Outfits Link:

https://urstyle.fashion/collections/202999

RECAP

In the Gallagher House during the day, in the living room.

The living room table was covered with empty bottles of alcohol and scattered snacks.

Carl was sitting on the couch with a funnel and tube, looking forward at you. "Oh, man. You guys missed a great party last week."

Carl poured liquor into the funnel, drinking from the tube while doing a cheer to egg himself on.

(Song:) Not Gonna Play By Your Rules - The Diner

In multiple episodes, there were multiple times that Mickey shoplifted from Kash and Grab.

Linda: (voice over from 1.06 Ghosts Fucking Up My Life) "Shoplifting is out of hand."

From 1.06 "Ghosts Fucking Up My Life", in Kash and Grab, Ian looked at Kash. "You have to stand up to him."

From 1.06 "Ghosts Fucking Up My Life", behind Kash and Grab, Ian and Linda watched Kash with the gun.

"Now hold it like you want to do something with it," Linda instructed.

Kash fired the gun.

From 1.07 "Did the Screaming Make You Feel Better?", in Kash and Grab, Linda stormed over to Ian, punching him in the face. "That's for screwing my husband." She looked at Kash. "No touching the forbidden fruit until I'm knocked up."

From 1.07 "Did the Screaming Make You Feel Better?", in Mickey's room, Ian and Mickey hooked up for the first time.

Ian: (voice over from 1.08 It's Time to Kill the Turtle) "Slept with someone. Not Kash."

From 1.08 "It's Time to Kill the Turtle", outside Kash and Grab, Ian opened the door to let Mickey outside after their hookup. "So I guess this was like a booty call, huh?"

Mickey walked past, not looking at him. "Whatever. See you."

From 1.03-1.06, there were flashes of all that Zia had been going through since Micah's death, including her strange daydreams, hallucinations, nightmares, sleepwalking and waking up with a knife in her hand while carving into the wall, screaming awake, showing no emotion and feeling like she was dead inside, having very little reactions to anything, hurting herself, her stupors where she couldn't move, nearly hitting Debbie with the killing bat, shutting down and not talking, almost breaking the coffee pot, pulling the fire alarm, stabbing Barry, and herself, etc.

Ian: (voice over from 1.04 Vow of Silence) "The zone outs, episodes, seeing Micah in her nightmares and daydreams, acting like the walking dead, and not knowing what's real or not."

From 1.07 "Did the Screaming Make You Feel Better?", in the park over the hill, cornered by Barry and his friends, Zia was pushed into the railing, almost lit on fire, Barry carved into her arm as she screamed and cried.

Zia managed to lean back against the railing of the bridge behind her far enough to where she could kick both of her feet into Barry, making him fall to the ground and making the boys holding her arms let go, while Zia flipped back over the railing and rolled down the hill behind her. When Zia landed at the bottom of the hill, she landed on top of a large rock, with her arm between the rock and her body, as her body landed on her arm harshly, crushing her arm between herself and the rock, which caused a loud snapping sound as her arm broke.

From 1.08 "It's Time to Kill the Turtle", at recess, Zia punched Barry hard in the face, breaking his nose, making Barry yell in pain. Carl bashed Barry's hand with a book, making him yell, as Barry put a hand to his bleeding nose. Debbie smiled.

Zia gripped Barry's nose to hurt him if he tried to attack again. "From now on, you leave me the fuck alone."

"I've already got your friends to turn against you to rat on you for what you did to Zia," Debbie told him. "You leave her alone, or we will have them do it, and you'll end up behind bars in juvie."

Carl shrugged. "I'd still do it. Especially if he doesn't leave her alone."

Zia let him go, pushing Barry away from her.

Barry glared at them, looking like he would try to fight them, but saw that many of the kids were watching, and he had none of his friends by his side, revealing that Debbie's plan to turn the boys against him to send him to juvie was actually starting to work. So instead of fighting more with Zia, Debbie and Carl, Barry stormed off in the other direction.

Zia, Debbie and Carl looked at each other, smirking slightly, victoriously, high fiving in a three way high five.

From 1.04 "Vow of Silence", in JJ's room, JJ was explaining to Kimberly. "Kev and V just told me that I might not be able to get adopted by them 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."

From 1.07 "Did the Screaming Make You Feel Better?", in the Fisher-Ball house, JJ and Kimberly were sitting together.

JJ sighed. "Veronica and Kevin are about to take in another foster kid to help out with debts."

From 1.08 "It's Time to Kill the Turtle", outside of juvie, Bill led Carson toward JJ, Veronica and Kevin. "Carson, this is JJ, Veronica and Kevin."

From 1.08 "It's Time to Kill the Turtle", in JJ's room, JJ, Veronica and Kevin were sitting down, looking at Carson.

"You're one of five wives?" Kevin asked.

"Married to a dude named Clyde?" Veronica asked.

"Who's 65 years old?" JJ asked.

From 1.08 "It's Time to Kill the Turtle", outside, Carson, Zia, Debbie and Carl were walking away from school.

Carson sighed. "The only help I need is to get to Ethan."

"Who's Ethan?" Zia, Debbie and Carl asked, curiosity eating away at them.

Carson let out a shaky breath. "My son."

From 1.08 "It's Time to Kill the Turtle", in Clyde's house, Clyde yelled at Carson. "You were supposed to be my wife! Like all of them!" Carson flinched, tears in her eyes as she glared at the elderly man. "You're lucky I didn't kill the little bastard while you were locked away. I couldn't convert you. But I sure as hell can kill you both."

Clyde grabbed Carson by the shoulders, shoving her into the wall.

Carson pushed Clyde off of her. "Get the fuck off of me!"

Clyde took out a handheld gun from his drawer, aiming it at Carson.

Carson stopped in shock.

With the confession and action about to take place, police started to storm in, all aiming guns at Clyde to arrest him.

From 1.08 "It's Time to Kill the Turtle", outside Clyde's house, Carson was holding Ethan in her arms, looking at JJ, Kevin and Veronica. "What happens now?"

"We take both of you home," Veronica answered.

Carson looked at them in surprise and relief, looking like she could break down into tears again.

JJ put an arm carefully around Carson, hoping not to scare her or make her uncomfortable, just to show as a sign of comfort.

From 1.08 "It's Time to Kill the Turtle", in the Fisher-Ball house, Carson was sitting down. Kevin and Veronica stood in front of her.

"If I'm going to be staying here awhile, is Ethan going to stay too?" Carson asked.

Veronica and Kevin exchanged a look, sighing.

"We have to talk about Anya about that," Kevin admitted. "But we'll figure it out."

From 1.06 "Ghosts Fucking Up My Life", in the school hallway during Parents Night, Rod grabbed JJ by the ear. "Pick up your dad's cookbook and make his recipes, sell the drugs, or Natalia, Zia and Kimberly will all be prostitutes, and you and all your friends might have to live through another drive by where more of you die."

From 1.08 "It's Time to Kill the Turtle", in the middle of nowhere, when Domingo and Emilio threatened to kill Kimberly and JJ if they didn't do as they said, holding them at gunpoint.

JJ opened the container and poured the other powder into the mixture, instantly backing away toward Kimberly.

The concoction JJ had just made did a mini explosion of fire that burned the Emilio and Domingo and knocked them both down, giving JJ and Kimberly time to run out of the RV, slamming the door closed, locking them inside.

From 1.08 "It's Time to Kill the Turtle", in the RV, Kimberly and JJ walked closer to look at Emilio and Domingo on the floor, as they were starting to move a little.

"How the fuck are they not dead?" Kimberly asked.

From 1.08 "It's Time to Kill the Turtle", in the Gallagher house, Zia frowned, looking up at Fiona. "So who's Candace?"

Fiona shook her head. "He said it's just someone he works with."

Zia nodded barely. "If he hurts you, I hurt him. And you know Kimberly will."

"Yeah, which is why I told Debbie not to tell Kimberly, and which is why I'm asking you the same thing, okay?" Fiona asked.

From 1.08 "It's Time to Kill the Turtle", in the Lishman mansion, Steve walked into the foyer of the lavish mansion. "I'm home."

Chip Lishman walked downstairs. "Little brother."

A blonde woman walked up to Steve, kissing him intensely.

Steve was not into the kiss, pulling back. "Mm, thanks."

Chip patted Steve on the shoulder. "You're fucking killing me, Jimmy."

From 1.08 "It's Time to Kill the Turtle", at the park, Debbie looked at Zia. "So you wanna figure it out together?"

Zia nodded. "And if we find out Steve is cheating on Fiona, then we tell Kim and let her kick his ass."

From 1.08 "It's Time to Kill the Turtle", in the Gallagher House, Debbie pulled out Steve's phone, pulling up Candace's contact name with her number and address, whispering the address to Zia. "1055 North Ave. Lake Forrest Illinois."

Zia wrote the address down on her drawing paper.

Debbie put Steve's phone up.

They both hurried away to sit down before anyone saw what they were doing.

(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

Night - Old Fisher House - Basement

JJ and Kimberly had Emilio and Domingo locked up in the basement, but they were out cold, and wheezing weakly. Emilio seemed way closer to death than Domingo seemed to be.

⫷⑅⫸

Living Room

JJ looked around the house. "I like what he's done with the place."

JJ grabbed a glass vase, throwing it against the picture frame that hung on the wall, shattering not just the object, but the glass and frame on the picture frame.

"Feel better?" Kimberly asked.

"Not really," JJ answered.

"So who are these guys?" Kimberly asked. "I mean, names."

"Emilio and Domingo," JJ answered. "I know they were sent by Rod and Vlad to make sure that we were doing what we were supposed to be doing and cooking so they could sell and distribute."

"Distribute?" Kimberly repeated.

"Yeah," JJ answered. "You know how there's a Starbucks on every street? They're like the guys that sell Starbucks' beans."

Kimberly sighed. "Okay, so are they... I mean... what about their reputation for violence?"

JJ gave her a look. "Well, they did try to kill us both yesterday, so there's that."

"What I'm trying to say is that they're distributors," Kimberly told him. "They're businessmen, right? Men of business. Maybe they're capable of acting out of mutual self-interest, yes?"

"What the hell are you talking about, Kimberly?" JJ asked.

"Do you think they're capable of listening to reason?" Kimberly asked.

"What kind of reason?" JJ asked. "Like, 'Dear drug dealers, hey, listen, if we let you go, will you promise not to come back and waste our entire families? No Colombian neckties'? You mean that kind of reason? The kind of reason that had them betraying Vlad and Rod's orders to keep an eye on us and do their jobs, so they could turn around and try and kill us to get revenge on Tristan? Even though those weren't their orders. No, Kim, I can't say I have high fucking hopes where that's concerned."

Kimberly turned away, holding her head in her hands, pacing. "I just... I don't know. We both thought they would be dead any fucking second since yesterday, but they're still breathing."

"Great observation," JJ remarked, semi-sarcastic.

"So what do we do?" Kimberly asked.

"You keep asking me that like you think I have some answer," JJ pointed out. "I'm open to suggestions."

Kimberly frowned. "What about the phosphate gas?"

"Phosphine gas," JJ corrected. "What about it?"

"Well, do you..." Kimberly trailed off. "I mean, do you think it might still kill them? You know, with, like a delayed reaction or something?"

"I don't know," JJ admitted. "But if they do, that means we have two bodies on our hands, and we need to do something about that, and in a way that no one will ever find them."

"Yeah," Kimberly agreed. "So what do we do about that?"

JJ shrugged slightly. "Chemical disincorporation. Dissolving in strong acid."

Kimberly put a hand to her head in shock, overwhelmed. "This is so fucked up. You're seriously... serious?" JJ nodded. "Well, who's gonna do that?"

"Guess we'll both do it," JJ answered.

Both looked on the verge of a panic attack or getting sick.

⫷⑅⫸

Lake Forest, Illinois

Lishman House - Outside

Natalia had borrowed Kevin's car while getting some clothes for Carson to wear, and so that she could drive Zia and Debbie up to the Lishman mansion, across the street from it now.

Natalia was in the driver's seat, Debbie was in the passenger seat, and Zia and Carson were in the backseat.

Natalia had her arm resting on the door, on the window pane next to her, propping up her head, turning to give Debbie a look next to her. "Okay, Debbie, you guys gotta tell me why we're here, and why, after we got some clothes for Carson to start out with, you got me to ask Kev and V to keep the car a little while longer to take you two to one of Zia's appointments."

"Okay, but you gotta promise not to tell Fiona or Kimberly," Debbie told her. "Not even Lip or Ian yet. If you told JJ, he would tell them, so please, Natalia."

"Okay," Natalia agreed, raising an eyebrow.

"Say it," Zia urged.

Natalia gave in with an amused sigh. "Okay, I promise. I won't tell Fiona, because she hates me as it is. And I won't tell Kimberly, Ian, Lip or JJ."

"Thank you," Zia told her. "Carson?"

Carson frowned. "I won't tell JJ, though he's been pretty nice to me as far as foster brothers go. Kimberly's been nice too, but I barely know Fiona, Ian and Lip. So I won't tell."

