Zia was looking at her arts and things, looking into the kitchen where Fiona, Kimberly, Ian and Lip were clearly talking about her and what happened that day.

"I still think that once the grief and PTSD wears off, that she'll be fine," Fiona told them. "That's all it is."

"You can't seriously still think that, Fi," Ian told her. "What about everything else that she's been going through."

"I know you're still stuck on the 'Gallaghers don't do therapy' thing, but Kimberly's right," Lip told her. "We don't know what could happen to Zia if this happens again and we're not around, like we weren't today."

"Yeah, but she was with V," Fiona pointed out. "That means she was okay."

"Yeah, this time," Kimberly replied. "But what happens if she's alone and no one's around, and it gets to be so much worse than just that? Seriously, think about what I said about Zia seeing someone."

"Kimberly, even if we believed in that kind of thing, we can't afford it," Fiona told her.

"There's some places that are willing to work with someone who can't afford it if it means that they don't hurt themselves or others," Kimberly replied.

"Kimberly's right, Fiona," Ian agreed. "Zia's gonna end up hurting herself worse than just scratching her arm or something if she keeps sleepwalking and waking up with knives."

"And she almost bashed Debbie with the killing bat, and she had it this morning too," Lip added. "And admitted that she doesn't know what's real and what's not. We've gotta do something."

Fiona frowned in concern, but not knowing what they could do. "Why isn't she telling me any of this?"

"Maybe because you called her selfish when she couldn't talk," Kimberly answered. "Might have something to do with it."

Fiona realized that she was right, looking away, sighing, kicking herself for saying that to her, looking toward Zia in the living room, in regret.

Zia looked away.

Fiona looked at Kimberly, Ian and Lip. "I'm not payin' for some 20-nothin', latte-drinkin', tweed-wearin' hypocrite who thinks they have any idea about my life."

"Zia's life," Ian corrected. "You mean Zia's life."

"There's nothing to be ashamed of for needing help to get better," Kimberly pointed out.

"And we might wanna make a decision and get something done before something else happens that puts us all through hell that we can't take back," Lip added. "I'm not losing Zia because of all of this when there might be a chance that we can do something to help her."

"Me neither," Ian agreed.

"And neither am I," Kimberly finished.

Fiona bit her lip in thought, not knowing what to do.

In the living room, was tired of listening, Zia took some paint and a big brush, walking up the stairs, making sure that they saw that she did, before going back downstairs and sneaking out of the front door without them noticing.

⫷⑅⫸

Street

Zia was standing next to a police car, painting it with her brush.

Tony walked out of the store in front of them, walking toward the car since it was his car, not seeing Zia at first since she was on the other side of the car, but noticed her when he had to walk around to fill the gas tank. "Zia? What are you doing?"

Zia jumped, turning to face him, looking to the side. "Hi, Tony."

Tony looked at his car, seeing what Zia was painting, which were letters, jagged and a little misspelled given she was six and dyslexic. "Is that supposed to say 'do something'?"

Zia frowned, looking at the words. "It doesn't?"

Tony knew what this was about, sighing sympathetically. "How about I take you home, hmm?"

Zia looked up at Tony, sheepish even while being numb. "I'm not in trouble?"

Tony shook his head. "No, if it was anyone else's car, maybe, but I get it. Trust me. Come on."

⫷⑅⫸

Fisher-Ball House - Kev and V's Room

Veronica and Kevin were sitting together on the floor of the room.

Kevin showed her a picture of him and his wife.

Veronica was numb, heartbroken. "She's beautiful."

"She's a headcase," Kevin said. "She used to throw plates at me. Couldn't handle her booze. That's how I got scars on the back of my neck. Baby, you have no idea how many times I wanted to tell you over the years. But the more time went on, the more unreal it all seemed."

Veronica pouted. "You look like a douchebag with that mullet." She tossed the picture down, running a hand through her braided hair. "Oh, I can't believe this."

⫷⑅⫸

Outside

Veronica, Kevin, JJ, Fiona and Kimberly were sitting outside on the balcony outside the Fisher-Ball house.

"Having a party?" Kimberly asked.

"More like pity party," Veronica answered. "Wedding's off."

"Again?" Kimberly asked.

"Kevin's already married," JJ explained. "Shame polygamy's a crime, huh?" Kevin and Veronica gave JJ a look. "Too soon?"

"Guess we can forget about the money," Veronica stated.

"Yeah," Kevin agreed.

Kimberly was thinking. "Maybe not."

"What do you mean?" Kevin asked.

"You don't actually have to get married," Kimberly pointed out. "Carol wants a wedding. So give her one."

Fiona loved where Kimberly was going with this, pointing at her. "I could get ordained online. Then we just don't file the license with the state."

Veronica grinned. "A fake wedding."

Kimberly and JJ started to laugh.

Kevin looked lost.

"Why not?" JJ asked. "You'd still be married. It just won't be legal."

"Yeah, but what's the point, then?" Kevin asked.

"All the free shit, baby," Veronica answered, laughing, leaning back, almost falling off the balcony they were on.

JJ, Kevin, Kimberly and Fiona all reached out to catch Veronica before she could fall, panicking slightly for a moment.

"Baby, come on," Kevin told her.

"Oh, damn," Veronica said. "That would've sucked."

"Showing up at your wedding fucking paralyzed and shit?" Fiona asked. "Yeah."

They laughed.

"No, but seriously think about it," Kimberly told them. "You still get the money that you could use to buy the house, or to put more toward JJ's adoption, or his therapy and medicine bills, the house bills, anything, all of it, split it up. Even if you can't put it all toward the adoption, at least it gives you more to use for the case."

JJ smiled at Kimberly. "You are a fucking genius, you know that?"

Kimberly smirked, giving a slight bow. "Thank you. I try, I try."

Veronica, Kevin and Fiona smiled knowingly, shaking their heads.

Veronica looked between Kimberly and Fiona. "Did Ian, Lip and Debbie talk to you two?"

"Ian and Lip did, yeah," Fiona answered. "And you guys are right. I know that. Zia needs help. I just... I'm not sure how we can afford it."

"Dr. Rhodes might be able to help," JJ pointed out.

"I've already been asking her," Veronica stated. "And yeah, it'll cost some, but... you guys gotta figure it out."

Kimberly sighed heavily, giving Fiona an 'I told you so' look. "Yeah, we know."

Fiona looked down in guilt.

They looked down when they saw Tony's police car pulling up to the house.

"Is that Tony?" JJ asked.

Tony got out of the car, opening the backseat door to let Zia out.

"Why the hell is Zia with him?" Kevin asked.

Fiona and Kimberly exchanged a look, quickly walking down from the balcony, down the steps and to the ground.

Kevin, Veronica and JJ exchanged a look.

Fiona and Kimberly walked toward Tony and Zia.

"Hey," Tony said. "Is this one yours?"

"Oh, my God," Fiona said. "Thank you. What'd she do?"

Tony gestured to his car and the words Zia left. "Graffitied my car."

Fiona and Kimberly looked at Zia in surprise.

"Once cops actually do something to stop a child murderer, maybe I'll stop," Zia replied, walking away toward the Gallagher house.

Fiona, Kimberly and Tony were left speechless by that.

⫷⑅⫸

Jackson House - Dining Room

Sheila was standing at the counter between the dining room and the kitchen, her dinner plate in front of her, reading from a pamphlet in her hands. "It looks a bit like Top Ramen in there, doesn't it?" She put the pamphlet down, taking their dinner plates over to the table, where Frank was already sitting. "Sweetie, would you like me to come with you to your biopsy?"

Frank shook his head. "No, it's probably nothing. A benign cyst. An ingrown hair."

Sheila made sure they had enough spaghetti. "Yes, I think you're right. You're gonna be just fine."

Sheila started to cry.

"Why the hell are you crying?" Frank asked.

Sheila sat down, sobbing. "I knew it was too good to be true. You're gonna die."

Eddie walked past them to carry a cross over to the basement through the kitchen.

Frank was distracted by Eddie. "Jesus, Sheila. I'm not gonna die. I haven't even had the biopsy yet."

Eddie stopped in the kitchen. "It was probably that nut-vise sex toy of hers that gave you the damn cancer. I'm gonna need the house next week for Bible study. We're doing the Passion play again. Might get noisy."

Frank watched Eddie walk downstairs into the basement with the cross.

Sheila stood, draping her arms around Frank's shoulders. "I have two plots... at Oak Woods Cemetery. One was for Eddie. Nothing would make me happier than to bury you in one of them." She whispered in Frank's ear. "Wait there for me."

Frank looked scared. "Oh, God. I'm gonna die."

⫷⑅⫸

Day Two

Morning - Fisher-Ball House - Backyard

JJ was throwing out burnt pancakes at what appeared to be a homeless man sleeping at the edge of the backyard of his house. "Hey! Here you go, old man."

Frank groaned as he started to sit up. "Who you calling old?"

Frank turned to see JJ, confused as to where he was.

JJ sighed, not amused or surprised. "Frank, what the fuck are you doing here?"

"I thought I was at my house," Frank replied.

"What happened to you and Sheila?" JJ asked.

"I, uh..." Frank trailed off. "I need a biopsy about a third testicle and she kept saying I was gonna die and where she would love to bury me, so I took off and got drunk, and... somehow ended up here."

JJ rolled his eyes. "Okay, weirdo. Goodbye." Frank frowned. "That means get up and get the hell out of here. Bye!"

Frank groaned, grumbling to himself as he stood, walking away.

JJ walked inside, closing the door.