"Good," Debbie replied. "Thanks, Carson."

"Now whose house is this?" Natalia asked.

"We're not sure," Debbie admitted.

"What the hell are we doing here?" Carson asked.

"Trying to find out if Steve's cheating," Zia answered.

Carson tilted her head curiously. "Steve is Fiona's boyfriend, right?"

"Right," Natalia answered. "Z, Debs, what the hell are you two talking about?"

Debbie pointed out toward a car. "Tell me that's not a woman's car parked out front."

They read the license plate of the car, which said: "Ms. D-Lish".

"That is a woman's car," Carson answered.

Zia nodded. "Mm-hmm."

Natalia tilted her head at the three girls. "Fiona's a big girl."

"Fiona takes care of everyone, but no one takes care of Fiona," Debbie pointed out.

"Is this about Candace?" Natalia asked. "Because Kimberly told me about you girls talking about Candace."

"She won't do anything," Debbie stated. "Too proud. And she doesn't want me or Zia to tell Kimberly because Kim already hates Steve enough and will hurt him if she finds out. Again."

"So if Fiona won't do anything, and if we can't tell Kimberly so she can't do anything, then we have to," Zia finished.

Carson and Natalia smiled softly at this.

"You're sweet," Carson told them. Debbie smiled slightly. Zia barely managed a small smile that wasn't very noticeable, looking away. Carson noticed. "What about you, Zia? Any better at school since you, Carl and Debbie got Barry thrown in juvie?"

"No," Zia answered. "Everyone just stopped talking to me after they heard about what happened. They call me a freak and a monster and psycho. I hear them. I just wanted to disappear. It's like I actually did."

The other three girls looked at her sympathetically.

"I'm sure it will feel easier when your meds kick in, okay?" Natalia asked.

"Dr. Rhodes said they might not help at first," Zia admitted. "That they could make it worse before it starts to get better."

"The side effects," Natalia agreed.

Zia nodded.

"Did you tell Kimberly or Fiona this?" Carson asked. "Or Lip and Ian?"

"They know," Zia answered. "At least, Fiona does. It's just... everyone's always so busy, and I don't want them to have to take care of me all the time. It makes me feel useless."

"You're a traumatized six year old that's recovering from something that she never should have gone through," Natalia replied. "You're supposed to be taken care of."

Debbie nodded. "Yup."

Zia looked down. "I don't know. It just feels..."

"Like you're a burden?" Carson finished. Zia nodded. "You're not. Okay? Trust me."

Debbie and Natalia glanced back at Zia and Carson, exchanging a sad look.

"Okay?" Debbie asked.

Zia nodded barely, whispering, not believing it. "Yeah."

Carson looked up. "Thank you for helping me get some clothes, Natalia. I really wanna fucking burn those dresses now."

This caused some well-needed chuckles from the girls to cheer them up.

⫷⑅⫸

Club

(Song:) Bounce - Beatbullyz

Out for a night in the club, both dressed nicely for club night, Steve carried two drinks over to Fiona. "Did you purposefully order a Sex on the Beach so I'd say it to the gay bartender?"

Fiona laughed. "Maybe. Maybe I was hoping you'd actually take me away someplace so we could have sex on a beach."

"I could barely get you overnight in a local hotel," Steve pointed out.

"Well, that was then," Fiona replied. "This is now. Things are starting to cool down, I think. I hope anyway. Kimberly and JJ are doing what they're supposed to be doing even if I hate it, so Kim, Zia and Natalia are safer."

Steve nodded. "So now that they are, it'd be easier to get you away? I somehow doubt that."

Fiona shrugged. "Maybe. I just feel I haven't seen a lot of you lately."

"You mean that you'd like to see more of me?" Steve asked.

Fiona smiled. "Yes, I guess that's what I'm saying." Steve cupped the back of Fiona's head to kiss her passionately before breaking away. "Usually by this time in a relationship, guy starts just showing up for booty calls, or wants me to meet his mother. Either way, I start looking for reasons to walk."

"Well, my mom is in Michigan, so you don't have to worry," Steve lied.

Fiona tilted her head in thought. "I think that's the first time you've ever mentioned your family."

"Really?" Steve asked. Fiona nodded. Steve shrugged. "Not much to say." Fiona took a drink. "I mean... they live in Michigan."

Steve took a drink.

Fiona chuckled. "The whole state?"

Steve placed his drink down. "No, near Detroit. Uh, Dad used to work for GM, so I try to send back what I can to help."

Fiona looked curious. "Family business. He builds them. You steal them."

Steve chuckled. "Come on, let's dance."

They stood to go dance, sharing a peck on the lips as they did.

(Song Ends)

⫷⑅⫸

Malcolm & Milkovich House - Porch

Malcolm and Ian were sitting on the porch, passing a joint back and forth.

Ian took a hint of the joint, tilting his head back, releasing the smoke, handing the joint over to Malcolm.

Lip walked over. "Liam is officially asleep."

"That was fast," Ian remarked.

"Yeah, well, three pages from Deb's Eat Pray Love and he's out," Lip explained, sitting next to them on the porch.

Malcolm took a hit of the blunt, tilting his head back against the column he was leaning against behind him as he did.

Ian chuckled. "If James Franco wasn't in the movie, I would've nodded off too."

Malcolm smirked, handing the joint over to Lip.

Lip took the joint, taking a hit.

"Carl asleep?" Malcolm asked.

"Yeah," Lip answered. "Carl said he would get Liam back down if he wakes up while we're over here."

Ian nodded.

Lip waved a couple tickets in his hand.

"What's that?" Malcolm asked.

"Oh, uh, some concert tickets I bought a few months back," Lip answered. "But the concert wasn't until this weekend at the Chicago Theatre, so... you guys seen Natalia?"

"Wait, did you get those for Natalia's birthday?" Ian asked.

"Yeah," Lip answered.

Malcolm looked at the band name on the tickets. "Florence and the Machine. Nice."

Lip chuckled. "Yeah. It's just, she was out on the street back then, and everything with Frank, Terry and Tristan since then fucking shit up for all of us..." Malcolm and Ian nodded in agreement. "Figured it'd be something that she'd like."

"Something I think Lia would need," Ian agreed. "Nice going with this one, Lip."

Malcolm raised an eyebrow. "Pricey gift for a friend. Or a wife, as Kimberly says."

Lip tilted his head. "Fuck off, Malcolm." Malcolm and Ian smirked. "Lia's my best friend, and she gets us concert tickets all the time."

"Really?" Malcolm asked.

"Yeah, for all of us, when she can," Ian answered. "Me, Lip, Kim, JJ. When she gets to steal them from other people or trade away something to get them, and then whatever she has to buy, she does, even if it means losing her money for the rest of the week or so, since she always wanted us to have fun and have a night to be just... free. You know?" Malcolm nodded. "Kimberly and Natalia's favorite tickets to get are Halestorm."

Malcolm smirked. "Not surprised by that."

Lip chuckled. "So, yeah, this was a way to pay her back for all that."

Malcolm nodded. "Well, like Ian said, Lip. Nicely done."

"Yep," Lip stated. He looked at Ian. "What do you think, she already traded something or bought some tickets?"

"Yeah, I'd say about three, if they weren't sold out by the time she got a chance to trade or sell," Ian answered.

Lip nodded. "I got three too. So there's that. At least she's not the one having to get all of these things this time. And not breaking bank to do it like usual."

Ian nodded, pleased by the sweet gesture, smiling slightly.

"Well, definitely paying Natalia back for that, then," Malcolm quipped. "That's if she does have three."

"She more than likely does," Ian answered. "She loves this band too."

Malcolm chuckled.

"She here?" Lip asked.

"No," Malcolm answered. "Natalia took Carson, Zia and Debbie to get some clothes from Salvation Army or Goodwill or some shit for Carson so she can burn those dresses like she wanted."

Lip and Ian chuckled.

"That explains why Zia and Debbie weren't in the room," Lip stated. "Kimberly?"

"Out with JJ," Ian answered, both he and Lip looking nervous. "You know, work."

Lip nodded. "Right."

Kimberly and JJ walked up to them, both disconcerted from what they had to deal with now.

Malcolm noticed them first. "Hey, Kimberly. JJ."

"Hey, Malcolm," Kimberly replied softly, causing Lip and Ian to look at her and JJ, and instantly know that something was wrong.

"You two okay?" Ian asked.

JJ tried to deflect. "Yeah, why wouldn't it be?"

"Do you really want me to make a list?" Lip asked. "What's wrong?"

Kimberly tried to get out of talking about it. "See you two inside?"

Kimberly turned toward the Gallagher house.

"Kim, get your ass back here," Lip told her.

Kimberly sighed, tilting her head, turning back. "Dad mode's back on."

JJ chuckled nervously, nodding in agreement.

Lip waved Kimberly and JJ over.

Kimberly and JJ sighed, walking closer.

"Yes, Dad?" JJ asked sarcastically.

Ian shrugged, looking at Kimberly and JJ. "Well, Lip's the best father figure that the three of us got, so..."

"True," Kimberly agreed.

Malcolm chuckled.

"What's going on with you two?" Lip asked. "More than usual? Something happen?"

Kimberly and JJ didn't want to answer, because they weren't ready to have this conversation with them yet, and wanting to keep them out of it for protection.

So when Natalia pulled up in Kevin's car and got out with Zia, Debbie and Carson, they were extremely relieved for the distraction so they didn't have to answer yet.

Kimberly looked at Lip, giving him a pleading look to not talk about this right now. "Not in front of the girls, okay?"

Lip sighed, giving in, knowing that it was the right call. "Fine, but you're not getting out of this that easily. Later."

Kimberly gave Lip a sarcastic smile, but was touched by the fatherly-brotherly concern.

Natalia, Zia, Debbie and Carson walked over to Kimberly, JJ, Lip, Ian and Malcolm.

"Hey, guys," Natalia told them.

"Hey," Ian replied.

"Look at you, Carson," JJ said, teasing her about the normal clothes.

Carson looked down at her normal clothes, managing a slight smile. "Natalia helped pick them out."

Lip nodded in amusement. "That explains it."

"Bite me, Phillip," Natalia replied. "She looks cute and badass. Like Carson really is."

Kimberly chuckled. "True."

"And I got some clothes to meet with Anya tomorrow about seeing if we can keep Ethan with us," Carson added.

"You might actually get to keep Ethan?" Malcolm asked.

"That's what tomorrow's meeting will determine," JJ answered.

Zia looked at Carson. "Good luck. Ethan deserves to be with his mom. And you deserve to have him after all you did to get him back, Carson."

Carson gave a slight smile. "Thanks, Zia."

The older ones smiled slightly at the bond Zia and Carson were already slowly starting to form, and the truth behind what Zia said.

"I'm sure that Ethan will get to stay," JJ assured.

"Okay," Ian agreed. "Good luck with that, Carson."

Carson nodded, taking out her old dresses, throwing them into a metal trash can at the side of the road.

"What are you doing?" Lip asked.

"Same thing she's been waiting to do since getting here," JJ answered.

Natalia grabbed some lighter fluid, walking closer to douse Carson's dresses, pulling her back slightly from the trash can so she wasn't standing too close.

Carson lit a match and tossed it into the trash can, lighting the dresses on fire, watching them burn numbly, but with great satisfaction and relief, firelight reflected off of her.

The others watched silently, knowing that she needed to do that to try and get some closure.

Zia looked into the flames, eyes lost in the flames as the firelight reflected onto her.

Malcolm looked at Carson. "You feel better now?"

Carson sniffled, nodding. "Yeah. A little."

"Good," Kimberly told her. "You've got a long day tomorrow with Ethan coming back for the meeting or whatever." She noticed that Zia was almost zoned out, placing a hand on her arm to ease her out of it before she could go completely into a zone out, startling her out of her daze. "You girls should get some sleep."

Zia, Debbie and Carson nodded in agreement.

"Goodnight, guys," Ian told them.

"Night," Debbie added.

Malcolm waved. "Night."

Carson walked toward the Fisher-Ball house. Zia and Debbie walked away toward the Gallagher house. The three girls went inside, as Kimberly, JJ, Ian, Lip, Natalia and Malcolm kept an eye on them.

Natalia handed Kevin's keys to JJ. "Give those back to Kev, would you?"

"Yeah," JJ answered. "Thanks, Natalia. For helping Carson like that."

Natalia shrugged. "She needed it." She looked at Kimberly, Lip and Ian. "Oh, and you three should probably talk to Zia when you get the chance."

"She okay?" Ian asked.

"Not exactly, but I don't know if it's something to get worried about," Natalia admitted. "Just, uh... keep an eye on her, yeah? She said that her meds could make her feel worse before they make her feel better, side effects and all."

"Yeah, and as we know, that happened with me and my pills," JJ added. 

"Birth control pills?" Lip quipped to try and lighten the mood.

Malcolm snorted. "Yeah, which he's probably saving for your sister."

Kimberly smiled sarcastically as she flipped Malcolm off, tilting her head.

"Shut up, Malcolm," JJ replied. Ian and Lip snorted in laughter, not bothered since they could easily tell how Kimberly and JJ were, even if they didn't completely, and weren't bothered by it. Natalia smirked knowingly. "I'm just saying, antidepressants like Zia's on are the same way, in some cases."

Kimberly, Lip and Ian nodded in understanding and worry.

"Thanks for the heads up," Kimberly told them.

"Yeah," Natalia agreed. "Though Fiona should've told you guys this."

"We haven't really had the time to talk about it all lately given everything," Lip admitted. "But, uh, yeah. She should've."

Malcolm looked between them in concern. "You guys think Zia and Carson are gonna be okay?"

"I hope so," Ian answered.

"I'm sure Carson will be feeling better when she knows that Ethan gets to stay with you guys," Lip pointed out.

"Yeah, but she's still been through hell, so..." Malcolm trailed off.

"True," Kimberly agreed sadly. "We all have."

Natalia sighed. "That's it. Enough of this fucking never ending danger and pity party. We're going old-school."

"Meaning what?" JJ asked.

"Meaning I traded for three concert tickets, but I need to work to get some more," Natalia answered. "We're blowing off some fucking steam."

Lip and Ian gave Malcolm an 'I told you so' look, causing Malcolm to smirk in amusement.

Kimberly and JJ smiled slightly.

"We haven't done that in a while," Kimberly admitted.

"No, we have not," Ian agreed. "Haven't had the time to."

"Yeah, well, now we do, hopefully," Lip stated.

"Pray tell, Natalia, are these tickets for Florence + the Machine?" Malcolm asked.

"How the fuck did you know that?" Natalia asked.

Kimberly and JJ looked between them in confusion.

Ian grinned. "Yeah, you don't have to work or pay to get more this time, Lia. Lip already did that three months ago for your birthday."

"What?" Natalia asked.

Lip waved the tickets at Natalia. "Got these on your birthday to pay you back for all the concerts in the past. Got them early so they wouldn't be sold out by the time the concert came this weekend."

Natalia grinned. "Look at who's taking a page of my book on being awesome."

The teens laughed lightly.

"Yeah, looks like," Kimberly agreed, giving Lip a knowing look, smirking.

Lip gave Kimberly a slight push, cheering her up a little more. "I think we could all use this, given the circumstances."

"If you have the time to actually make it to the fucking concert," Malcolm agreed.

The other teens nodded.

Ian took the three tickets from Lip. "I think you mean we."

"What?" Malcolm asked.

"Well, Natalia got three, and Lip got three, apparently," JJ pointed out. "With them, me, Ian and Kim, that's just five."

"So there's an extra if you wanna go, Malcolm," Lip pointed out.

Malcolm gave a soft smile. "I'll think about it."

Natalia smiled. "Good. You deserve it too. You may be 19, but you're still just a kid."

"When have any of us been just kids?" Malcolm asked.

Kimberly, JJ, Ian, Lip and Natalia raised their eyebrows in acknowledgement.

"Well, at least this would be our chance to be just kids," Kimberly pointed out.

Ian nodded. "Yeah."

"I can see if I get get another ticket trading away for Mandy," Natalia added. "Mickey doesn't like Florence." Kimberly poked out her tongue, which caused the boys to smirk. "It'll be fun."

JJ nodded. "Well-deserved."

"Overdue," Lip agreed.

Malcolm shrugged. "Let's do it."

The teens smiled slightly, knowing it was something they definitely needed.

⫷⑅⫸

Fisher-Ball House - Living Room

For now, Carson was sleeping on the couch, just hoping to get Ethan back in the house soon, for good. She was looking a picture of herself and Ethan as she laid down to go to bed.

JJ walked through the living room, checking on Carson as she was going to sleep, before heading to his room.

⫷⑅⫸

Kevin and Veronica's Room

Kevin and Veronica were about to hook up and go to bed.

Kevin shook his head. "Carson just got back from the store with Natalia, Zia and Debbie. They got her some clothes to last maybe a week or so."

"Good, then we'll figure out about what to do about more clothes later," Veronica stated.

Kevin nodded, before shaking his head. "Separated from her kid. That's gotta suck."

"Hopefully the visit with him tomorrow will cheer her up," Veronica told him. "And Anya said that she could see if we can get him with us too. So Carson and Ethan aren't separated, and we get a little more help with the debts. That's a win-win in my book."

Kevin nodded in agreement, smiling. "I'm kind of excited about it. Having a full house. Three kids."

"Don't get too excited," Veronica told him, reaching for two sets of ear plugs. "It's only temporary. Temporary, Kevin."

Kevin nodded. "Yeah, yeah, yeah." Veronica walked toward him with the ear plugs. "Are you gonna put those in my ass? I'm not even gonna feel it."

Veronica gave him an amused look. "They're earplugs, babe. And they're for JJ and Carson."

Veronica laughed, moving Kevin aside so she could walk out of the room to go give the ear plugs to JJ and Carson.

Kevin watched her go down the hallway. "Oh, good, 'cause that would have sucked, trying to fish those out."

Veronica laughed.

⫷⑅⫸

Day Two

Morning - College Party

Frank woke up hungover in the midst of the morning after a college party, where it was Hawaii themed with clothing and decorations.

A large lady with a hula skirt was sprawled across Frank's lap.

Frank tried to get her off. "Hey, hey. Wakey, wakey, Jackie Chan."

The lady sat up, revealing that Frank had his jeans down around his ankles, his shirt was on, and he was wearing a coconut bra. "Who the fuck are you?"

"I'm Frank," Frank answered.

The lady was in shock, thinking they had sex. "Oh, my God. Did we..."

Frank chuckled, shrugging, not knowing either since he didn't remember much about the night before.

The lady started to cry.

Frank put a hand on her shoulder, slightly annoyed, not wanting to see tears. "Oh, now, now." He patted her on the back. "Chins up."

The lady vomited all over Frank's lap, standing, walking away.

Frank was disgusted, but couldn't get clean here, so he had to pull on his jeans and get out of there fast to go get showered.

⫷⑅⫸

Jackson House - Hallway

Eddie was knocking on the bathroom door.

"Fuck off," Karen called, having just gotten out of the shower, brushing her hair.

Eddie chuckled lightly. "How'd you know it was me? I was talking to my Promise Makers group and I want you to know... that I understand that so much of your bad behavior is my responsibility. If you leave a dog in the house alone for more than eight hours, you can't get mad at him for peeing on the rug, right?" Karen was insulted and angry that Eddie compared her to a dog. "I found this in an album in the basement." Eddie slid a picture underneath the door into the bathroom. Karen went to pick it up. "I don't know. Maybe we can try to capture more moments like these together."

Karen saw that it was a picture of Eddie and a Young Karen, looking at the door. Instead of answering, she turned on the blow dryer and started to dry her hair.

⫷⑅⫸

Gallagher House - Fiona's Room

Steve jumped up from bed, getting dressed.

Fiona laid down on the bed, in shorts and a tank. "Why is it that I feel like you can't get away from me fast enough?"

Steve suddenly pulled Fiona toward him and lifted her up in his arms, making her laugh in surprise as they held onto each other tight. "Because you're paranoid." They kissed, before Steve put Fiona down so that she could brush her hair. "Hey, what happened to that computer class you were gonna take?"

Fiona pulled on some jeans. "They canceled it. Not enough people, I guess. Liam's gonna be up in a second, and Kimberly went out again this morning, so I gotta get him fed and dressed and to the clinic for some shots. Don't tell Jenny McCarthy."

⫷⑅⫸

Hallway

Steve nodded, pulling on his jacket, walking down the hallway as Fiona watched him go.

Zia and Debbie walked out of the girls' room, walking past Steve on the way to Fiona's room.

"Hey, Z," Steve told her. "Debs."

"Steve," Debbie replied.

"Who said you could call me Z?" Zia asked.

Fiona smirked slightly, looking down.

Steve held up his hands harmlessly. "Sorry. Zia. See you two and Kimberly later."

"You probably won't want to," Zia replied.

Steve was set off by Zia's words and attitude, brushing it off, walking downstairs to leave.

"Liam up yet?" Fiona asked, opening the closet door so she could check the mirror.

"Squawking a little," Debbie answered. "So everything cool with, uh, you and Steve?"

Fiona pulled on a sweater over her tank. "What? Why?"

Zia shook her head. "No reason. We're just checking in."

Zia and Debbie walked away.

Fiona watched them go in confusion, pulling her hair into a ponytail before closing the closet door and walking away.

⫷⑅⫸

Kitchen

Zia was sitting at the table, out of it as her system was adjusting to her medications, looking more zombie-like than she did normally.

Fiona was cutting up bananas for breakfast, watching Zia, frowning slightly in concern, but didn't see anything too wrong right now.

Debbie walked downstairs with Liam in her arms.

Fiona smiled at her baby brother, who was grinning. "Hi, baby bottoms. Did you have sweet dreams?"

Debbie grinned, handing Liam to Fiona as she went to the fridge.

Steve walked into the kitchen. "I thought I was baby bottoms."

"No, I said you have a baby bottom," Fiona answered. She carried Liam over to the table, sitting him down in his high chair next to Zia. "Hmm, I swore I would never date a guy whose ass was smaller than mine. But I seem to be breaking a lot of my own rules lately, don't I? Don't I?"

Debbie poured herself some milk before putting it up. "He's assuming that was rhetorical."

Debbie went to go sit down with Zia and Liam with her milk.

Zia was blinking slowly, sluggishly.

Fiona walked toward Steve. "Hey, you wanna come by tonight after Liam's down? V gave me a copy of Queen of Outer Space. Zsa Zsa Gabor at her finest. We could watch it. And not watch it."

Steve got himself some coffee. "I don't think I can swing it. I gotta go to work."

"Okay," Fiona agreed.

Zia and Debbie were getting Liam his juice and breakfast, while Zia was having a tough time focusing much at all, and moving was a little sluggish, especially since she still had her cast from breaking her arm.

Debbie nodded to Zia.

Zia nodded, standing.

Debbie grabbed her coat and bag. "Hey, Steve."

Zia and Debbie walked toward the living room.

Fiona frowned. "Debs, Z, breakfast?"

Zia shook her head. "We're good."

⫷⑅⫸

Living Room

Zia and Debbie walked up to Steve.

"Hey, Steve, can we get a ride to the library?" Debbie asked.

Steve shook his head, pulling on a biker jacket over his normal jacket. "Motorcycle. No can do."

"When did you get a motorcycle?" Zia asked.

Steve grabbed his helmet. "Always had one."

Debbie narrowed her eyes. "Guess there's a lot we don't know about you."

Steve turned to see both of the suspicious looks Zia and Debbie were giving him, kneeling down to look them in the eyes. "Truth? I'm in the CIA and this is all just a cover."

Zia frowned. "You're not cool enough for CIA."

Steve chuckled, shaking his head, standing, walking out of the house, closing the door behind him.

Fiona called upstairs to the boys. "Breakfast!" She remembered that Zia hadn't taken her pills when she found them on the kitchen counter. "Oh, shit. Zia, get in here! Your meds."

Zia sighed, walking toward the kitchen. Debbie followed.

⫷⑅⫸

Kitchen

Zia walked into the kitchen to take her pills from Fiona.

Fiona handed her some water so Zia could wash the pills down.

Zia looked disheartened to have to take the pills, which only made her feel more numb than she usually did, but she still felt so depressed. "When is it supposed to get better?"

"Soon, Rhodes said," Fiona answered. "Hopefully soon. We just have to get through the rocky first couple of days, okay?"

Zia looked away, like 'rocky' was a huge understatement.

⫷⑅⫸

Store

Early that morning, hoping to get back home soon, Kimberly and JJ were looking through the store.

"What kind of plastic?" Kimberly asked.

"I can't remember the name," JJ told her. "But, uh, look for a triangle at the bottom stamped LDPE. Should be molded right into the plastic."

Kimberly found it. "Yeah, yeah, yeah, LDPE, right, got it. I don't know, feels kinda flimsy. Any decent acid's gonna eat right through this."

JJ shook his head. "Not hydrofluoric. What do we do, if they're still..."

Kimberly looked at JJ sadly, knowing that he felt so much guilt about having to do what he did. "I bet they won't even wake up. Not even if we took them to the hospital right now. And you had to do what you had to do in order to save us, JJ. Okay? Don't you dare go blaming yourself for that. This never would've happened if they just left us out of it."

JJ swallowed. "Yeah, well, we are in it, Kimberly. And if it keeps going like this, I don't know how we're ever gonna be able to get out."

JJ walked away into an aisle, sitting the bin down, and sitting in the bin, leaning back to see if it was big enough for a body, but clearly it wasn't, as it kept falling and flopping all over, comedically.

Kimberly looked around, somewhat amused, but more anxious than anything. "You look like a kid doing that."

"Fuck off," JJ replied.

They both managed small smiles.

Kimberly sighed. "Can't we just dump them somewhere? I mean, would anybody ever find them?"

"Yeah, in the river, or ditch, all covered in warms and maggots smelling like our dads when they're on a bender," JJ answered. "And they'd be able to trace that right back to us. This is the safest way, Kim. Trust me."