⫷⑅⫸

Church - Priest's Office

Veronica, Kevin and Carol were speaking with a priest.

Carol looked at Veronica excitedly. "He married your father and I, Aunt Rochelle, Uncle Bobby, and cousin Jimmy with that first wife, with the cleft palate."

"A cleft palate is merely the mark God leaves when he kisses a person before they're born," the priest told them.

Carol rolled her eyes. "That girl's mama just skipped the folic acid."

The priest pointed to Veronica and Kevin. "I'm gonna need you both to come to my weekend Engagement Encounter retreat. It covers all of the Pre-Cana material necessary for you to get married with God's blessing."

Veronica and Kevin both looked overwhelmed.

"Uh, could you excuse us for just a second, please?" Kevin asked.

Carol nodded.

⫷⑅⫸

Hallway

Kevin and Veronica walked into the hallway to talk alone.

"Might be fun to do it at a church outing, huh?" Veronica asked.

"Veronica, that man in there is a priest," Kevin told her. "He's gonna require a license. A marriage license. And I'm pretty sure bigamy is still a felony in the state of Illinois. Why'd you let your mom drag us here?"

"You know Mama wasn't gonna take no for an answer," Veronica pointed out.

"What about Kimberly's idea?" Kevin asked. "Wasn't Fiona gonna marry us?"

"Relax, baby," Veronica told him. "I got this."

⫷⑅⫸

Office

Veronica and Kevin retook their seats.

"You know what, Mama, we already have someone that's gonna do the wedding for us," Veronica told her.

"Is this some healing hands, voodoo, wheat-grass jackass?" Carol asked. "Because that's not a wedding in the Lord's eyes. Tell them, Father. Tell them that is not a wedding in the Lord's eyes."

"Well, I know this," the priest stated. "That just like the honeybee, God has many eyes."

Carol gave Veronica a look. "Look, it has to be a priest. That's what your father wanted. That's what I want. And that's what the Lord wants."

⫷⑅⫸

Gallagher House - Kitchen

JJ and Natalia walked into the Gallagher house with breakfast.

"Good morning, bitches," Natalia greeted.

"I got bored and made a ton of pancakes," JJ explained. "I had to have Natalia help me carry it all over here."

"There's a bunch to go around," Natalia agreed.

Fiona peered down at the plates they placed on the counter. "Jesus, how many of them did you make? This will last us like three days."

"I told you," Natalia told her.

JJ shrugged. "A lot. Like I said, I was bored."

"You cooked?" Kimberly asked.

"Well, yeah," JJ answered.

"You never cook," Kimberly told him.

JJ waved them off. "The directions are on the box, relax." Natalia smirked. "I mean, I burnt the first ten, but I threw them at the homeless guy who was passed out in the backyard. Then he turned around and it was Frank."

"Waste of pancakes," Ian muttered.

The other Gallagher kids nodded in agreement, while Natalia and JJ snorted.

"Why the fuck was Frank at your place anyway?" Natalia asked.

JJ shook his head in confusion. "Something about three testicles and a biopsy and Sheila wanting to bury him if he dies. I don't fucking know."

This only made the others more confused.

"Well, thank you for breakfast," Kimberly told them, as they passed out pancakes to the kids.

Natalia looked at Zia at the table, walking closer, grazing a hand over her head, brushing back her hair. "Hey, criminal mastermind. Heard what you did last night."

Zia shrugged slightly. "They weren't doing anything about Micah."

"Hey, no judging," JJ told her.

"Just be careful, please?" Kimberly asked.

"And how about not doing that again?" Fiona added. "You're lucky it was Tony's car and that that he knew what you were doing and why."

"And that he brought you home without getting you in trouble," Ian added.

Zia sighed, tilting her head, looking up at Natalia. "You really moving in next door?"

Natalia smiled. "Yeah, it looks like it."

"You and Malcolm settle everything?" Lip asked.

"Yeah, for now," Natalia answered. "Practically already moved in, since I didn't have anything besides my bag before anyway. You guys wanna go with me on a furniture run later?"

"Yeah, why not?" Ian asked. "I think it's great, Natalia."

Kimberly gave Natalia a hug. "Oh, I'm so happy for you."

"Finally off the street," Lip agreed.

Natalia smiled, returning Kimberly's hug. "Thanks, guys." They pulled away. JJ patted Natalia on the shoulder. They all sat down to eat. Zia sat next to Natalia so they could hug. Natalia kissed Zia's head, looking up at Fiona. "Looks like I'll be around more often."

"Like I would notice the difference since you're always here when you get the chance anyway," Fiona replied, smirking.

The kids laughed lightly.

Veronica walked in, not happy. "Wedding's not gonna work."

"What happened?" JJ asked.

"Mama wants a real priest," Fiona answered.

"Sheila said she'd make your wedding dress," Debbie explained. "If you want."

"Oh, that's nice, but what good is the dress if I don't have a priest?" Veronica asked, walking over to get some pancakes.

"You could hire an actor," Debbie pointed out. "Remember the guy who played Elmo at my birthday party?"

"You remember that?" Fiona asked in surprise.

Debbie nodded. "He took his head off. It was traumatizing."

"Think an actor could work?" Kimberly asked.

"You know what?" Lip asked. "I can probably get Father Pete to do it, if Carl will help."

"What's it gonna cost me?" Veronica asked.

"Uh, Karen and I use your place Friday night?" Lip asked.

Ian, Kimberly and Natalia rolled their eyes.

JJ shook his head. "Uh, you think I want her in our house?"

Veronica tilted her head at JJ, before looking at Lip. "Done."

JJ groaned, causing Ian, Kimberly and Natalia to smirk.

Fiona looked at Lip. "Father Pete? The groper?"

"God willing," Lip answered.

"Why not just ask Malcolm next door to be an actor?" Natalia suggested. "I mean, Carol doesn't know him, does she?"

"No, she was out of town when everything went down," Veronica answered.

"I'd be more comfortable with Malcolm," Kimberly agreed, giving Lip a look. "Instead of using Carl as pedo bait."

"You think Malcolm would be up for acting as a priest though?" Ian asked. "I mean, after everything with..."

Fiona, Kimberly and Lip gave Ian a look, shaking their heads, as the four of them glanced over at Zia at the table.

Zia looked up.

"I can ask," Natalia answered.

Veronica nodded. "Ask Malcolm, and if he's not up to it, we go with Lip's idea."

Kimberly, Ian, Lip, Natalia and JJ nodded in agreement.

Carl walked past everyone with a jar filled with water and a gold fish, placing the jar in the microwave, starting it on a timer, turning to see the looks everyone gave him when they realized what he was doing. "What?"

Veronica picked up some ointment, walking over to Zia at the table, sitting down next to her. "Hey, Zia. Let me see your arm, okay?"

Zia nodded, holding her arm toward Veronica, so that Veronica could apply the ointment to Zia's scratch, making her wince slightly.

"You okay?" Kimberly asked.

Zia bit her lip, shrugging slightly.

Fiona walked closer in concern. "Hey, Z?" Zia kept her eyes down, still hurt by what Fiona said in 1.04. Fiona knew this, sighing, kneeling down to look her in the eyes. "I'm sorry about what I said, when you weren't talking. You're not selfish. At all. Okay? I just... I didn't know what to do or say to get you to talk again." Zia looked up at Fiona. "I'm sorry. Okay?"

Zia nodded barely. "Okay."

"Come here," Fiona whispered.

Once Veronica was done with Zia's arm, Zia stood and wrapped her arms around Fiona, desperately needing a hug from her big sister. Fiona wrapped her arms around her comfortingly, soothing her hair down.

The siblings, JJ, Natalia and Veronica watched sadly.

⫷⑅⫸

Kash and Grab

After ROTC, Ian walked into Kash and Grab.

Kash smiled slightly. "Better late than never."

Linda was standing behind the counter. "Even better on time. What's with the costume?"

"ROTC," Ian answered. "I made cadet lieutenant colonel today."

"You did?" Kash asked. "That's great."

"Yeah," Ian agreed.

"Congratulations," Linda told him dryly. "When I get back, I want the new stock shelved with all the labels facing the same direction."

Linda grabbed her jacket.

"Where are you going?" Kash asked.

Linda gave him a look. "Your head is like a funnel." She pulled on her jacket. "The Boy Scot trip is this weekend."

"They have Muslim Boy Scouts?" Ian asked.

"Similar," Kash answered. "Motto is still 'be prepared'. But you learn how to work with chemicals instead of tying knots."

Ian chuckled.

"The troop is sponsored by the Baptist church," Linda explained. "They give us free outfits and overnights and we let them think we're assimilating. Everybody wins." She walked to the door, looking back at Kash. "I'll be back Sunday night."

Linda walked out, leaving.

As soon as Linda was gone, Kash immediately turned to Ian, fixing his jacket. "Lieutenant colonel? I am so proud of you."

Ian chuckled nervously. "It's not that big of a deal."

"Linda and the boys are gone for two nights," Kash pointed out. "We're gonna have a whole night together to celebrate."

Ian smiled.

⫷⑅⫸

South Region Medical Clinic - Examining Room

Wearing a medical robe, Frank was glancing around at all the educational posters for men on the walls and the models on the table nervously. After a second of consideration, Frank stood, grabbing his clothes, about to leave.

The door suddenly opened, hitting Frank, making him drop his clothes and groan in pain as he turned away.

The nurse stepped inside. "God, I'm sorry."

"Oh, Jesus Christ," Frank groaned. "Was that the biopsy? God, right in the--"

The nurse helped Frank sit down on the bed. "Here, let's take a look. I'm just gonna take a look."