Kimberly sighed, nodding in agreement.

⫷⑅⫸

The Alibi Room

Frank was sitting at the bar, across from another female bartender working at the Alibi. "Any calls, Kate?"

"Yeah, actually, some A-hole was looking for you," Kate answered. "Left this number."

Kate took out the number, placing it down in front of Frank, going back to work.

"Hand me the phone, will you?" Frank asked.

"Your tab is bigger than my ass and you smell like kimchi and vomit," Kate ranted.

"Now stop that," Frank chided. "Your ass looks great."

Kate grabbed the phone, handing Frank the phone. "Like you in the sack, make it quick."

Frank turned away from her. "I wasn't quick. I was just busy that day."

Kate scoffed, pouring a shot for Frank.

Frank dialed the number, making a call.

Lou's voice was on the other line. "Hello."

Frank imitated a woman almost perfectly. "Yes, I have Frank Gallagher calling."

"Hey, Frankie. Got great news."

Frank spoke normally. "Who the fuck is this?"

"Your settlement is in."

Frank got excited. "Yeah! Which one?"

"Yeah, come see me. I'll give you the 411."

Frank laughed, doing a cheer, hanging up, turning to the rest of the bar. "Hey, everybody, next round's on me!"

No one seemed to buy that.

Frank took his shot.

⫷⑅⫸

Gallagher House - Kitchen

Kimberly walked in to see the rest of the Gallaghers having breakfast. "Ooh, bananas."

Lip raised an eyebrow at Kimberly. "You can't keep dodging us to not answer what happened."

Kimberly shrugged, peeling the banana in her hand. "Sure I can."

Kimberly took a bite of her banana.

Lip and Ian both gave Kimberly a look.

Fiona sighed.

Ian noticed that Zia was almost out of it again, touching her shoulder. "Zia, you need to eat something."

"And I will," Zia muttered. When Zia didn't make a move to eat, Fiona put a banana in front of her. Zia tilted her head. "Fiona."

"Zia, eat, please," Ian told her.

Zia was more frustrated than she realized, not having felt it, but clearly showed it. "I can't take my meds on an empty stomach, and Fiona goes crazy if I don't take them at the exact same time every day."

"We're just following your doctor's orders," Fiona told her.

Zia looked down. "Okay, well, you'll be happy when you don't have me to worry about anymore."

They all glanced up, worried about the choice of words.

"What does that mean?" Lip asked.

Zia looked up. "When I get better."

Kimberly, Ian, Lip and Fiona exchanged a look, concerned, not entirely convinced that was what Zia meant.

Carl and Debbie were both confused and concerned.

⫷⑅⫸

Fisher-Ball House - Kitchen

JJ had just gotten home, walking into the kitchen.

Veronica and Kevin were waiting for him.

"Hey, JJ, can we talk?" Kevin asked.

JJ looked at them, slightly uneasy, but knowing that this couldn't have been about the drug dealers. "Yeah."

Veronica gestured to the table.

JJ, Veronica and Kevin sat down.

JJ reached for his pills to take them, causing Veronica and Kevin to nod in approval, appreciating that he kept trying to keep the effort going even if it was hard.

"So listen, the adoption lawyer has spoken to Tristan already and given him the papers to sign over his parental rights," Veronica explained. "And they found Eliana."

"Really?" JJ asked. "Where?"

"Not far from here, actually," Kevin answered. "Oak Park."

JJ sat back, not happy with the revelation. "Huh. 15 minutes away? Seriously?"

"Well, she just got to Oak Park," Veronica explained. "Apparently, she just got back from Brazil."

"Right," JJ said, just now remembering. "Part Brazilian. How could I forget that?"

"Guess it's easy to, since she left," Kevin answered.

"Yeah, and it's not like Tristan ever gave a damn about letting you know about your Brazilian heritage," Veronica agreed. "Hell, me and Mama had to teach you the black history."

"Though you do make those Spanish jokes which are funny," Kevin added.

"Barely," JJ replied. "And that's not Brazilian. They speak Portuguese. So what now?"

"Now the lawyer spoke to Eliana, and she has agreed to sign away her parental rights," Kevin answered.

JJ nodded. "Good."

"But the lawyer would like to know if you would like to see Eliana first," Kevin explained.

JJ frowned in thought. "I don't even remember anything about her. Was there anything good about her being around, V?"

"I didn't really know Eliana," Veronica admitted. "I know that Tristan went to Brazil on one of his business trips, and came back with her, and they got married. They were pretty shady together, but Tristan obviously was way worse, being the drug dealing street gang mafia type. He started to become crazy and violent just before she left, but Eliana was nowhere near as bad as your father. She... she actually loved you. She may have been a bitch, and I don't know why she left, but she did love you more than anything."

JJ raised an eyebrow skeptically. "Enough to abandon me?"

"I'm pretty sure Tristan had a hand in keeping Eliana away," Veronica admitted. "Threatening her, but that's still no excuse."

"Right," JJ said.

"Look, JJ, you do not have to see Eliana if you don't want to," Kevin told him. "That's totally up to you. But if you do want to... to get closure and answers or whatever... that could be a good thing."

JJ swallowed. "Yeah. Maybe. Can I sleep on it?"

"Yeah, of course," Veronica answered.

"Take your time," Kevin told him.

JJ nodded, standing, walking away. He was so overwhelmed with everything already going on, he had no idea what to think or feel when he realized that his mother was back in the city after all this time.

⫷⑅⫸

Living Room

Carson was cleaning the living room, scrubbing the carpets.

Zia and Debbie walked in.

"Didn't you just clean that yesterday?" Debbie asked.

"Well, since CPS is bringing Ethan, I don't wanna take the chance that they'll say no to him living here, if Kevin and Veronica take him in too," Carson admitted.

"Kev and V will take Ethan in too, Carson," Zia pointed out. "Promise."

Debbie nodded. "Kevin already likes having you as a daughter. And I'm sure he'll love having Ethan around too. JJ likes both of you. Veronica'll come around more. You're so lucky you have a baby."

Carson scoffed. "I'm not lucky with the way that I got my baby. I didn't get a choice."

Zia looked at her sadly. "But you still love him."

Carson nodded in agreement, sitting back on the floor. "At first, I didn't think I was going to be able to. Because of what happened. But... he became the only light I could see in the darkness there. And the only light I can still see after everything. So yes. I love Ethan despite how I had him. And despite who his father is. Ethan's the only reason I could keep fighting and make it this far."

Zia and Debbie nodded in understanding and sympathy.

"Does it hurt?" Debbie asked.

"Sexual relations, abuse or childbirth?" Carson asked.

"All of them," Debbie answered.

"Yes," Carson answered.

Zia looked very disinterested with the thought of sex, like it was repulsive to her, which Carson noticed, but Debbie was overly curious, which caused Carson to be uncomfortable for obvious reasons.

Zia sighed. "We should go."

"I'm sorry I can't be more help to your mission, about finding out more about what Fiona's boyfriend is hiding," Carson told them.

"That's okay," Debbie assured. "You've got your meeting with Anya and Ethan. I totally get that."

Zia nodded in agreement. "You're gonna get him back for real, Carson."

Carson nodded, nervous but assured. "Thanks, Zia."

⫷⑅⫸

Old Fisher House - Basement

Emilio had died, but Domingo was awake, still restrained by a loop chain around his neck to the beam behind him.

Kimberly slid over two gallons of water, a plate of two sandwiches, a bucket and a roll of toilet paper.

Domingo started to eat. "Where's my cousin Emilio? He dead?"

Kimberly didn't answer, looking wracked with guilt, before walking upstairs.

⫷⑅⫸

Living Room

Kimberly was smoking a joint, leaning against the wall, leaning her head against the wall as she released the smoke, anxious and jittery.

JJ walked in.

"Did you find one big enough?" Kimberly asked.

"No," JJ answered. "Thought about buying two and..." He mimicked cutting a body in half. "Legs in one, torso in the other."

Kimberly made a face, looking away. "Jesus, JJ."

⫷⑅⫸

Basement

Domingo was unconscious.

JJ walked into the basement to get the body of Emilio, groaning at the smell. "Oh, Jesus. You're cool, you're cool. You're all good. You're all--you're all good. You know it. It's fine. It's just a bunch of meat. Come on."

JJ had Emilio wrapped in a plastic bag, wearing gloves as he dragged him up stairs, and into the house.

⫷⑅⫸

Dining Room

JJ unwrapped the body, putting the body into the plastic containers, pulling on his big yellow gloves and his goggles and mask on, opening the acid bottle in his hand, muttering sarcastically. "Thank you, drug dealers, for getting me and my best friend involved in cooking meth and selling drugs and putting our lives in danger and making us do something that we don't even wanna do. Thank you so much for the opportunity. I always dreamt about, I don't know, melting bodies."

JJ poured the acid into the container all over the body, groaning, just waiting for the body to dissolve and to get rid of the contents after.

Kimberly looked at JJ curiously. "What's going on? Other than this?"

JJ sighed heavily. "Eliana's in town."

Kimberly looked at him in shock. "Your mother Eliana?"

"Yeah," JJ answered. "Anya's lawyers finally tracked her down, and apparently she's staying a motel in Oak Park. Anya says if I wanna see her before she signs the papers, I should do it soon."

"Are you gonna go see her?" Kimberly asked.

"I don't know," JJ admitted. Feeling vulnerable and not ready to face this situation yet, he once again made a morbid joke to distract himself and change the subject. "It's fucked up that I'm more willing to focus on disposing of dead bodies than the fact that my mother's in town."

Kimberly tilted her head at JJ, knowing what he was doing, giving him a sympathetic look. "Whatever you want to do, I'll support you. I promise. Even if it's going to see Eliana with you, for like emotional support shit or whatever the fuck can make it easier."

JJ smiled slightly. "You mean that?"

"Hell yeah I do," Kimberly answered. They exchanged a small smile, still overwhelmed from everything. "I've gotta get out of here and head to work soon. Do you have to head back home for meeting with Anya about Ethan and Carson?"

"Yeah," JJ answered. "And we gotta get out of here anyway, and shower and change. We can't risk anyone knowing about what happened. If this gets back to Rod and Vlad in anyway... you, Natalia and Zia..." Kimberly swallowed, looking down. "I'm not gonna let that happen, Kimberly." Kimberly looked up at him. "I promise."

Kimberly nodded slightly, sniffling.

⫷⑅⫸

Gallagher House - Outside

Lip and Karen were having sex in the van outside the Gallagher house.

Even while Karen was riding Lip, she was ranting about her father. "He's such a douchebag. He's on this whole father-daughter purity-ball kick. He wants me to take a vow of celibacy so we can rekindle our father-daughter relationship."

Lip groaned, but was turned off by the conversation. "Maybe we could not talk about your father right now."

"Not what you had in mind for dirty talk?" Karen asked.

"Not exactly, no," Lip answered, flipping them over so that Karen was underneath him, as they continued to have sex.

"Oh, fuck," Karen said. "Oh, shit!"

Lip saw Carl outside the van, running upstairs of the back porch of the Gallagher house. "Carl's right outside. Shh!"

Karen was still loud. "Oh, fuck! Fuck!"

Lip bit down on his lip, lowering his head. "Fuck. Shh! Shit!"

"Keep going!" Karen demanded, letting out a cry.

Outside, up on the porch, Carl dropped a bottle with frozen orange soda inside, making it land on the ground and burst with an explosion, synced with Lip and Karen reaching their climax in the van.

Carl cheered when he saw the explosion of orange soda. "Yes! Shatterproof, my ass."

In the van, Lip and Karen were calming down from their highs, untangling from each other.

"Wanna go to the planetarium tonight and get high?" Karen asked.

"I can't, I'm busy," Lip replied.

"Doing what?" Karen asked.

"Less you know, the better," Lip stated.

"Are we still on for Thursday?" Karen asked.

"Yep," Lip answered.

"What about Friday?" Karen asked.

Lip shook his head. "Got something planned this weekend."

Karen raised an eyebrow skeptically. "With Natalia?"

"And Kimberly, Ian, JJ and even Malcolm," Lip answered. "It's something Natalia, Kim, Ian, JJ and I all used to do, and they wanted to invite Malcolm."

"Because of Micah pity or because of Malcolm living next door with her?" Karen asked.

Lip scoffed, looking away. "Jesus. It's not pity because of Micah, who was my little sister's best friend, if I have to remind you, so watch it." Karen looked away. "Malcolm's become a friend, and that's what we're doing. Hanging out with friends. I'd invite you, but--"

"They all hate me," Karen finished. "Especially Kimberly and Natalia."

"Maybe because of things you say like that," Lip pointed out. "Just something to think about. The less you did that, or picked fights with Natalia and Kimberly, less you'd have to worry about." Karen pouted, rolling her eyes, looking away. "And you don't have to be jealous over Lia, okay? Remember that she's dating Ian."

Karen didn't seem to care, looking away.

⫷⑅⫸

Library

Zia and Debbie were in the library.

Debbie grabbed a book from the shelf. "Crucial Confrontations."