The nurse looked down, moving her gloved hand around.

Frank raised his eyebrows. "Okay, well, that is definitely better."

The nurse looked at him skeptically. "I think you're okay."

"Well, now, yeah," Frank replied.

The nurse held up a razor. "I'm just gonna shave you, okay?"

Frank laid down, sighing nervously. "I've never been shaved down there before."

"Just a small section," the nurse explained, doing as she said. "Okay. Oh."

Frank raised his head to look at her. "I'm sorry about that. Maybe I could come back later and you could shave the other two."

"There, all done," the nurse told him.

"Ooh," Frank said. "Feels like spring."

Frank looked up again.

The doctor walked closer with a needle. "Wish I could say this wasn't gonna hurt."

When the doctor injected the needle, Frank screamed.

⫷⑅⫸

Jackson House - Living Room

Sheila was doing measurements on Veronica for her dress.

Zia, Debbie, Kimberly, Natalia and Fiona were all here as well.

Fiona was getting drinks.

Zia and Debbie were sitting on the floor over plastic that Sheila had put down so that they could use Zia's arts and crafts to stay busy and focused without making a mess.

Kimberly and Natalia sat on the couch.

Karen was sitting at the dinner table.

"You don't have to go crazy, Sheila," Veronica told her. "But as close to Vera Wang as you can get."

"You are going to make a beautiful bride," Sheila complimented.

Veronica smiled. "Oh, Sheila, you're making me feel like Cinderella."

Fiona walked over to the girls (aside from Karen) to give them their drinks.

"Screw Cinderella," Karen replied. "Little doe-eyed bitch. Probably one of the worst role models for little girls."

Kimberly scoffed softly. "No. I think the worst role models are girls who sleep with different guys every night, even though they said they were going to be exclusive with someone. Just my opinion, though."

"What?" Karen asked. She looked at Natalia. "As opposed to not getting laid since freshman year?" She looked at Kimberly. "Or being a virgin?"

Natalia rolled her eyes, looking down.

Kimberly shrugged. "It beats getting an STD at the age of 12."

Sheila tried to stop the tension. "I think Cinderella was a feminist."

"The whole idea of marriage is a useless vestige of an archaic civilization," Karen told them.

"How would you know?" Debbie asked snarkily.

Zia looked up. "Yeah. You don't even have a boyfriend. You have fuck buddies."

Kimberly, Natalia and Veronica laughed.

Fiona tried not to laugh, looking at Zia in surprise. "Zia!"

"What?" Zia asked. "Lip and Natalia said it, not me."

Natalia shrugged. "Well, she's not wrong."

Karen glared at Kimberly, Natalia and Zia.

Kimberly snickered, whispering to Fiona. "I bet she's fun at parties." Fiona shook her head in amusement. "I mean, seriously. Way to rain on Veronica's parade. It's her wedding day tomorrow, for fuck's sake. Why is she acting like somebody just killed her dog?"

Fiona gave Kimberly a look. "Might have something with you, Natalia and our little sisters roasting the hell out of her."

"It's what she deserves," Zia muttered.

Kimberly and Natalia pointed to Zia in agreement.

Karen looked at Debbie. "And to answer your question, because I watched one unravel."

"Oh, so one example of a bad one makes them all bad, hmm?" Debbie asked.

"In olden times, marriage was nothing more than a legal exchange of women for property," Karen stated.

Veronica frowned, not happy with Karen trying to ruin this for her.

Fiona gave Karen a look. "Maybe you're being a little pessimistic."

"It's just a piece of paper," Karen remarked.

"And a birth certificate is just a piece of paper," Debbie replied. "But that has value. Money is just a piece of paper."

"Yet that buys us almost anything we need," Natalia agreed.

"And we're human beings that live on a floating ball that could just decide to fall through space at any given moment," Kimberly stated. The girls looked at her quizzically. "Yeah, too dark."

"I think that's more pessimistic," Natalia told her.

"Yup," Zia agreed.

Kimberly nodded, pressing her lips together. "My bad."

Veronica looked at Fiona, Kimberly and Natalia. "Let's talk bachelorette party."

Fiona smiled. "I got that covered. Don't worry."

Veronica smiled. "Oh, you better." Fiona nodded with a hum. Veronica sang jokingly. "'Cause we gonna be doing it."

Debbie smiled, standing up, as Veronica and Debbie did a little dance.

Fiona, Kimberly and Natalia danced around on the couch from their seats. "Uh-huh."

Zia looked up at them, slight amusement in her eyes.

Kimberly laughed. "Single ladies, go on."

Zia swayed a little from side to side from where she sat on the floor, but otherwise did not move.

⫷⑅⫸

Cancer Support Group

Frank sat in the cancer support group.

"Feeling sick," a woman admitted. "Feeling tired. Seeing more of my oncologist than I see my whole family. The hardest thing for me to accept is the fact that I can't fix this. I'm used to being the mom, you know? The one who takes care of everyone and everything. The fixer. And this is breast cancer." She shook her head emotionally, voice breaking. "I can't fix this."

Frank placed a hand on her shoulder. "Just knowing your tits are trying to kill you. That's gotta sick. I mean, mine's in my balls. So they've got a reason to be pissed. Tucked between two legs, wedged right near your asshole. There's no good way to sit, no underwear that's been devised to hold them effectively in place. They're a bizarre appendage. An afterthought. Which is why I don't believe in intelligent design. There is no God. We're all gonna die."

The group was deeply upset after hearing what Frank had to say.

⫷⑅⫸

Malcolm and Natalia's House - Living Room

Malcolm let Lip, Ian, JJ and Carl into the house.

"Do you have anything to drink?" Carl asked.

"Yeah, right in the kitchen, buddy," Malcolm answered.

"Thanks," Carl replied, walking into the kitchen.

Malcolm looked at Lip, Ian and JJ. "So Natalia said something about acting like a priest?"

"Yeah," JJ answered. "And look, it wouldn't be free, either. I could give you some cash to make up for it."

Malcolm raised his eyebrows, sitting down on the couch behind him, which was one of the only pieces of furniture the house had. "Hmm."

Lip looked around. "Wow. Natalia wasn't kidding when she said you didn't have much."

"Yeah," Malcolm agreed. "Well, all the money I got is keeping this place, so..."

"That's why you asked Natalia to be a roommate," JJ finished. "You know, other than defying Tristan and Terry for all the shit they've pulled against us and you, and... Micah."

"Yeah," Malcolm replied.

"Just..." Ian trailed off. "Okay, we're really relieved that Natalia's finally getting off the street and getting a place to stay for real, a place that can't be pulled out from under her again, but... both of you, please be careful."

Malcolm nodded in agreement. "Yeah, she gave me the speech. Don't worry. I'm not gonna do anything stupid. Letting Natalia stay here is as much for me as it is for her, because I can't pay bills, plus get food and furniture and shit."

"Right," Lip agreed. "Just, uh... wanted to make sure you both knew what you were doing."

"You're protective of her and you don't really know me, so I get it," Malcolm told them.

"Well, we know you better now since you've moved in, and we've been hanging out," JJ pointed out. "And with the cash you get for being our pretend priest, then at least you guys can get some decent things in here. Beds, you know, a better couch."

"True," Malcolm agreed. "What was your other option?"

"Hmm?" Ian asked.

Malcolm smirked, chuckling. "Your other option besides asking me to act as a priest."

Carl walked in with soda from the kitchen. "As Kimberly called it, I was gonna be 'pedo bait' for Father Pete at his church."

"The groper?" Malcolm asked.

"Bingo," Ian answered.

Malcolm shook his head. "Yeah, we don't need to do all that. I can do it."

Ian, Lip, Carl and JJ smiled.

"Thanks, Malcolm," JJ told him.

"Yeah," Malcolm agreed. "I, uh... can't stay locked up forever, so... yeah, I'd like to help."

The other boys nodded in understanding, thanks.

Carl held up his soda. "Thanks for the soda, Malcolm."

"Any time, Carl," Malcolm told him. "I do have to head to work though, so let me know what you guys got planned."

The boys nodded in agreement.

⫷⑅⫸

Outside

Malcolm walked out of his house and down the street to head to work.

While Carl ran over to the Gallagher house, Ian, Lip and JJ followed more slowly.

"You wanna watch Scarface again tonight?" Lip asked.

"Can't, got a date," Ian told them.

JJ raised an eyebrow. "Ooh. Natalia date or Kash date?"

"Kash date," Ian answered.

Lip smirked teasingly. "You're a slut, man."

Ian smiled.

JJ chuckled, shaking his head.

⫷⑅⫸

Night - On the Road

Steve was driving one of his stolen cars, while Fiona was in the passenger seat.

"Fake priest?" Steve asked.

"Yeah, JJ's giving Malcolm some cash to be the pretend priest for Kev and V's wedding," Fiona answered. "And we're not gonna file the license."

"Little immoral, don't you think?" Steve asked. "Lying to God's face."

"Really?" Fiona asked sarcastically. "Mr. Morality? Whose car is this that we're in?"

Steve shrugged slightly. "Zia really graffitied Tony's car?"

"Yeah," Fiona answered. "I think the cops not doing anything to find out about Micah's killer, who almost killed all the kids, is the only thing that can really get her to feel anything, so of course she feels anger about that."

"Right," Steve agreed. "Can't really blame her."

Fiona raised her eyebrows. "Are you still picking up the cake?"

Steve nodded. "Angelica's Bakery."

Fiona got an idea. "Can Kev and V use this car for their big exit after the reception?"

Steve considered. "Yeah, I think that could work. I just--I need it back right after."

"Okay," Fiona agreed.

"Can't do anything bad to it," Steve added. "No sex in it."

Fiona looked at him in amusement, sultry. "No sex in it?"

Fiona leaned closer.

"I just need this thing in perfect condition," Steve explained. Fiona unzipped Steve's pants, running her hand down his groin. "All right, Fiona, I just..." Steve lost focus on driving as Fiona was giving him a hand job, breathing heavily, swerving and speeding just slightly. "Whoa." They both laughed, until they heard a cop car behind them. "Damn it!"

Steve pulled over.

Fiona took her hand away from Steve. "Jesus."

"Relax, relax," Steve advised. "It happens."

"Yeah, what happens, prison time?" Fiona asked.

Tony got out of the cop car behind them, walking up to the car, gesturing for Steve to roll his window down, which he did. "Hey. Fiona, I thought that was you."

Fiona gave a thin smile. "Your uniform looks different."

Tony nodded. "Yeah, they issued new coats this morning. See you at Kev and Veronica's wedding tomorrow?"

"Yeah," Fiona replied.

Steve looked at Fiona.

"And Zia, how is she after last night?" Tony asked.

"She's... the same, mostly," Fiona answered. "Thank you so much, by the way."

"It's no issue," Tony assured. "She's been through enough." Fiona nodded. Tony looked at Steve. "I need your license and registration."

Steve looked at him. "What? Why? Officer, sir."

"Well, you were doing 35 in a 25," Tony answered. "There was some swerving, kind of weird."

Steve took out his license, handing it to Tony. "Here's my license, but I don't have the registration. It's actually my friend's car."

"You really are supposed to have that on you at all times," Tony told him. "Let me see what I can do. I'll be right back."

"Okay," Fiona agreed. Tony walked back toward his car. "Why did you give him your license?"

Steve took out his phone. "That's not my real license."

"So now what, run?" Fiona asked.

"No, that never works," Steve answered, making a call. "Jesus, you got me? Yeah, thanks, buddy."

Steve hung up.

"Who's Jesus?" Fiona asked.

"Follow car," Steve answered. "Always use a follow car."

They heard gunshots.

Immediately, Tony got into his car and started to drive past Steve and Fiona, revealing that the side of his car was still graffitied, but the paint was fading like it had tried to be washed off.

Steve looked at the "DO SUMTHING" on the side of the car, while the G looked like a 6. "Yeah, I definitely don't blame Zia for that."

Fiona chuckled.

Tony circled the car around to stop next to the car with Tony's side toward Steve and Fiona as he tossed the license into the car to Steve. "Watch your speed, sir. See you at the wedding, Fi."

"Okay!" Fiona agreed.

Tony drove down the road, sirens blaring, lights flashing.

Steve looked at Fiona. "Out."

"What?" Fiona asked.

Steve reached across Fiona to open her car door. "Get out."

⫷⑅⫸

Outside

(Song:) Rock N Roll Heart (Album) - Silverhawk, Sam Densmore & John C. Densmore

Fiona and Steve got out of the car.

Steve ran to take the tags off the car on both sides.

"What about the car?" Fiona asked.

"Taken care of," Steve answered.

Steve took Fiona's hand, as they ran away down the street, both laughing.

Steve threw the tags away.

Fiona was high on adrenaline. "My heart's in my throat right now."

Steve smiled. "That's adrenaline. Kind of cool, isn't it?" Immediately without hesitation, Fiona and Steve started to make out heatedly, lust-filled, as they groped each other and Steve pushed Fiona against a wall in the alley that they had reached. They looked like they could have sex right then and there before they heard a car horn honking. Steve broke away. "See you at the wedding."

Fiona laughed. "What?"

"Angelica's Bakery, right?" Steve asked.

"Yeah," Fiona answered. "Right."

Steve ran toward the car waiting for him, getting into the passenger seat.

Fiona watched the car drive away, breathless with adrenaline and excitement.

(Song Ends)

⫷⑅⫸

The Alibi Room

Frank was sitting at the bar next to Billy, wearing a button up shirt and a tie. "I've decided to start wearing a tie every day. I could die at any moment. I thought it'd be nice to look my best for the grim reaper. Son of a bitch. You know what? Fuck him. Fuck him! Why give him the satisfaction? I'll do it myself. Take my own goddamn life." Billy was not responding, just gazing off. Kevin walked by. "You know what the real shame of it is, Kev? The real shame is there are so many things I still want to do."

"Oh, yeah, like what?" Kevin asked.

Frank had to think about it, running a hand over his face, getting emotional. "Jesus Christ, I don't know. I don't know! How sad is that? A man doesn't even know what he wants to do."

A man walked closer, doing "Whoo-hoo-hoo!"s as he tossed a bag to Kevin.

Kevin smiled. "Hey, what's going on? What's this?"

The man pointed to the bag. "You gotta wear it tonight for the bachelor party. Everyone's gonna wear one."

Kevin looked into the bag. "Andy, get the fuck out--"

"Don't be a dick, dude," Andy told him. "Fucking wear it."

"Bachelor party?" Frank asked, standing, walking closer.

Kevin nodded, taking pity. "Yeah, if you wanna go, you can come."

Frank did a little dance, clapping his hands, throwing his arm around Andy's shoulders. "What's the plan?"

"Uh, me and my friends are gonna get wasted and do stupid shit," Kevin answered. "But we gotta get you one of these."

Kevin handed Frank the bag.

Frank looked into the bag, laughing. "Awesome."

⫷⑅⫸

Kash's House - Bedroom

(Song:) Bedouin Market - APM Music

It was completely dark in Kash's room.

Kash opened the door, leading a blindfolded Ian into the house.

"Is the blindfold for surprise or so I don't know where you live?" Ian asked.

"Little of both," Kash replied. Ian laughed. Kash turned on the light, taking off the blindfold. "Ta-da."

Ian looked around the room, overwhelmed by the atmosphere. "Oh. Wow, yeah." Kash took off Ian's jacket. "This is your house." Kash took off his own jacket. "Where you live with Linda. And the kids."

"Right now, it's our house," Kash told him. Ian took off his shirt, laying down on the bed, face down. Kash knelt behind Ian, massaging his shoulders. Ian looked around, still overwhelmed, and getting more so by the second, hastily pushing himself up, away from the bed. "What's wrong?"

Ian looked around. "Sorry, it's just--it's too weird."

"What is?" Kash asked.

Ian grabbed his shirt and jacket. "All of your shit, it's--it's freaking me out. And it smells like goats in here."

Kash stood. "Ian, wait."

Ian stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

(Song Ends)

⫷⑅⫸

Club

(Song:) Jellybean - Video Nasties

At the club, all dressed nicely in club outfits, Kimberly, Natalia, Veronica and Fiona were partying for the bachelorette, holding onto poles, swinging around them, posing for pictures playfully, sensually, but not overly sexual, each one having a fun time, drinking until they were drunk.

For one of the pictures, Veronica and Fiona stood back to back against the pole, while Kimberly and Natalia were hanging from it above them, all looking beautiful and happy, carefree for the first time in a while.

⫷⑅⫸

Street

Kimberly, Natalia, Veronica and Fiona were making their way down their street to their homes.

Fiona looked at Kimberly and Natalia, laughing. "You were like those weird Chinese acrobats."

"You looked so cute and tiny while doing it," Veronica agreed.

They laughed, walking along until they saw Frank walking past, wearing a wig on his head and harness of cords around his body, holding a beer with a cigarette in his mouth.

"Jesus," Natalia said. "What the fuck, Frank?"

"Frank, what the hell happened to you?" Kimberly asked.

Frank continued walking. "Cord was too long. I got three nuts."

The girls watched Frank go, seeing the cords trailing behind him as he walked like a tail on the ground, bursting into laughter in their drunken states.

⫷⑅⫸

Day Three

Morning - Fisher-Ball House - Bathroom

Kevin was wearing his weird bachelor party outfit similar to Frank's without the cords, but wearing a big, puffy purple clown wig and markings all over his face that was mostly obscured by the wig, taking a piss, groaning, looking up into the mirror in front of him, seeing the markings, moving the wig to see that all of the markings were penises drawn across his face. "Fuck."

⫷⑅⫸

Flashback - The Night Before

Night - The Alibi Room

All of the boys were wearing similar wigs, including JJ, Lip and Malcolm.

Topless girls with short skirts and stockings were also wearing the wigs, dancing around.

Andy and Frank got the girls to give Kevin, JJ, Lip and Malcolm each a lap dance, which only made Kevin, JJ and Lip laugh, and Malcolm smirk and shake his head.

They were all drinking and blowing off much needed steam, having fun.

Once Kevin had passed out on the bar, JJ drew the penises on his forehead and cheek.

(Song Ends)

⫷⑅⫸

Now

Morning - Fisher-Ball House - Bathroom

Kevin immediately knew who did it when he saw his reflection. "JJ!"

JJ was in his room, pulling on his shirt, smirking. "That's what you get for keeping your secret for so long. If you had actually broke V's heart, I would've done much worse."

Kevin knew that that was justified, tilting his head. "Fair enough."

⫷⑅⫸

Hallway

JJ walked out of his room, looking around.

When he heard glass shattering, JJ tensed in paranoia, hearing something right around the corner, turning around the corner and instantly punching the intruder in the face, making the man cry out in pain as his nose started to bleed, tackling the intruder to the floor, pulling off his hoodie to reveal his face, shocked to see that it was his uncle. "Marty?"