Zia sat at a table, because one of Barry's friends, the one that Debbie agreed to go on a date with to get him to turn against Barry and get Barry sent to juvie, was at the checkout counter, keeping her distance.

Though this was the boy that tried to stop Barry from carving into Zia when he realized what the plan was and that it got too far.

Debbie put the book on the counter for check out.

The boy smirked at Debbie. "Haven't seen you in a while."

"Been kind of busy, Simon," Debbie told him. "As you know."

Simon held up a book. "I got a signed first addition of Harry Potter."

Debbie shook her head. "Overrated. Made a better movie than a book. And now with all those kid actors grown up, they're scarier looking than the villains." She looked over at Zia. Zia nodded to the computers, knowing that Debbie had Simon around her little finger by now. Debbie nodded in agreement, smiling. "Hey, can you help me and Zia on the computers?"

Simon glanced over at Zia nervously.

Zia smirked sarcastically, but still felt numb, sluggish, zombie like. "You can say it's making amends for what you did."

"I tried to stop Barry," Simon pointed out. "And I turned against him."

Zia scoffed. "Yeah, because Debbie said she would go on a date with you."

"Now you can show how sorry you really are and make things right for real," Debbie pointed out.

Simon sighed, knowing that was fair, nodding. "What do you wanna do?"

"Dig up some dirt," Zia answered.

Zia, Debbie and Simon sat at a computer.

Simon was ready to type, while Debbie was ready to write down anything they found.

"Name?" Simon asked.

"Steve," Zia answered. "Wilson? Wilton?"

"You kinda need to know what the name is before you can look it up," Simon pointed out.

Debbie nodded. "Try Wilton. In Lake Forest."

Simon did as told. "There are zero in Illinois, but there are 15 of them nationwide."

Debbie wrote that down. "Can you do it backwards?"

Simon frowned. "Notliw?"

"No, I mean, if we give you an address, can you work from there?" Debbie asked.

Zia took out the address that she had written down from Steve's phone in 1.08, waving the note pad at Simon, glaring at him.

Simon was nervous by Zia's glare on him after he had seen what she did to Barry, before looking at Debbie. "Hey, um, so sometime after this, we definitely can just go on that date, right?"

Debbie rolled her eyes. "Fine. Fine, yes. We'll go on the date."

Zia knew that Debbie was lying, smirking slightly, before reading the address. "1055 North Ave."

Simon typed it in. "Says the property owners are Lloyd and Candace Lishman."

Debbie nodded. "Hello, Ms. D-Lish."

Zia and Debbie stood.

"Cool, then we can hang out sometime?" Simon asked.

"We just did," Debbie replied.

Zia and Debbie smiled sarcastically, starting to walk away.

Simon, annoyed at being used, called after them. "Hey, what's up with you two hanging out with the new girl? That freak?" Zia stopped walking, glaring at nothing in particular. Debbie stopped, turning to Zia. "She's fresh out of juvie, right? What'd she do? Or who'd she do? From what I hear, the list is longer than my wang."

Zia turned around to glare at Simon. "That's not saying much." Debbie giggled at Zia's comeback. "And I still owe you this for helping Barry and those assholes at all. Since they almost set me on fire, broke my arm and carved a B into my fucking arm and you stood there and did nothing."

"Owe me what?" Simon asked.

Zia slapped Simon in the face, snapping his head to the side, walking away.

Debbie grinned, knowing that was very tame compared to what happened with Barry since Simon at least did speak up against Barry even if he did let it happen mostly. She followed Zia away.

⫷⑅⫸

Gallagher / Fisher-Ball Houses - Bathrooms

JJ and Kimberly both take a shower separately in their house, both overwhelmed and feeling guilty.

JJ reached the sink, leaning forward against it, breathing heavily, washing his face, looking up at the mirror in front of him, and hating what he saw.

Kimberly reached the sink, putting her hands against the wall to lean against it and steady herself, looking in the mirror, not sure she recognized who she was seeing.

⫷⑅⫸

Malcolm & Milkovich House - Living Room

Malcolm and Natalia were counting some money they had just gotten for themselves and JJ with the fake IDs.

Mandy and Mickey walked closer.

"Not bad," Mickey complimented.

"Yeah, but most of this is going to bills, or helping Kimberly and JJ with the debt to keep Kim, Natalia and Zia safe, or getting some actual fucking food and some decent shit for this place," Malcolm explained.

Mickey gave his sister a look. "Speaking of, I can't believe you got Malcolm to keep that from us until now, Natalia. Like what the fuck?"

"We had it handled, and we're fine," Natalia replied. "Relax."

Mickey shook his head. "Jesus, Lia."

"But we're thinking of blowing off some steam this weekend, if you wanna come," Natalia told them.

Mandy grinned. "Ooh, come where?"

"Natalia bargained concert three concert tickets, and Lip bought three as a late birthday gift since the concert's this weekend," Malcolm explained. "They, Ian, JJ and Kimberly wanna go, and they asked me."

Mandy nodded. "Good. You deserve it, Malcolm."

Malcolm chuckled. "That's what they said."

"Nice one for you assholes," Mickey stated.

Natalia, Mandy and Malcolm were not surprised by Mickey's response in the least, waving him off.

"I can get another ticket or two for you, but I just need enough money for it, since we all need the night out," Natalia told them.

Mandy smiled. "Well, thanks. What's the concert?"

"Florence + the Machine," Malcolm answered. "You in?"

Mandy grinned. "Oh, hell yeah."

Natalia and Malcolm smiled.

Mickey waved them off. "Fuck no. Leave me outta that."

The other three chuckled.

"Figured you'd say that," Natalia replied.

Malcolm shrugged. "Just had to ask."

"So you need more cash fast?" Mickey asked.

"Yeah," Malcolm answered.

Mickey looked at Malcolm in amusement, smirking. "Maybe you should take Mrs. Neiderider up on her offer. Huh, Malcolm?"

Malcolm groaned.

⫷⑅⫸

Flashback 1

Day - Mrs. Neiderider's House - Outside

(Song:) Hello Goodbye Take Care - The Diner

Malcolm was sitting outside, fixing the birdhouse.

Mrs. Neiderider walked out of the house wearing a expensive, high-low red lingerie.

Malcolm had his back to her so he didn't see what she was wearing. "Well, that should do it, Mrs. Neiderider."

When Malcolm turned his head, he saw what she was wearing, her lower half practically directly right in front of his face.

Malcolm stood, uncomfortable.

Mrs. Neiderider handed Malcolm some cash. "There are a lot of dark corners around my house that could use some attention, Malcolm."

Malcolm raised his eyebrows, nodding slightly, walking away, shaking his head, slipping the cash into the back pocket of his jeans.

(Song Ends)

⫷⑅⫸

Now

Day - Malcolm & Milkovich House - Living Room

Malcolm looked at Mickey, nodding sarcastically. "Thanks, for that."

Natalia smirked.

Mandy rolled her eyes, slightly jealous despite her best trying not to be. "You're not seriously gonna do it?"

"No," Malcolm answered. "What do you take me for?" Mandy smiled slightly. Natalia smirked knowingly. Mickey rolled his eyes. "But I could smash her birdhouse again."

"I can talk to Lip, see if we can find any gigs around that we can make some quick cash off of," Natalia pointed out.

Mickey nodded. "Right." He turned away, before turning back. "Wait, Natalia, Mandy." They both looked at him. "I just heard this morning from Iggy. Dad's back in jail."

Natalia and Mandy both looked at him in relief.

Malcolm looked at them in relief.

"You serious?" Mandy asked.

"What, you think I would tell you two this shit if it wasn't true?" Mickey replied.

Mandy tilted her head, looking between Natalia and Mickey. "So many we can get some of our things back home after all."

"Maybe," Natalia agreed. "Uh, steer clear for a little while, at least, okay?" Mandy and Mickey nodded in agreement. "I'll check with Iggy and see when it could be a good time to come over, if at all."

"Okay," Mandy agreed. "Yeah."

Malcolm looked between them, raising an eyebrow. "You guys okay?"

"What do you think?" Mickey asked with a scoff. "Better knowing that he's behind bars."

Natalia and Mandy nodded tensely in agreement.

Malcolm looked down, swallowing slightly. "Same here. After Micah." Natalia and Mandy looked at him sadly. Mickey even looked sympathetic, but awkward more than anything, knowing that their father helped kill his brother and caused all this damage. "If only it was that easy to get rid of Tristan."

"Well, Tristan's on the run now, right?" Mandy asked.

"For now," Natalia answered. "We don't know for how long though. He could come back."

"Well, let's just hope he doesn't, all right?" Mickey asked. "Case closed."

Natalia and Malcolm highly doubted that it was that easy, causing Mandy to look at them sympathetically.

⫷⑅⫸

Fisher-Ball House - Kitchen

Kevin, Veronica, JJ and Carson were all dressed nicely for the Social Services visit.

JJ sat alone in the kitchen, reeling from everything happening.

Veronica walked closer.

"Have I not made clear my desire to be left alone?" JJ asked.

"Oh, you demand to be left alone at least once a day," Veronica replied. "The words seemed to lose their weight behind them. What's going on?"

"A lot," JJ answered. "These drug dealers. Turning me into my father. Where Kimberly and I have to do fucked up shit to protect ourselves and everyone we love to make sure no one else comes after us because of our fucked up fathers." Veronica nodded. "Not to mention everything since the drive by. I have to take meds because of this stupid disorder, and I feel like a zombie. And, uh, you're being a bitch to Carson for no reason."

Veronica sighed, looking down. "Yeah. I've been working on that."

"You might wanna work a little harder," JJ pointed out. "Is it pathetic to try and see hope to make a family whole, and everyone we love safe? Or just seeing the world through one's own fear?"

"I think it's brave as hell for you to continue to fight for hope and try to make sure that all of us are safe and happy," Veronica answered. "Nothing about you is pathetic, JJ. I'm not sure why you care so much about some things, but..."

JJ shrugged. "Because if you don't care, then what's the point of living?"

Veronica didn't know how to answer that, looking at JJ sadly, but proudly that he still cared about so much even after everything that happened to him and all that was going on. She gave him a slight smile.

JJ returned the smile barely, still guilt-wracked, but trying to bury that for now.

⫷⑅⫸

Living Room

JJ and Veronica walked into the living room where Carson and Kevin were waiting.

Veronica noticed that JJ, Carson and Kevin were all nervous for different reasons. "Just be yourselves." She helped Kevin finish tying his tie. Kevin placed a hand on Carson's shoulder comfortingly. Carson tensed at first reaction, but knowing that he meant to reassure, started to relax. "Okay. Here we go." Veronica walked to the front door, opening it, smiling. "Hi. Come in."

Anya walked in with Ethan, who was in a carseat.

Carson, despite all her pain and anxiety from before, instantly smiled at the sight of her son. "Ethan, baby! Mama missed you so much." She took the carseat from Anya, carrying Ethan over to a space on the floor to sit down and kneel next to him. "Hi, baby. Hi."

Veronica, JJ and Kevin smiled slightly at seeing Carson light up completely when Ethan came in.

Kevin offered his hand to Anya. "Good afternoon."

Veronica smiled, shaking Anya's hand. "Hey, Anya."

"Kevin," Anya replied. "Veronica. JJ, staying out of trouble?"

JJ pressed his lips together, raising his eyebrows as he looked up, tilting his head. "As much as I can, at least."

Anya raised an eyebrow, knowing that a kid like JJ, rebellious and risk taking, would get into a lot of trouble even if it was just to protect his friends, but all she wanted to do was help people, and help this family, smirking slightly in amusement. "Mm-hmm. You still going to your sessions with Dr. Rhodes and Mr. Embry at the high school?"

"I'd assume you'd know that I may have skipped a few with Embry if you're asking that," JJ answered. "But I'm keeping up with Rhodes."

"You know the conditions of staying with Kevin and Veronica until you get adopted officially is to keep going to both meetings, weekly," Anya told him.

JJ sighed. "I know, Anya. It's been a hard few months, okay?"

"I know, but I'm trying to help you guys here," Anya pointed out. "Okay? So help me out here too."

Veronica and Kevin gave JJ a look.

JJ sighed, nodding in agreement. "Okay,"

"Thank you," Anya told him. "And as for Carson and Ethan, I'm here to observe the home visit today. So if everything goes good, then Ethan may stay overnight. And then we'll see about a longer stay with Carson."

"You telling us we don't know how to raise a child?" Veronica asked, walking away toward Carson and Ethan. "Come tell me I don't know how to be a mother?"

Anya shook her head. "You got it wrong, Veronica. I'm here to see how Carson mothers, not you."

"What do you mean?" Kevin asked. "Oh, please, have a seat."

Veronica, Kevin and Anya sat on the couch and chairs.

"Carson's only 11 years old, but she's still got her parental rights," Anya explained. "I need to make sure the child can handle the child. Do you understand?"

The Fisher-Balls nodded.

Carson looked up at Anya, nodding, hoping to do the best she could to be able to keep Ethan, picking Ethan up. Ethan giggled away as Carson tossed him up a little and caught him again, pulling him close to her, shaking her head in the crook of his neck, tickling him, which made him giggle more, giving him a big kiss on his forehead, propping him up on her hip.

JJ and Kevin smiled at this.

Veronica even couldn't keep a smile off her face.

Kevin grinned, hesitant on going to play with Ethan because of Carson's boundary issues given her trauma, but he clearly wanted to help. "Oh, baby Ethan. Look at you. You're hung like a little bear, aren't you? Hey, Anya? You really think that we can get Ethan as a foster kid, too?"

"I'm trying, yes," Anya answered. "It's gonna take a lot of paperwork, but we do encourage keeping family members together."

Kevin put a hand on Carson's shoulder supportively with a wide smile.

Carson couldn't help a smile, hope in her eyes. "Yay."

JJ and Veronica exchanged a look, smiling small smiles.

⫷⑅⫸

Jackson House - Dining Room

(Song:) Praise My Soul the King of Heaven - Firstcom Music

A prayer group was sitting at the table.

Sheila walked over from the kitchen with snacks. "Uh, Eddie's just down in the basement. He'll be right up. And of course, you will all get your shoes back when you go, so don't worry."

One of the men held up the Bible in his hands, making a joke. "It'd be great if mine came back shined."

They all burst into laughter.

Sheila, uncomfortable, laughed along as if she wasn't. "Oh, that would be great." There was a knock on the door. Sheila pointed upwards. "But at last came a knock and I thought of the door with no lock to lock. Robert Frost. I was a poetry major in college." As the group continued on with their Bible reading, Sheila went to answer the door. "Oh, sweetie." She opened the door and let Frank in, who took off his shoes as he did. "Okay, um..."

Frank walked through the living room and dining room without a second look to the group there. Sheila followed with friendly murmurs to the Bible group.

⫷⑅⫸

Kitchen

Frank took off his shirt.

Sheila walked up to him. "Oh, sweetie." She caught a whiff of him, putting her hands over her chest and stomach. "Oh, you are ripe."

"Oh, nothing a little Puerto Rican bath can't fix," Frank replied.

Sheila chuckled nervously. "Oh, honey, where were you last night?"

Frank stammered. "I had to spend the night with the kids. They needed a little Frankie time."

Sheila frowned. "Oh. You're such a good dad." Frank grinned, turning away to the sink, revealing that 'Property of Ⅱ β Ω" was written in marker across his back, with lipstick marks over his skin. Sheila walked over to the group in the dining room with some tea. "Oh, uh-oh. Uh-oh."

Eddie walked in. "Sorry, folks. I had a little plumbing issue. The house is not mine."

The group laughed over nothing.

(Song Ends)

⫷⑅⫸

Street

(Song:) Nowhere to Run - The Nights

A bus pulled over.

Zia and Debbie got off the bus, walking down the street, on a mission to find out what Steve was hiding.

⫷⑅⫸

Lou Deckner's Office

After getting showered and redressed, Frank walked into Lou's office, the same girl he had gone to help before in previous chapters. "Lou?"

"Frankie boy," Lou greeted. "How's it happening?"

(Song Ends)

Frank shrugged, closing the door behind him, not seeing her in the office, but hearing barking dogs. "Still from the left. Where the hell are you?"

Lou walked out of the bathroom with a baby carrier on her back. "Jesus, it's hard to piss with this thing on. That's a lie. It was the wiping that was tough."

"This from the escalator thing at the mall?" Frank asked.

Lou shook her head. "No, no, no. This is the train doors closing on your ankle."

Frank clearly hadn't remembered that one until now, shrugging. "Right. I haven't been the same since."

"Yeah," Lou said. "All I need is your signature and Monica's and the money is all yours." Frank walked around the desk to sign the papers. "With the exception of a third of it. It goes to me. Plus expenses."

Frank nodded, finishing his signature. "Sounds fair. Me. And Monica."

"Yay," Lou said. "That was a hell of a warm up. Unfortunately, those aren't the originals. You two will have to go down to the city legal offices and do it in person."

"What, I'm supposed to take off work to go do this?" Frank asked.

Lou gave him a look. "Of course not, because, as you know, this injury's prevented you from working, remember?"

Frank made a face. "Oh, shit."

Lou's pager beeped, which she pulled out. "Hey, look at that. Client just went into labor. Is that gonna be a problem? Getting Monica to sign?"

Frank shook his head unconvincingly. "No. Why would it be a problem?"

Lou scoffed. "Well, if memory serves, she was a summa cum laude cunt."

"Yeah, well, she was a lot of things," Frank stated.

"You even know where she is?" Lou asked.

Frank sighed, nodding. "I have a phone number. I'll make it happen."

"Uh-huh," Lou said, unconvinced. "I hope so. She's a joint claimant on this thing. No Monica, no money. Hey, do me a favor. Feed the dogs before you go? Bag of dog food in my desk drawer. Thanks, buddy."

Lou grabbed the baby bag at the side of the office before walking out.

Frank went to get the dog food, eating a few pieces of it before taking it back to the dogs. "All right. Come on. Get off of her."

⫷⑅⫸

Lishman Mansion - Kitchen

Steve returned to the Lishman mansion, standing in the kitchen, on the phone.

Lip's voice was on the other line. "Hey, man, it's Lip. I'm calling you from a phone booth. Just hit me back at whatever number comes up on your cell. It's important."

Steve was amused as he hung up and called Lip back at the payphone.

Lip was waiting in the cold, bouncing in place to keep himself warm, when the phone rang. He answered the phone, smoking a cigarette. "Hey. Thanks for taking long enough to let me enjoy the scent of urine."

Steve chuckled. "Yeah, I didn't even know phone booths existed anymore. What's up? Sounded urgent."

"Yeah," Lip answered. "I was just wondering. You, uh... you think you can loan me a couple bills?"

"I can pay you for a job," Steve answered. "You got a driver's license, right?"

"Few of them, yeah," Lip answered.

"All right, meet me by the L at 11," Steve told him.

Lip nodded, hanging up.

⫷⑅⫸

Outside

Zia and Debbie were knocking on the door of the Lishman mansion.

Candace Lishman opened the door, a woman twice Steve's age.

"Are you fucking our sister's boyfriend?" Zia asked bluntly.

Candace was taken aback, but amused, thinking it was comedic and cute. "If you're selling cookies, that's a hell of an opening line." Zia and Debbie walked in. "Do come in."

⫷⑅⫸

Inside - Living Room

Zia and Debbie walked in, looking around at the lavish mansion and everything in it, sitting down.

Candace walked in. "Can I get you something? Milk? Soda?" She picked up a weed pen and a joint. "A joint? It's medicinal."

Zia and Debbie sat down.

"No, thank you, Mrs. Lishman," Debbie answered. "How do you know Steve?"

"Who is Steve?" Candace asked, lighting her joint, taking a hit.

"He's our sister's boyfriend," Zia answered.

"How nice," Candace said.

"So he's not pushing it into you?" Debbie asked.

Candace coughed, from a combination of from smoking and from what Debbie just said.

Steve walked in from behind Zia and Debbie, not yet seeing them in the chairs in front of him. "Hey, Mom, me and Chip are gonna swing by the hospital to see Dad." He walked up to Candace, giving her a kiss on the cheek. "So you can relax tonight, okay?"

Candace smiled, cupping Steve's head. "Thank you, Jimmy. You take such good care of your Mama Bear." Candace gave Steve a peck on the lips. Zia and Debbie both cringed in disgust. Candace pointed to the girls, but didn't know their names. "Oh, uh, this is, uh..."

Steve turned around, stopping in shock when he saw Zia and Debbie there, who were both just glaring at him.

"Zia and Debbie," Debbie finished.

Zia glared at Steve. "Zia and Debbie Gallagher. Nice to meet you. Jimmy."

Steve was completely speechless. 

Candace walked away. "Jimmy is my youngest. Top of his class at Michigan in med school." Steve sat across from Zia and Debbie to look them in the eyes, but had no idea what to say. "He is going to be a cardiothoracic surgeon, like his big brother and his daddy." Debbie nodded sarcastically. 'He has been taking such good care of me since his father went into the hospital. A fender bender. Broke his knee cap."

Zia just glared at Steve, standing, turning around, walking out without a word.

Debbie stood, following her little sister. "Z."

Candace was still going on, not having seen the girls leave the room headed for the front door. "And you know doctors make the worst patients. Would you like to stay for dinner, sweethearts?" She heard the front door close with a bang as Zia and Debbie left the house. "Oh, shit. I liked them."

Steve looked at Candace nervously.

⫷⑅⫸

McDonalds

Kimberly was working at McDonald's, but she was completely overwhelmed given everything that was happening, and she felt like she could lose it at the slightest thing.

When the typical rush-hour began, a group of girls walked inside, talking and laughing loudly, all extremely tan and dressed like preps. Spoiled little girls with judgmental twinkles in their mascara-caked eyes.

"Hi, what can I get for you?" Kimberly asked in her practiced sweet voice.

Girl 1, a brunette, held up a finger, eyes on the display screen above the entire time. "Give me a second." Kimberly did not like the attitude, but she decided to bite her tongue, since a bit of attitude was not worth her job. With an effort, she kept a small, welcoming smile on her face. After a minute, the girl finally spoke. "I'll take a bacon ranch grilled chicken salad and one of those parfaits. Oh, and a bottled water. I don't feel like dealing with your horrible soda machines."

Kimberly managed a feeble laugh. The girl's superior tone of voice gave her a nearly irresistible urge to slap her. "Will that be all?"

Girl 1's face scrunched up in disgust, giving Kimberly a stink eye. "Uh, no. You would have known that in, like, two point five seconds if you'd been a little more patient."

Kimberly pursed her lips, making an incredible effort not to lose her temper, especially since Kimberly had waited to see if Girl 1 would continue with her order, and only spoke after five seconds of waiting, knowing that the girl was just purposely out to be a bitch. "Sorry about that. Go ahead and finish."

Girl 1 smirked at messing with Kimberly, glancing back to her friends. When she looked back to the front, she made a point not to look Kimberly in the eye, giving a short bark of a laugh. "Uh, yeah, I'll have two packs of apple slices." She paused for a few moments; Kimberly said nothing, deciding to let the customer show her intentions. Finally, Girl 1 laughed, and pulled a credit card out of her white sequined wallet, giving Kimberly a mocking smile. "I was just trying to see if you'd interrupt again. 'Kay, that's all."

Kimberly bit deep into her lip; her stomach roiled with anger. She was fantasizing about bouncing the girl's head off the counter as she inserted her card, waiting a few moments for accepting the payment and slowly pulled off the receipt, grabbing the bottled water and parfait from the fridge behind her, handing them to Girl 1; Kimberly gave the bottle a strong grip the first time the girl tried to take it.

The next girl, Girl 2, with blonde hair with makeup a bit too dark for the rest of her body and extremely chapped lips, stepped up. She smacked her lips before rolling her eyes. "Before I tell you what I want, I just want to make one thing clear. You will not interrupt me. If you do, it's straight to your manager. Get it?"

The words hit Kimberly like a brick; she had not been expecting such raw bitchiness, at least not so early on. "Hold on a second. Are you talking to me?"

"Yes, sweetheart, I am," Girl 2 answered, her voice dripping rancid honey. "Now I'm ready to order when you're ready to listen."

Kimberly's fists were clenched so tightly, she was almost sure she would draw blood. She glanced over at her coworker Josie, the only person that she worked with that she might consider a friend. Josie looked back at Kimberly with very high eyebrows.

Despite the overwhelming feeling of needing to beat the bitches in front of her, Kimberly slowly let out a breath, giving the brightest smile she could muster. "Go ahead."

"I'll have the first thing Asia ordered," Girl 2 began. "Also, I'll have--"

"What was the first thing?" Kimberly asked. "I'm sorry, I need specifics. I don't remember exactly what she ordered."

Girl 2's eyes went wide. "I thought I told you not to interrupt me. Are you slow or something?"

Kimberly's knuckles cracked from being clenched into fists so hard, as she felt nothing but boiling rage, her sweet voice mostly dropped. "Listen, you're not going to stand there and insult me and expect me to take it. It doesn't work like that, sweetheart."

Girl 2 let out an annoying laugh. "Wow. I guess I should have expected such a miserably shit attitude from someone who works at McDonald's."

Kimberly let out a laugh of disbelief. "Are you not the one ordering McDonald's, acting far worse than I am?"

"Ridiculous," Girl 2 snapped. "Absolutely ridiculous. You know what? Never mind. Take off all of the stuff on the screen. Oh, wait, you never even got around to it, did you? You were too busy playing dumb, like you didn't just click on the salad a second ago--"

"Hey, hey, hey," Kimberly said, raising her voice as high as she dared. "Either you fix your attitude and finish your order, or you can take the cashier next to me."

"Gladly," Girl 2 replied, giving Kimberly the dirtiest glare before getting into the second line.

The remainder of the all-female group was not nearly as horrible as the first two, though their laughing while ordering was still rude. Kimberly got through the orders in a couple of minutes, and finally the group moved on to fill their cups and take their food. They all pointedly ignored looking in Kimberly's direction.