Marty chuckled nervously. "Surprise, heh. Hell of a right hook, JJ. With Tristan for a dad, no wonder."

JJ scowled, not happy in the least. "You've gotta be fucking kidding me." He let Marty go, sitting back on the floor, sighing, completely exasperated. "V! Kev!"

Veronica and Kevin walked into the hallway, both too hungover to realize right away, but both were not thrilled with Marty's appearance either.

Veronica shook her head. "Oh, hell, no."

⫷⑅⫸

Gallagher House - Living Room

JJ, Kevin and Veronica were explaining to Kimberly and Fiona.

Fiona looked at Veronica. "I'm maid of honor, and I didn't know you had another brother other than Tristan."

"There's a reason for that," Kevin replied. "Veronica would also like to pretend that Tristan doesn't exist, but..."

Kimberly looked at JJ. "I think you told me about Marty one time." JJ nodded. "He busted out of prison?"

"Last night," JJ answered.

Veronica was pacing, on edge.

"What was he in for?" Fiona asked.

"Aggravated assault, larceny and arson," Veronica answered.

Lip walked downstairs. "Arson? Who you talking about?"

"V's brother," Fiona answered. "And no, not Tristan."

"Oh, is this a sibling-brother or just a black guy brother?" Lip asked.

"Actual brother," JJ answered. "Uncle Marty."

"You remember the fire at Curves in the mall?" Veronica asked. "That was him. He loves setting fire to things and he hates women. It was the perfect storm."

"He's nuts," Kevin told them. "No, I'm serious, he's nuts. He came at me. I had to fight my ass off. Then one time, I'm having a brew, he came up to me, all, 'Ass cunt fuck!' on me."

"Is he retarded?" Kimberly asked.

Veronica scoffed. "I wish. Tourette's coupled with bipolar disorder, drinking problem and Tristan driving him into the fucking asylum when we were kids."

"Yeah, my dad has been psycho long before now," JJ agreed. "According to V and Grandma, Tristan's the one that got Marty to be so bad."

"They're both wet dreams for shrinks," Veronica remarked.

Lip and Kimberly exchanged a look.

"You said that Tristan's the one that made him so bad?" Lip asked.

"Yeah," Kevin answered.

"And Marty just happened to bust out of prison the night before your wedding?" Kimberly asked.

JJ nodded to Kimberly and Lip like he had already realized this, furious at his father.

"What, you think Tristan broke Marty out of jail?" Kevin asked.

"Wouldn't shock me," Veronica admitted. "They've both been out to sabotage every little thing I do since we were kids."

"Would Tristan really do that?" Fiona asked.

"Oh, you'd be surprised what Tristan would do," Kimberly answered.

JJ gave Kimberly a look.

Fiona sighed. "What are we gonna do?"

"Kick Marty's ass back to prison, and pray that Tristan doesn't make an appearance himself," Veronica answered. "'Cause if there's two people you can always count on to fuck things up, it's my brothers."

⫷⑅⫸

South Region Medical Clinic - Examining Room

Frank had a wound on his head, bloodied up.

The doctor was shining a light into his eyes to check stimulus. "Bungee jumping, eh?"

"From the L tracks," Frank replied.

The doctor turned the light off. "Good news/bad. Your biopsy results came back negative. Tumor was benign, so you're not gonna die of testicular cancer."

Frank exclaimed in shocked relief. "Oh, thank God!" He threw his arms around the doctor in a hug. "So I can keep it?"

"Yeah," the doctor answered. "The swelling on your brain you probably got going on in there might end up doing you in."

"What?" Frank asked.

"I'm fucking with you," the doctor told him. Frank groaned, turning to grab his jacket. "Bump looks pretty superficial. But if you vomit more than twice, have any seizures, or experience memory loss, call 911."

Frank pulled on his jacket. "Well, what if I vomit while I'm having a seizure, and have no memory of it?"

"Tree in the forest, my friend," the doctor said.

Frank chuckled, confused. "What?"

Without waiting for an answer, Frank opened the door, walking out.

⫷⑅⫸

Fisher-Ball House - Kitchen

Marty was sitting at the table.

JJ walked closer with breakfast, playing nice at first. "Marty, I'm gonna ask you something, but I need your help first."

"Help?" Marty repeated. "You're only gonna trick me to do something stupid."

"I don't think I need to do much tricking to get you to do something stupid," JJ replied. "What, with your 1.0 average."

"You're a weirdo," Marty told him.

"And you're a dumbass psychopath like my father," JJ replied. "What's new? Speaking of Tristan, was he the one that helped you break out of prison last night?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Marty replied.

JJ nodded sarcastically. "Mm-hmm."

"But if Tristan did, he would definitely want me to raise a lot of--fuck, shit, damn it--hell," Marty stated, having an Tourette's moment in the middle of his sentence, before continuing on like nothing happened. "For you and for Veronica."

JJ rolled his eyes, not surprised. "Thank you for giving me my answer."

"What kind of idiot would give you an answer like that?" Marty asked.

"You," JJ replied. "You just did. I've taken shit from a lot of people in my life, but I refuse to take it from a criminal chipmunk like you, you and your stupid smirky little meerkat face."

"What are you gonna do about it?" Marty asked.

JJ took out his lighter, lighting a piece of paper with a small flame. "Well, might have to take a thing or two from you and Tristan. Because he's already tried to kill me once. And if you're partnering up with him, then you're an accessory to murder and attempted murders of minors. You really wanna go down that path, Marty? Big difference between what you have been in for."

"So, what, you wanna burn paper and shit?" Marty asked. "What's next, you gonna start burning people?"

"Why, do you wanna be the first?" JJ replied. "You tell Tristan that whatever he plans on doing, he's not gonna stop Kev and V from getting married. And he's sure as hell not gonna stop them from adopting me."

"He doesn't care about stopping them--" Marty cut himself off when he realized that he slipped up for real.

JJ nodded, looking away. "Mm-hmm. Thank you for confirmation."

"That doesn't prove anything," Marty replied.

"Maybe not, but at least I know that you'll be a good little lap dog and deliver my message," JJ replied. "I don't care what he wants to do. I don't want him coming around me or my friends and family again."

"How you gonna stop him, JJ?" Marty replied. "You can't even tell anyone, not really. Not without it backfiring on you and everyone you love. Again."

JJ glared at Marty. "Why would he break you out of prison to send you here if it wasn't to fuck with Veronica's wedding or the adoption?"

"That would just be a bonus, but not his real mission," Marty answered.

"And what's the real mission?" JJ asked mockingly.

"He has some debt that needs to be settled, and he's not gonna be the one to do it," Marty allured. "Owes a lot of money to a lot of--fucking hell!--bad people. Tristan's just showing how easy it is for people to get close to the ones you love."

JJ could only glare, not knowing what this meant, but knowing that it had to have been bad.

Before they could continue talking, Veronica walked in. "You know you can't stay, Marty. You gotta go back to prison." She sat at the table with them. "Aren't you risking parole? How long do you have left?"

"18--Cocksucker!--months," Marty answered, his head jolting before he went back to eating.

"Jesus, Marty, that's no time at all," Veronica pointed out.

"It's your wedding day, Ron," Marty told her.

"Why don't you go back and turn yourself in?" Veronica asked. "Tell them it was a mistake. Blame it on Tristan and the Tourette's."

JJ tilted his head back. "'Tristan and the Tourette's'. Tell me why that sounds like a bad band that deserves to be arrested for the crime of sucking."

Marty laughed. "Missed your humor, JJ."

"And, oh, how I've missed your insanity," JJ replied.

Veronica gave JJ an amused look, before looking at Marty. "Tell them it won't happen again. You know it's for the best."

Marty spasmed. "Faggot!"

JJ sighed, exasperated.

Veronica looked at Marty. "I'm gonna go get cleaned up. We'll have you back before they even know you left."

"I'm not going back, Ron," Marty replied. "It's your wedding day, and I'm not gonna miss your--shit-pisser!--wedding day."

JJ sat back in his seat, rolling his eyes, raising his eyebrows, looking at Veronica, who looked just as much at a loss as he did.

⫷⑅⫸

Jackson House - Living Room

Sheila was sewing a floral and white dress, picking it up. "This is the dress that I will wear this afternoon." She pulled the dress on over her negligee. "And it will protect me like this house protects me." She zipped her dress up. "This is the dress. Today is the day." Eddie walked closer to help her finish zipping. Sheila held her head high, hands on her hips. "And the day is good."

Eddie stepped around her. "You look nice. Where are you pretending to go?"

"I'm going to a wedding today," Sheila replied. "I am really gonna do it this time. And it's supposed to be a beautiful day today. Beautiful and safe and sunny."

Eddie grabbed his tool box, turning to face Sheila. "The sun's just a burning ball of fire that could plunge from the sky at any time."

Eddie turned around, walking away.

Sheila looked upset.

⫷⑅⫸

Malcolm and Natalia's House - Living Room

JJ came to talk with Kimberly, Lip, Ian, Natalia and Malcolm, the ones that knew what was going on for real.

"So your Uncle Marty admitted everything?" Natalia asked. "That Tristan broke him out?"

"Yeah," JJ answered. "It didn't take much to get him to slip up and confess everything like the idiot he is. I just... it doesn't matter. He's right."

"JJ..." Kimberly trailed off.

JJ was pacing, looking at Kimberly, shaking her head. "I can't tell V and Kev or anyone else because it'll just put them in danger, and I can't let what happened with me and Micah, and almost Natalia and your entire family happen again, Kimberly."

"We know," Lip agreed. "But we'll figure it out, in a way that doesn't get anybody else hurt or killed."

"Wish that we could just find a way to shut this all down," Malcolm remarked. "But, uh, that's probably not likely without it backfiring on us."

"Exactly," Ian agreed. "We just gotta keep our heads down and lay low, because we're literally just kids, guys. We can't take down a drug dealer like Tristan, especially if he's in hiding now."

"Right," Lip agreed.

"And there's nothing like evidence, is there?" Malcolm asked.

"I mean, there's the baby teeth necklace and the note that Tristan gave JJ after he got out of the hospital," Natalia answered.

"But those were my teeth, and believe me, my father knows how to make sure not to leave fingerprints or anything tying it to him," JJ told them.

"Also taking in the fact that we know there are cops in the station that are working for him..." Kimberly trailed off.

Ian closed his eyes. "Shit. It'd never work even if there were prints."

Malcolm looked away, cursing under his breath. "Fuck me."

Natalia gestured to Malcolm, sighing, running her other hand through her hair to pull it back from her face, looking up, overwhelmed. "And there's nothing tying Terry to it, besides me seeing him, which doesn't count for much given that he was working with Tristan and is protected. I bet that's the only reason why he worked with him even given that he's a fucking racist. Other than getting back at me for running away and trying to take him down before."

"Yeah," Kimberly agreed sadly, biting her lip in thought, turning to JJ. "But, wait, if Tristan went through all this to break Marty out of jail and get him to send you a message that he's not gonna pay the people he owes back, and that it's a message of how easy it is for someone to get close to the people you love, that means Tristan's scared, right?"

"I guess," JJ answered. "Yeah. I mean, Tristan's a shady drug dealer that has pissed off so many people. Who knows who could be after him."

Ian, Lip, Natalia and Malcolm became even more worried after hearing this.

"JJ, they could still come after you," Ian told him. "Drug dealers might actually come for you to get to Tristan this time."

"Why?" JJ asked. "It's not like Tristan gives a fuck about me."

"They don't know that," Lip replied.

JJ sighed, knowing they were right, closing his eyes, looking down. "Fuck me."

"So what the fuck are we supposed to do?" Malcolm asked.

Natalia frowned. "Is Marty gonna be at the wedding?"

"No way," JJ answered. "V's not having that nutcase at the wedding. Can you imagine the service? 'Do you, Veronica--'" He imitated Marty's Tourette's. "'Fucking bitch!' '--Fisher, take this man--' 'Fucks dick!'" Kimberly, Natalia, Lip, Ian and Malcolm couldn't help but start laughing. "'--Kevin Ball?' Uh-uh, no."

Kimberly's hand covered her mouth as she gave JJ an amused look. "You're horrible."

"Well, if I'm horrible, so are all of you for laughing," JJ replied.

"Point taken," Natalia agreed.

"So, you guys taking him to prison?" Lip asked.

"We're gonna have to," JJ answered.

"Especially since he said that Tristan said that him fucking up Kev and V's wedding or the adoption would be a bonus, something amusing," Ian added.

"Yeah, and you said he's an arson," Malcolm agreed. "Wouldn't want to take the chance on Kevin and Veronica's wedding day."

"Exactly," JJ agreed. "I should get back."

⫷⑅⫸

Fisher-Ball House - Hallway

JJ walked in through the front door, walking down the hallway toward the bedrooms. "Kev, V, you in?"

"Yeah, the bedroom," Kevin called.

JJ peaked in to see Fiona.

"Hey, is Malcolm still good for today?" Veronica asked.

"Yeah, we were just getting ready," JJ answered. "Natalia got a priest costume from the school's theater department. Looks legit enough."

Kevin smiled. "Wow. Okay, one, go, Natalia. And we barely know Malcolm, but at least he's doing a solid, for her and for us."

"Yeah," Fiona agreed. "I feel bad for blaming Malcolm for Zia not talking, knowing that she's the one that told him about the house to help him out. Everything with Micah and all."

"Well, you can apologize for being a bitch later after the wedding," Veronica replied.

Fiona gave Veronica an amused look. "Give me your dress so I can steam it."

"Behind the door," Veronica stated.

"Not this door," JJ stated, looking at the door next to him.

"Bathroom door," Veronica clarified. "Can you grab it, JJ?"

"Yeah," JJ answered, walking to the bathroom.

Marty had locked himself in the bathroom. "It's a real pretty dress, Roni." JJ stopped outside the door. In the bathroom, Marty had a grill lighter, clicking the flame on. "It'll burn nicely with all this taffeta."

"V!" JJ called.

Veronica, Fiona and Kevin walked into the hallway, realizing what was happening.

"Oh, Jesus," Kevin complained.

Marty put the dress down, pointing the end of the lighter at the door. "You send me back to jail, this dress goes up, this house goes up, we all go up!"

Veronica tried to stay calm, speaking sweetly. "Marty? Marty, open the door." Losing her patience quickly, she hit the door. "Open the goddamn door."

Marty clicked the lighter on, watching the flame. "You're not getting married without me. Cock fuck!"

JJ, Veronica, Kevin and Fiona exchanged a look.

⫷⑅⫸

Outside

Zia climbed up a ladder to look into the bathroom of the Fisher-Ball house. "He's not doing anything. Just sitting in there. Lighting a lighter."

JJ, Kimberly, Fiona, Veronica and Kevin were standing below, holding the ladder steady.

"Oh, my God, this is what he did at Granddaddy's funeral," Veronica said. "Gutted out half the hospice."

"Maybe we should call the cops," Kevin suggested.

"Kev's right," Fiona agreed. "If the house goes up, we're not gonna get him out of there."

"You want me to call the cops on my own brother?" Veronica asked. "It's always like this, with both him and Tristan. Nobody else can ever be the center of attention. It's always gotta be about them."

JJ called up to Marty. "You should be in a nuthouse!"

Debbie, Lip, Ian and Carl walked into the alley behind them.

"What's going on?" Debbie asked.

"Marty locked himself in the bathroom and is threatening to burn the place down," Kimberly answered.

Carl grinned wickedly. "Cool."

Zia was still at the top of the ladder. "He's saying that he's gonna light the dress and the shit-sack house on fire." She looked down at them, confused. "What's a shit-sack?"

The adults and teens exchanged a look, sighing.

"Zia, come on down," Ian told her.

Zia started to climb down, and Lip helped her the rest of the way down.

⫷⑅⫸

Inside - Kev and V's Room

Kevin and Veronica sat on their bed.

"All I wanted was to get closer to the adoption, to take care of us, you, me and JJ," Veronica said sadly. "Our home. Maybe some of our own kids someday."

"I thought you didn't want any kids," Kevin stated, confused.

"Based on what?" Veronica asked.

"Saying how much you hate them," Kevin answered.

"Uh, yeah, other people's," Veronica replied. "But I might not mind having a baby Kev running around."

Kevin had a soft smile. "A little tomorrow person?"

JJ sat forward from laying behind them on the bed, looking at Kevin in confusion. "What?"

Kevin looked at JJ. "That's what I call little mixed-race babies. Tomorrow people. Little people of tomorrow."

"As a tomorrow person myself..." JJ trailed off. "Not sure what the hell I feel about that." Kevin and Veronica managed small smiles. "Besides, you two have always been awesome with me, and Natalia and the Gallaghers growing up. Even when V and I maybe let them use our stuff a little too much... sorry, Kev."

Kevin chuckled. "I'll give you this, JJ, you're not as bad at that as V is."

Veronica gave Kevin a look, while JJ smirked.

Veronica sighed. "What are we gonna do?"

"You're not gonna call it off, are you?" JJ asked.

Kevin shook his head. "No! Not a chance."

"Good, because that means that you'd be letting Tristan and Marty win," JJ stated.

Kevin and Veronica knew that he was right.

Kevin looked at Veronica. "Baby, listen, this is our time. We're gonna get fake married, and nothing's gonna stop us."

"Not even my psycho father and psycho uncle," JJ agreed.

Kevin and Veronica smiled.

Kevin wrapped his arms around Veronica to hold her in his arms, reaching over to pull JJ in for the hug too, causing the three of them to laugh lightly.

Veronica looked at Kevin. "Tomorrow people?"

Kevin nodded. "Tomorrow people."

JJ smirked, shaking his head, rolling his eyes.

⫷⑅⫸

Street

Natalia and Ian were walking down their street.

"You sure JJ, Veronica and Kevin got Marty?" Natalia asked.

"Yeah, I think they have a plan," Ian answered. "Hey, can you sign in for me at detention today? Mrs. Pinder won't notice, she's almost blind."

Natalia smirked. "You ditching?"

Ian shrugged. "Kash has something planned."

Natalia sighed, tilting her head. "I thought that was last night."

"Was supposed to be, but, uh, he took me to his place, and it sort of freaked me out," Ian admitted. Natalia looked at him curiously. "I mean, I always knew he had a wife and a life and everything, but seeing it... and smelling it..." Ian turned to face Natalia. "I mean, his life actually has an odor."

Natalia tilted her head back. "Ian."

"Rambling?" Ian asked.

"Yeah," Natalia answered.

Ian chuckled nervously. "Sorry."

Natalia shook her head. "Don't be. Look, just be careful, okay? I don't want you to get hurt."

"I know," Ian agreed. "Thanks, Natalia."

Natalia gave Ian a small smile, walking away.

⫷⑅⫸

Fisher-Ball House - Hallway

Veronica and JJ were sitting outside the bathroom door, hearing the whooshing of a flame inside.