The group of girls entered Josie's line.

Girl 2 was speaking to a middle-aged lady in Kimberly's line. "Oh, if I were you, I'd switch to this line. That girl is horrible. She never even let me order."

"Look how red her face is from anger," Girl 1 said. "What if she starts crying? Oh, God, I'd never stop laughing."

"Fine, I'll do it," Girl 3 said. "But which one's the manager?"

Kimberly had the cold feeling that they were conspiring against her.

Apparently, the lady was not the only one who caught the girls' advice. An older man and the little girl at his side also slowly switched lines.

Kimberly was so overwhelmed, she felt that she had lost the ability to speak, having no idea why these girls were trying to make today hell for her, especially since they had no reason to stay after they had already gotten their food and drinks, but they had just decided to linger to continue to get under Kimberly's skin.

Kimberly clenched her teeth. "Hey, girls. Can I help you over here? Back for seconds?"

Girl 1 scoffed in disgust. "Yeah, don't talk to us."

"Keep running those loose fucking mouths of yours and I'll make sure you never talk again," Kimberly replied, snapping. "I'm not some fucking slave that you get to humiliate, you spoiled ass bitches."

At this point, Kimberly was so angry that she didn't even care if she got fired.

JJ walked into McDonalds just in time to see an actual fight start, still dressed nicely from the meeting earlier that day.

Girl 1 took an abrupt step in Kimberly's direction as if to start a fight. "Bitch!"

Kimberly had not seen the large cup in Girl 1's hand until the girl reared it back and threw it at Kimberly. Kimberly ducked, and the cup burst apart behind her; some dark liquid exploding across the floor.

JJ knew that was a mistake after everything, since Kimberly was trying to bury everything she was going through to take care of everyone else, but knowing this would make her snap. "Oh, shit."

Kimberly's actions took control before she could even think, after she all the threats, and two near death experiences just for herself within the last couple of months, and this set her off.

Acting on pure instinct and retaliation, Kimberly jumped over the counter, launching herself at Girl 1. The prep gave a high pitched cry as Kimberly's forearm slammed against her chin. Kimberly punched her in the mouth, but before she could do more damage, she felt a fist close around her hair from behind. Suddenly, her head was being jerked back with breakneck force, cracking her neck.

Somehow, the world seemed to quicken around Kimberly, in a way that left her winded and confused. Her body really did seem to be controlling itself. After saving herself from being pulled to the ground by the hair, she whipped around and slammed her fist into her attacker's jaw (Girl 2). Kimberly punched the blonde in the jaw again, with as much strength as she could gather, and was satisfied when she stumbled back and let go of Kimberly's hair.

Suddenly, Girl 3 jumped onto Kimberly's back, her arms trying to close around her throat. Instinct caused Kimberly to grab the girl by the hair, then to brace her feet and swing her torso downward, as though bending over. The girl flipped over Kimberly's shoulder and crashed to the ground, face first, and did not feel an ounce of regret as she brought her foot down on the girl's face.

Girl 3 shrieked. "Oh, my God! My tooth! You chipped my tooth! You chipped my tooth, you fucking slut!"

Girl 4 approached Kimberly with hooded eyes.

Kimberly prepared to strike out.

JJ wrapped his arms around Kimberly's waist from behind and lifted her away, trying to prevent more of a fight that would get Kimberly fired or locked up. "Easy, easy, easy. You handled yourself. It's done. You can stop now."

Despite the rage boiling in Kimberly's chest, like a roaring fire, she felt herself relax slightly against JJ's chest. She was standing now, his arms secured around her, his mouth at her ear.

"I will ruin your entire life!" Girl 1 snapped, screaming, voice shaking tremendously.

"Come and try it, you stupid cunt!" Kimberly growled. "Like I'm supposed to be scared of you? I dare you!"

"Kimberly," JJ warned. "Kim, let's just go before cops are--"

JJ's attempts were drowned by the yelling match that ensued between Kimberly and the girls. If JJ was not so strong, Kimberly would have already had her hands wrapped around the girls' throats. What was better was that the girls would not even approach her, no matter how many times she dared them to.

JJ pulled Kimberly away. "Come on. They're gonna get you arrested if we don't get out of here."

"Kimberly!" the manager snapped. "You're fired."

"No," Kimberly replied, taking off her apron and hat, tossing them down on the counter. "I fucking quit. You saw them and did nothing. So have a nice fucking life."

Kimberly flipped the manager and the girls off with both hands.

JJ smirked slightly, unable to help but feel proud.

Kimberly knew that JJ was right and they both needed to get out of there before the cops got there, taking off as fast as they could.

Kimberly knew that if JJ hadn't shown up, she likely wouldn't have been able to think clearly enough to get out of there, and likely would've been arrested.

⫷⑅⫸

Jackson House - Closet

Frank sat alone in the closet, making a call.

Monica answered the phone. "Hello? Hello?"

Frank tried to speak, but getting cold feet, hurriedly hung up. "Shit! Shit! Shit, shit, shit!"

Sheila walked up to the closet with a box in her hands. "Frank? Frank, I certainly hope you're not pooping in there. It's a closet. Frank?" She opened the door. Frank smiled. "You didn't poop in there, did you?"

Frank grinned. "I was waiting to surprise you."

⫷⑅⫸

Living Room

Frank stepped out of the closet, suddenly shouting. "Surprise!"

Sheila gave a shriek, which caused both of them to laugh and hug.

Sheila walked toward the couch. "You got me!" She stopped, turning to face him. "Oh, Frankie."

Frank went to the fridge, opening it to grab a beer. "Hey, do me a favor." He handed the number to Sheila. "Call this number and ask if Monica is there. And if she is, tell her... congratulations, she's won."

"Who's Monica?" Sheila asked.

Frank closed the fridge, popping open the beer. "Doesn't matter."

"What'd she win?" Sheila asked.

Frank looked through the drawers in the kitchen. "Uh, I don't know, whatever. A lottery. Something."

"Lottery?" Sheila repeated.

Frank walked into the dining room, through to the living room. "A prize. A teddy bear."

Sheila followed. "What for?"

Frank turned to face her in exasperation, annoyed. "Jesus, with the questions, already." He sat down on the couch. "Just call. Say it's a teddy bear." He stood, pointing at Sheila. "And a hundred backs. And she has to pick it up. Just say that."

Sheila looked upset. "Well... I hope this Monica, whoever she is, worked really hard for this prize."

Sheila put the phone down on the table.

Frank tilted his head. "Sheils."

Sheila stormed toward the stairs, crying. "I didn't get a teddy bear."

Frank sighed. "Sheil." Sheila was already upstairs. "Shit."

⫷⑅⫸

Sheila's Room

Sheila was laying on her bed in the dark, sunlight coming in through the windows, but the blinds were closed.

Frank walked in. "Hey." He closed the door behind him, walking toward the bed. "Hey. Come on." Sheila had the blanket over her head, not looking at him. Frank sat on the foot of the bed. "She didn't really win a teddy bear. But you wanna know what? If I was giving away teddy bears, you would be absolutely top of the list." Sheila grabbed a tissue, not speaking. Frank sighed, finishing his beer, crushing the can in his hand, tossing it in the trash, before climbing underneath the covers with Sheila to look at her. "If you will do this for me... I will dress up anyway you want. No safety word."

⫷⑅⫸

Living Room

Frank and Sheila were sitting at the table.

Frank had a beer bottle.

Sheila was on the phone. "Is this Monica?" Frank gave Sheila a 'perfect' hand signal. Sheila spoke in a deep, professional voice. "Well, hello. This is Sheila from Market Promotions. Can I ask you where you do all of your grocery shopping? Well, yes. That's right. You've won!" Frank raised his arms in a mock cheer. "First prize. Congratulations." Frank stood, walking around the table, taking a drink of beer. "It's $100. Yes."

Frank walked by Sheila again, whispering to her. "And a teddy bear."

"And--" Sheila started, turning to Frank. "What?"

"Teddy bear," Frank whispered. "Teddy bear." He danced like a teddy bear for a second. "Teddy bear."

Sheila nodded. "And a teddy bear! And a great big teddy bear. Hello? Yeah."

"What?" Frank whispered.

Sheila put her hand over the receiver of the phone. "She's crying."

Frank made a face, turning away. "Oh, fuck."

Sheila spoke to Monica on the phone. "Yeah, no, I've never won anything either."

Frank turned to Sheila, whispering. "No one cares."

"It's so great," Sheila said. "Yeah. I'm thrilled."

Frank put a hand to his head, just wanting to get this over with. "Zip it."

Sheila smiled. "I'm thrilled for you."

Frank pointed to Sheila, whispering. "Get to the fucking point."

Sheila nodded, doing as told. "Anyway, prizes will be given out at 3:00. At the store. Yes. WGN's own Tom Skilling will be presenting."

Frank frowned. "What?"

Sheila bit her fist to keep from laughing, listening to Monica, putting her hand over the receiver, whispering to Frank. "She doesn't know Tom Skilling."

"I don't know fucking Tom Skilling," Frank replied, frustrated.

Sheila spoke to Monica. "He does the weather. Tom Skilling does the weather on WGN." Frank was about to whisper-rant at her again, but Sheila spoke over him. "Anyway, 3:00 on the dot. Jim Ramsey might be there too."

Frank stumbled slightly in his frustrations. "Oh, Jesus Christ."

"He does weekend weather," Sheila explained.

Frank took the phone from her. "Hang up."

"Okay," Sheila said. "Congratulations. See you there, Monica."

Frank hung the phone up, going to put it up. "What did she say? Is she coming?"

Sheila was dumbfounded. "How can you not know who two of Chicago's weathermen are? What kind of person is this Monica?"

"Is she coming to get the fucking prize or not?" Frank asked.

"Yeah," Sheila answered. "She--oh, she's going. She's excited about that teddy bear."

⫷⑅⫸

Lishman Mansion - Outside

Zia and Debbie were sitting across the street from the Lishman mansion, sitting on tiny hills of snow.

Steve walked out to join them. "You know, not sure I can prove it, but I think it's colder on the North Side." They ignored him. Steve sighed. "Zia, Debs, let me take you home."

"We're not supposed to take rides from strangers, and it's clear that you are a stranger," Debbie replied.

Steve sat next to them. "Oh, man."

Zia stood so that she wasn't sitting next to him, turning to face Steve. "And you do actually have a girlfriend here too, don't you? Separate life, different girlfriend? You're cheating on both of them."

Steve didn't answer, looking down.

Zia shook her head angrily, and didn't waste time in raising her cast to swing down at Steve's crotch to hit him harshly in the balls, making him groan in pain.

Debbie had trouble not laughing, grinning.

"Shit!" Steve complained. "Really? Again?"

"I told you it would happen again if you hurt Fiona again," Zia replied. "Cast hurts a lot more, doesn't it?"

"Yes, it does," Steve answered. "Jesus Christ." Zia raised her cast again. Steve raised his hands to stop Zia, clearly nervous. "Whoa, whoa, whoa! Enough, all right?"

"This will look like nothing compared to what Kimberly will do," Debbie pointed out.

Steve knew that they were right, sighing heavily. "You gonna tell Fiona and Kimberly?"

"Exactly what are we supposed to tell them?" Debbie asked. "That your name isn't Steve? That you have a family in Chicago we've never met? Or that your mom kisses you on the lips? Which is really gross, by the way."

Zia nodded. "Disgusting."

Steve was still recovering from Zia hitting him in the nuts with her cast. "Life gets really complicated when you're an adult. I mean, you can't possibly understand these things right now."

"I understand that you lied to our sister," Zia told him. "Why?"

Steve was struggling to find a way to explain in a way that they would understand. "Because I was raised by a pack of wolves. Just like you were. Only my wolves went to Harvard. You know they have red wolves at Lincoln Park Zoo. Maybe we could go check them out sometime."

Debbie stood, pacing. "Trying to distract us by asking us out on a date?"

Steve pushed himself up, unsteady on his feet after being hit so hard, which caused Zia to smirk slightly. "I do not wanna be a doctor. I do not wanna be like the rest of my family. What I want is Fiona. I love her."

Debbie turned to face him. "Love is fleeting, Jimmy. What are your intentions? You're distracting her, and we need her in the game for at least a few more years."

"I don't care about her taking care of us," Zia told him. "I just can't have you breaking her heart. So if you're not serious about sticking around, back off now."

Steve thought that was fair enough, sighing. "I bought her a house. Is that serious enough?"

Zia and Debbie were both surprised by this. "You what?"

Steve nodded. "Come on. I'll show you."

(Song:) Training Wheels - The Diner

Steve offered Zia and Debbie both a hand, but they both refused his hands.

Zia pushed Steve's hand away from her as she walked ahead of him.

Debbie stuck her hands in her pockets as she walked ahead, alongside Zia.

Steve sighed, following.

⫷⑅⫸

North Wallace Street

Steve drove Zia and Debbie home, but instead of going to the Fisher-Ball, Malcolm/Milkovich or Gallagher Houses, he led them to a house across the street from the Gallagher house.