Veronica was painting her nails, finishing up, closing the bottle. "Remember when we were little? And you'd always tag along with me wherever I went? I always looked after you, didn't I, Marty? Even when Tristan was starting to tear you away. And you know why? Because I'm your big little sister. And I didn't want you to get in trouble, because I love you."

"And that's why we want you to go back to prison," JJ told him. "Because Tristan is just using you and he's gonna get you into a lot more trouble if you don't go back and finish your sentence. You could get a lot more time than just 18 months."

Veronica nodded. "But you know what? We've been thinking about the wedding, and you know something? You were right. My wedding day wouldn't be my wedding day without my little big brother there. In fact, I'd like you to be the one to give me away."

"Marty?" JJ asked.

Marty stood, unlocking the bathroom door, opening it.

Veronica and JJ stood, both giving him a smile.

"You mean it?" Marty asked.

Veronica nodded. "Cross my heart." She pulled Marty into a hug. "Come here, you little nut."

Veronica turned them around so that Marty's back was to JJ, as Marty lifted her up in a hug.

(Song:) Rock N Roll Heart (Album) - Silverhawk, Sam Densmore & John C. Densmore

JJ took a needle and injected Marty in the ass.

Marty dropped Veronica as he let out a yell.

Veronica landed unsteadily on her feet, catching herself against the wall.

"Bitches!" Marty snapped. "You bitches lied to me." JJ and Veronica backed away toward the window, smirking slightly. "I'm gonna burn down your--cock-sucking, cock-fucking--"

Marty fell to the floor, unconscious.

JJ pulled out a pair of handcuffs, waving them around his finger, smirking.

Veronica was humming the bridal song, as JJ and Veronica dragged Marty into the bathroom to handcuff him to the toilet, his arms wrapped around the base of the porcelain so he didn't have much of a chance to get away.

Veronica and JJ high fived, standing, walking out of the bathroom.

Veronica looked at her nail polish. "Damn, that shit does dry fast." They both laughed. "And you're sure Tristan's not gonna show up?"

"Sure," JJ answered. "This was just a message that he could still fuck our lives over and use Marty to do it."

Veronica rolled her eyes. "Sounds like Tristan. Well, with both my psychotic brothers out of the way at least for today, let's throw the best fake wedding ever."

JJ smiled.

(Song Ends)

⫷⑅⫸

Jackson House - Living Room

Frank was sitting on the couch, drinking a beer, wearing a vest that matched Sheila's dress.

Lip walked in, wearing a blue suit.

"Lip, my boy," Frank greeted. "My oldest boy."

"Yeah, here to pick up Karen," Lip replied, laughing at Frank's vest. "What's with the vest?"

"Sheils made it," Frank answered.

Karen walked downstairs.

"Wow," Lip said. "Look at you. You look beautiful."

Karen smiled. "Thanks."

Frank stood, turning to face them.

Sheila walked in. "Hi, Lip."

"Hi," Lip greeted.

Frank turned to Lip. "Does my head look bigger?"

Lip took a close look to mock him. "I don't think it can get any bigger, Dad."

"I have to keep an eye on it," Frank stated. "Watch for memory loss and vomit."

"More so than usual?" Lip asked.

"Know what?" Frank asked. "I have a second chance at life."

Lip nodded. "Mm-hmm."

"I'm not gonna surround myself with negative energy," Frank remarked.

Lip clicked his tongue. "How about you just show up at this wedding, do what you do best? Drink free booze and look happy. Yes?"

Frank nodded.

Lip took Frank's beer, taking a drink.

Sheila grabbed her bag and a white gift box. "All right, Frank, I am ready."

Karen looked at her curiously, knowing that Sheila wasn't going to be able to do it. "You're coming, Mom?"

"Yes, I'm coming," Sheila replied.

Frank turned to Lip, shaking his head, mouthing dramatically, 'There's no way in hell'.

Lip gave him a look.

Sheila looked over the things in her arms. "I've got my purse, and my gift, and my gloves. And my selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor. And my monoamine oxidase inhibitor." They made their way closer to the door, while Frank, Lip and Karen were giving Sheila her space, watching cautiously. 'And I have my anti-anxiety disco biscuits. And I am ready to go. I am really ready."

Sheila pulled on her gloves and her jacket, turning to the door, slowly, anxiously resting her hand on the doorknob, looking close to tears as she was trying to open the door and leave her own home, but she couldn't bring herself to do it, turning away.

Karen looked down dismissively. "I'll just get you a piece of cake, Mom."

Lip was the one that seemed most sympathetic.

Sheila put her jacket back, handing the gift to Karen. "That would just be... wonderful, sweetheart. There's just so much I've gotta get done here."

Sheila walked upstairs without a look behind her.

Frank, Lip and Karen watched her go.

⫷⑅⫸

Fisher-Ball House - Bathroom

Marty woke up handcuffed to the toilet. "Ah, those bitches. What kind of cock-sucks do this to their family?"

Marty lifted his legs so that he could use his feet to pull the toilet from the wall, cackling like a mad man.

⫷⑅⫸

The Alibi Room

Everyone was gathered for the wedding, all dressed nicely.

Fiona was Veronica's maid of honor, while Kimberly, Zia, Debbie and Natalia were bridesmaids.

JJ was Kevin's best man, while Lip, Ian and Carl were groomsmen. Carl was holding Liam as an extra groomsmen/ring bearer.

Malcolm was acting as the fake priest, clearly having rehearsed this words beforehand to be convincing. "May daily problems never cause you undue anxiety, nor the desire for earthly possessions dominate your lives." JJ, Kevin and Veronica smiled at each other, looking over at Carol, who smiled at them. "But may your hearts' first desire be always the good things, waiting for you in the life of heaven. Amen."

They all repeated. "Amen!"

The kids, Veronica, Kevin and Fiona looked impressed with how into this act Malcolm had gotten, smiling in amusement, while Veronica and Kevin couldn't stop looking at each other happily.

Kimberly and JJ glanced at each other, smiling, unable to help locking gazes.

Malcolm gestured from Kevin to Veronica. "You may kiss the bride."

Kevin and Veronica didn't waste a second before they kissed passionately.

Everyone cheered happily for them.

JJ was the most happy. "Yeah!"

Frank gave Carol a surprise kiss. "Oh, yes!"

Kimberly laughed, turning to JJ. "My dad just kissed your grandma. That's something I could go my whole life without seeing again."

"Yeah, me too," JJ agreed.

They both laughed.

Veronica threw her arm up in the air. "Yay!"

(Song:) Clutch Shooter - 5 Alarm Music

Everyone was dancing and celebrating.

Carl was recording people on a phone, including Karen and Lip kissing.

When Lip noticed Carl filming them, Lip pushed Carl away teasingly. "Get out."

Debbie, Kimberly and Fiona got Zia to dance with them.

Zia had the same look as the engagement party; happy, nostalgic, content, though it was a faded, distant feeling, but better than the endless numb void she was constantly feeling now, lighting up just a bit, but enough to show a difference, as she spun around and danced with her sisters.

Carl walked up to his sisters to record them dancing.

Debbie shook her head. "No."

Kimberly and Fiona laughed. "No."

Carl moved the camera closer to Zia.

Zia pushed the camera out of her face lightly, narrowing her eyes. "Stop it."

They laughed lightly.

Carol was dancing with Frank, patting him up and down his body.

Kimberly and JJ both gagged, not liking seeing this at all, but this made Natalia, Ian, Lip and Malcolm laugh.

Carl turned to Veronica and Kevin with the phone to film them dancing like they were in a strip club.

"Bring it on!" Veronica cheered.

"What's going on?" Kevin asked.

Ian and Natalia were dancing, rocking back and forth to the music, smiling, laughing.

Carl filmed them. "Looking good, Natalia."

"You're out of your league there, dude," Ian told him.

"Screw you, Ian," Carl replied, though flashed a smile to show that he was kidding.

Natalia laughed.

Kimberly walked toward JJ, holding out her hand, smiling. "Come on."

JJ smiled slightly, taking Kimberly's hand, as she pulled him out to dance. "Didn't get the chance to say it earlier, but you look beautiful, Kimberly."

Kimberly smiled. "Thanks. You look really handsome, JJ."

JJ took a dramatic bow. "Well, thank you."

Kimberly laughed.

JJ and Kimberly danced happily, carefree, more at ease than they had been in so long.

Carl filmed JJ and Kimberly. "Come on, JJ, Kimberly, work it."

They both laughed.

Malcolm was sitting, drinking.

Natalia walked over to Malcolm, taking his drink to place it aside. "Come on, roommate. You don't think you can sit and drink all night, right? Remember, you're a priest."

Malcolm smirked. "Just for the day."

Zia was holding Liam, looking up at them. "Come on, Malcolm."

Natalia and Kimberly smiled at that.

Kimberly looked at Malcolm, shrugging. "You heard the girl."

Malcolm smiled slightly, standing, going out to dance with everyone else.

Zia spun around with Liam in her arms, before placing him down so that Liam could start dancing on his own.

Everyone started to chant for the baby dancing. "Go Liam! Go Liam! Go Liam!"

Kimberly and Natalia danced together, lowering closer to the floor, both laughing. "Take it down, take it down."

Fiona and Veronica were twerking, while Veronica was also dancing with Kevin.

Zia took the camera from Carl. "Let me see that."

Zia turned the phone's camera around on Carl.

Carl smiled and started to dance himself.

Veronica sat down so that Kevin could remove her wedding garter with his teeth, before turning to show everyone.

Everyone cheered.

Kevin turned his back to the crowd, throwing the garter over his head.

Malcolm somehow ended up catching the garter, spinning it around, making everyone laugh, especially since most of the people thought that he was the priest (besides the ones in on the fake wedding of course), but that just made the ones who were in on it laugh harder than everyone else.

Kimberly, Natalia, Ian, Lip and JJ were all dancing in a star like shape since they grew up as a friend group, all of them laughing. JJ, Ian and Lip each took turns spinning Kimberly and Natalia around, making them all laugh.

When JJ spun Kimberly around, they locked eyes and smiled.

When Lip finished spinning Natalia around, Natalia turned to face him and smirked, winking teasingly, backing away, before giggling like she was buzzed.

Lip raised an eyebrow, amused. "Are you drunk?"

"You're one to talk, Phillip," Natalia replied. "Why don't you crack open a 4 Loco, Boozy von Drunk-a-Ton?"

Lip smirked, shaking his head in amusement. "You look nice, Natalia."

"You too," Natalia replied.

Karen watched them in jealousy, not caring if that was just as friends or not.

When they were done dancing, JJ and Kimberly sat down at the bar to catch their breath, drinking, smiling at each other. Kimberly laid her head on JJ's shoulder, as his arm wrapped around her.

Kevin and Veronica sat down, kissing passionately.

Frank stood atop a table, clinking his glass to get everyone's attention, but when that didn't work, he slammed the glass on the wall, making it shatter.

(Song Ends)

Now that everyone was looking at him, Frank spoke. "Uh, folks, let's face facts. When it comes to good things, most of them come in pairs." Kimberly raised her head off JJ's shoulder as they exchanged a confused look with Natalia, Ian and Lip. "Like your favorite jeans, new socks, and Kevin and Veronica." The crowd was surprised by the nice toast, smiling. Veronica was smiling so happily, her hand resting on Kevin's cheek behind her, as Kevin kissed her head. "And as it turns out, most people's testicles."

JJ rolled his eyes. "Couldn't stop while he was ahead."

Kimberly smirked.

Frank gestured both arms toward Kevin and Veronica. "So here's to the happy couple. Kevin, Veronica, may you always only have two testicles between you. And for your adoption of JJ to go through, if he doesn't go off the deep end again." JJ and Kimberly both looked at Frank in annoyance. Ian, Natalia and Lip shook their heads, unsurprised but annoyed. Fiona, Kevin and Veronica rolled their eyes. "L'chaim!"

Malcolm sat down next to his newfound friends. "What kind of speech is that?"

"A Frank Gallagher patented speech," Natalia answered. "You'll get used to it."

Malcolm scoffed a laugh. "God, I hope not."

Kimberly, JJ, Natalia, Ian and Lip smirked.

Zia sat down with Liam in her arms, holding him on her lap as the crowd was still cheering and celebrating, looking exhausted mentally as she was struggling to remain upbeat and in the moment. Liam babbled as he messed with Zia's hair, and Zia leaned her head on his.

Carol walked up to Kevin and Veronica with a check. "Oh, sweetheart. May the good Lord watch over you with your family."

Veronica smiled. "Oh, thank you, Mama."

Kevin smiled. "Thank you."

JJ stood, walking closer.

Carol wrapped an arm around JJ.

Veronica opened the envelope, pulling out the check. "Five hundred dollars? Are you fucking kidding me?"

"Well, that's not gonna help much with the adoption or anything else, but, uh..." JJ trailed off. "It's the thought that counts, Grandma."

Carol gave them an apologetic look, kissing JJ on the head.

Debbie was giving advise to a redhaired older girl. "Maybe you're making yourself too available?"

"You think?" the lady asked.

Veronica walked up to Fiona. "Hey, lady friend, where the hell is my cake?"

Fiona was not happy. "Steve is supposed to be here with the damn thing."

Veronica shook her head. "That's the trouble with the exciting ones. The unpredictability is what makes them so exciting. But it's also what makes them so damned unpredictable." She glanced over to Tony. "He may not be Steve, but he's here."

Veronica walked away.

Tony walked up to Fiona. "Hi."

"Hi," Fiona replied.

"Do you wanna dance?" Tony asked.

(Song Resumes)

Kimberly walked up to JJ. "You okay?"

"Yeah," JJ answered. "Besides Marty... today was really the perfect day."

Kimberly smiled slightly. "And you? How are you feeling?"

"You mean the meds?" JJ asked. Kimberly nodded slightly. "It's only been two full days since I've been on them. They need more time to completely kick in, but, uh... definitely don't feel as horrible as I usually do."

Kimberly gave a small smile. "I'm glad."

JJ sighed. "Yeah. Looks like I needed them after all."

"There's no shame in that," Kimberly pointed out.

JJ chuckled lightly. "Guess not." Kimberly looked down. JJ looked at her, knowing what was wrong. "Stop worrying about what Marty said. About Tristan's debts. We don't know if that's gonna lead to anything."

"We don't know that it won't," Kimberly replied.

JJ shrugged in agreement. "Can we just enjoy the night? Please?"

Kimberly nodded. "Okay."

JJ and Kimberly smiled softly.

⫷⑅⫸

Outside

Fiona was standing outside, smoking a cigarette.

Steve swerved up in a car, pulling over, getting out.

Fiona glanced back toward Tony inside.

Steve got the cake out from the car, walking toward the bar.

Fiona tossed her cigarette to the ground, walking up to Steve. "You're late, Dr. Sherman."

Steve nodded in agreement, breathless, dipping his finger in the icing, holding his finger toward Fiona. When Fiona went to take his finger into her mouth to eat the icing, Steve moved his finger and spread the icing over her lips. "I'm sorry."

Fiona laughed. "I can't with you."

Steve and Fiona kissed before heading back inside.

⫷⑅⫸

Inside

The Gallaghers, Natalia, JJ, Veronica and Carol all sat together at the bar (including Frank, who was holding Liam, but not including Lip).

Kevin was setting up a camera. "Okay, Gallaghers, Natalia, you're the only family we got, so let's put this on film." Kevin went to go sit with them between Veronica and Carol, all of them smiling and posing for the camera. Kevin went back for the camera as it was beeping. "Wait, wait--"

JJ and Veronica stopped him. "Wait."

"It's on, it's on," Debbie told him.

"Did it go?" Fiona asked.

When the camera went off, everyone had been so distracted that the poses and smiles were ruined, causing them all to exclaim. "Oh!"

"Set it up again," Natalia said.

Malcolm saw them having issues, chuckling, walking closer to pick up the camera. "I got it."

"Thank you," Veronica told him.

Malcolm held up the camera. "Here we go. Ready?"

"Yeah," Zia answered.

"Okay, let's go," JJ agreed.

Malcolm took many pictures of everyone, as they were all smiling, laughing, having fun, being silly.

Kimberly looked around, realizing someone was missing. "Wait, where's Lip?"

Zia looked toward the bathroom.

(Song Ends)

⫷⑅⫸

Bathroom

Lip and Karen were having sex in a stall, not being quiet at all.

Karen was moaning. "Oh, yeah. Give it to me. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. Yeah! Oh, yeah! Give it to me!"

Lip grunted while keeping her pressed against the wall, Karen holding onto the stall above her head. "Want me to give it to you?"

"Yes," Karen answered.

Zia walked in to go to the bathroom when she heard them having sex, weirded out, disgusted. "Ew. Quiet in there!" She looked into the mirror, seeing Micah in the reflection, in a brief stupor that didn't completely shut her down, but he seemed to be crying, causing Zia to look sad. "The noise makes the angels cry."

Lip hurriedly broke away from Karen when he realized who was there. "Shit. Zia."

"Are you kidding me?" Karen asked.

Lip just gave her a look, pulling up his pants.

(Song:) KU Da King - KU

Marty was in the next stall over. "Don't stop on the account of us." Lip, Karen and Zia all looked over in surprise, uneasiness, especially since Zia recognized his voice from earlier. Marty laughed, wrapping himself up in a bunch of toilet paper. "Cock and balls!" Zia cautiously took a small paper cup from the sink counter, filling it with water, slowly walking over to Marty's stall. Marty cackled, taking out a match, lighting it up, watching the flame. Zia walked around the corner to see what Marty was doing, tossing the water from the cup onto the match, putting out the flame. "The fuck? Bitch!"

Lip hurriedly walked out of the stall, standing next to Zia as he followed her gaze to Marty, seeing what she did to him to stop him from starting a fire, while also keeping Marty from lunging at her with his arm pushing Marty back.

Marty had trouble pushing himself up or trying to stand, giving Zia a chance to kick him in the leg and punch him in the crotch, making him fall back down.

Kimberly and JJ walked in.

"Hey, what's going on?" Kimberly asked.

"What's up?" JJ asked.

Natalia and Ian stood in the doorway behind them.

"You guys okay?" Natalia asked.

"Uh, Zia just stopped your uncle from setting this whole place on fire, JJ," Lip stated, in shock.

"What?" Ian asked.

Kimberly, JJ, Natalia and Ian walked closer to Lip and Zia as they looked into the stall at Marty, all in shock.

JJ pursed his lips, nodding, impressed. "Nice going, Zia."

Zia looked up at them, slight smugness shining on her features through the mostly numb girl.

Before Marty could get up, JJ punched Marty in the face hard enough to knock him out.

"That'll keep him down until the cops get here," Kimberly remarked.

The kids smiled smugly.

(Song Ends)

⫷⑅⫸ Worlds Colliding (Shameless) ⫷⑅⫸