Debbie couldn't help but smile. "Really?"

"Yeah," Steve answered.

"Yes, yes!" Debbie cheered.

They walked up the porch steps.

"Didn't the owner here die two months ago?" Zia asked.

"Yeah, Mr. Harris," Debbie answered. "They say he died of lung cancer, but we're all pretty sure it was full blown aids. But not like that makes much of a different. I mean, Malcolm, Natalia, Mandy and Mickey moved into the house next door where our old next door neighbor died, and they make it work."

Zia shrugged. "True."

⫷⑅⫸

Steve/Fiona's House - Living Room

Steve unlocked the door, letting Zia and Debbie in, showing them around.

Debbie looked around in awe. "Oh, my God. Has Fiona seen it?"

"No, she doesn't know about it yet," Steve answered. "I was gonna fix it up a bit and surprise her when the time is right."

Debbie was very excited. "Do you guys think that we could build above ground walkways that can connect our house with Malcolm and the Milkovich house, and JJ, Veronica, Kevin and Caron's house, and then our house to this one?"

"What, like a Habitrail tube?" Steve asked, amused.

Debbie grinned. "That would be awesome."

Zia was still numb and distant, looking around like she didn't feel anything about this at all.

"Are you gonna tell Fiona?" Steve asked.

Zia and Debbie both looked at Steve.

Zia crossed her arms over her chest. "Don't know yet, Jimmy-Steve."

Steve shook his head. "Don't call me that."

"I'm gonna call you that," Zia replied.

Debbie tilted her head. "I saw a really cool pink vest at the mall."

Steve was unsurprised that they would have him buy their silence. "Really?"

Debbie smiled. "And I could use a new rolling pin and flour sifter. Sheila's teaching me how to bake."

Steve looked at Zia. "Anything you want?"

Zia tilted her head in thought. "Stuff to build the fort that Kimberly, Lip, Carl, Debbie and I were talking about? After Barry and those assholes cornered me in the park. To keep me from shutting down again."

Steve nodded at the fair request. "What kind of fort we talking about?"

"We'll get you a list," Debbie replied.

Steve raised his eyebrows, amused. "Anything else?"

Zia and Debbie exchanged a look, shaking their heads.

"Not for the moment," Debbie answered. She ran toward the stairs. "So which room would be mine when I sleep over?"

Zia stayed downstairs.

Steve walked over to Zia. "Hey. You okay?" Zia shook her head. "You won't tell on me, will you?"

In Zia's mind state, in a tiny, mini stupor, she seemed to hear something else from Steve, which he wasn't really saying at all. "Because I saw what you did."

Zia frowned, confused. "What?"

Steve didn't really say this either, but in Zia's mind, this little tiny glimpse of a nightmare felt so real. "I said because they'd shoot me if you did."

Zia frowned, scared about what was going through her mind, but knowing that he wasn't really saying that. "Oh."

Steve frowned, concerned. "You should really get some rest, Zia. You don't look well."

Zia swallowed. "Yeah, thanks. See ya."

(Song Ends)

⫷⑅⫸

Jackson House - Kitchen

Karen stood at the fridge, on her phone, putting her phone away, taking out some food.

Eddie walked up to Karen. "Not going out with that Gallagher degenerate tonight?" Karen didn't answer, walking away to make herself a sandwich. "Good. You deserve better. I've been reading more about this purity ball thing. It says here you can rededicate yourself as a virgin. Start over. Isn't that nice?" Karen ignored him, reaching past him to the drawer to take out a butter knife, turning to her sandwich stuff. "I mean, you show up, you confess your transgressions, and pledge yourself to be pure again in the eyes of the Lord. I'll give you the damn car."

This finally got Karen to speak to him. "Really?"

Eddie handed the purity ball pamphlet to Karen.

⫷⑅⫸

The L - Station

Lip was waiting in an L station for Steve.

Steve walked up to Lip, checking his watch. "Fiona would be pissed if she knew you were into this shit with me."

They walked down the stairs.

"Well, what she doesn't know won't hurt her, right?" Lip asked.

"I'm guessing this is about you wanting to help Kimberly and JJ with the debts, keep Kimberly, Zia and Natalia safe?" Steve asked.

"Yeah," Lip answered. "Yeah, and something happened the other night, and Kimberly and JJ are all messed up about it but they're not talking to me, or Ian or Natalia about it, so... whatever happened, it's serious, and I..."

"Just wanna help out your sister and one of your best friends," Steve finished. "Protect your sisters and Natalia. I get it. And I wanna help too, without Fiona telling me no, which is why I told you about this job. All right. Take at hand, you'll be driving the follow car. Golden rule, always use a follow car."

⫷⑅⫸

Street

Lip and Steve walked down the street, looking around.

Lip spotted a nice car. "Hey, silver Mercedes."

Steve glanced back. "And a security camera at the intersection."

"Why don't we head up to some asshole town like Lake Forest?" Lip asked. Steve pressed his lips together since he was from there. "Plenty of douche-mobiles up there."

"No," Steve replied.

"I was thinking--" Lip started.

Steve turned to face Lip. "Listen to me. No. 500 bucks. You follow me after I lift the car. You help out with the debts, I get my work done. That's it. Okay?"

Lip shrugged, nodding. "All right, man."

Steve looked around, becoming frustrated. "Shit."

Lip knew why he was frustrated, smirking. clapping his hands together. "Rule number two. Always remember where you parked the follow car."

Steve gave him a look, walking away.

⫷⑅⫸

Milkovich House - Hallway

Natalia was trying to sneak into her home to get to her room after the news that Terry was in jail, but of course, her luck wasn't that great.

Already somehow home, Terry pressed a gun against Natalia's back, making her freeze. "What are you doing here? What are you doing in my house? I think you've outstayed your welcome."

Natalia wanted to snap back, but knew she couldn't, keeping her voice low and calm. "I thought you were in prison."

"Somebody paid my bail, knowing you'd come back here as soon as you got word that I was back in to get things you left behind," Terry replied. "What, no apology for last time?" Terry cocked the gun. Natalia swallowed, knowing that he would use the gun on her if she didn't apologize, closing her eyes. "What, you got nothing to say? Answer me, bitch."

Terry pressed the gun against Natalia's spine with more force.

Natalia could feel the cracks in her back, hating to have to apologize, but knowing she had to in order to protect herself. "I'm sorry for what I said. Don't shoot me. I just came to pick a few things up. That's all. I just need two minutes, that's it, and I'll be gone."

"Why should I allow you to do anything?" Terry asked. "You come into my house and speak down to me, and you expect me not to do anything about it?"

Natalia tried to stay calm. "No, I just... I'm sorry." She knew what she had to say in order to protect herself and get what she wanted with the least amount of damage, but knowing that either way, there would be damage. "I'll take my punishment. Just please... let me go, after."

Terry was definitely sober. If he had been drunk, he would have already thrown Natalia to the ground and pummeled her, just to show her that he could, or did something much worse. Instead, he jerked the gun away from her back, tossing it onto the nearby table.

Natalia slowly turned to face him.

Terry gave her a dark, evil glare. "Your two minutes have started. First, what are you trying to get?"

Natalia's grip tightened on the doorknob. "Just a few clothes. It won't take long."

⫷⑅⫸

Natalia's Old Room

Natalia burst through the door, but closing it was not an option, as Terry pressed a hand against the door, glaring at Natalia as she bolted for her closet.

Clothes had not been what she had come for, but to avert a disaster, Natalia jerked a few of the leftover clothes from their hangers, nothing she truly cared about, grabbing a few other things that she could fit into her bag for her room over at Malcolm's. She then hastened to her bed, dropping to the ground.

"What are you doing?" Terr asked.

Natalia didn't glance up, lying smoothly. "I left a pair of shoes under my bed." It was true that she had left a pair of shoes there, but as she searched blindly for them, she used her other hand to search on the bottom of the bed for what she had truly come for. Her fingers slipped into the hole in the ripped fabric, but then the horrible realization hit her. "No."

Terry laughed. "What? Your little money stash missing? I found it after you insulted me and ran out. It's all gone. You get a few hundred cash from waitressing or babysitting? Tried to start a college fund or something? I don't know what made you think you could ever amount to anything better than the worthless mistake you are. You know that you'll never live long enough to actually make it to college. If you don't get sick like your mom did, then something else would've killed you either way. Had half the mind to do it myself more than once."

Natalia swallowed, glaring. "You spent it all? I needed that--"

Terry just grinned. "At least I spent it on something useful. Face it, you're a retard. You never would have made it past high school. Don't know how you even graduated 8th grade." Natalia took a shaky breath, looking away, glaring, shaking her head. "Now get the hell out of this room and join me in the living room. We have some guests."

When Natalia didn't move, Terry grabbed her by the arm and dragged her out of the room.

⫷⑅⫸

Living Room

Terry dragged Natalia into the living room by the arm, gun in his other hand.

Natalia was confused by the presence of the other men in the room, having never seen them before. "What the hell?"

Terry shrugged. "Throwing an orgy. You kids are invited."

"You're joking, right?" Natalia asked.

A man nearby in a chair turned the chair around, revealing that it was Tristan, as he scoffed a laugh. "Basically. But it's a thought."

Natalia looked at Tristan in shock and horror. "What the fuck?"

Terry smirked. "That's right. You know I hate even having a black guy under my roof, but Tristan's kept me up to date about you and your little friends. How you and Kimberly and Zia Gallagher almost got caught up in Tristan's service to help pay some debts. Charging people to fuck my daughter? Not like I haven't. What do you say, Natalia? Help an old man out, will you?"

Natalia was absolutely disgusted, but not surprised by Terry in the least, glaring at both him and Tristan, hiding any fear that she could have felt. "No."

Terry raised his eyebrow dangerously. "No? You'd make real good money. Make yourself useful then."

Tristan chuckled. "Or she could do something a little more useful for me. Like you said you've done with her."

Natalia's mouth trembled, but she was more angry than upset, even though she was scared, but refused to let that show. "Or..." Her voice at first was pitiful, but it rose steadily as she spoke in fury. "Or you can stop being junkie pieces of shit and fuck yourselves."

Suddenly, all was silent.

Tristan suddenly rose to his feet, knocking over another guy to the table as he did. "What the fuck did you just say to me, you little bitch?"

"I said," Natalia growled, eyes locked on Tristan's, then Terry's defiantly. "That I hope you rot in hell. After what you two did to all of us. To Micah. To JJ. And Zia. I'm not doing this, you stupid, worthless sons of bitches."

Terry raised his hand to strike Natalia in the face, snapping her head to the side. "Don't you dare speak to me that way!"

Due to her mouthing off, Natalia got the chance to distract Terry enough so that she could steal his gun, elbowing him in the face to make him let go of her, hitting him in the stomach with the gun to make him back away, backing away from him, aiming the gun at Terry. "Stay the fuck away from me."

Tristan pulled out his gun, aiming. "You really think that he's the only one with a gun here, Natalia? I've heard Eliana's back in town. Must be nice for JJ. Be sure to tell him and Kimberly that whatever they plan on doing, they still can't go to the cops without getting all three of you, Zia and whoever the hell else hurt or put in the damn ground next to Micah Maxfield. Sure that the Gallaghers, Veronica, Kevin, Malcolm and your siblings would hate that so. But I also hear that the two guys that Rod and Vlad sent in to watch Kimberly and JJ went MIA. If they catch wind of what I already did, then they'll be back here so fast. But why let them have all the fun with taking the three that all of them are so desperate to keep safe? Wanna stop that from happening? Keep JJ paying the goddamn money."

Natalia aimed the gun back and forth between Terry and Tristan to keep them from coming any closer, but she couldn't risk firing at Tristan because she knew that he was likely the better shot and could kill her before she could kill him. So to buy herself some time and distract them, Natalia fired a bullet, but Tristan and Terry both ducked, the bullet shattering some glass nearby, but it bought Natalia enough time to take off out of the house and run down the street.

⫷⑅⫸

Street

Running down the street, Natalia pushed against the strong wind that iced her skin, tears burning in her eyes. She ran, and ran and ran, especially after hearing the gunshots that Terry and Tristan fired, ducking to make sure that she didn't get hit.

As the cops were called and sirens blared to chase down Terry and Natalia, hearing the gunfire, Natalia continued to run as fast as she could.

Tristan disappeared before the cops showed up, vanishing seemingly without a trace.

Terry was chasing after her as fast as he could, firing with another of his guns, but when the cop car drove onto their street, Terry ran away in the opposite direction.

Natalia didn't stop running for anything.

Until a hand caught her jacket and pulled her backward. Natalia whirled around, raising the gun still in hand.

After his job with Steve, Lip found Natalia running for her life like this and instantly wanted to help, having no idea what the hell was going on.

When Natalia aimed the gun at Lip, Lip jumped, holding up his hands. "Whoa, whoa, whoa! Natalia! Lia, it's just me."

Natalia processed the fact it was Lip. A light that made her feel a bit less as if she were trapped in a twisted nightmare consisting of distorted faces and emptiness and darkness and evil. "Lip?"

"What happened?" Lip asked worriedly. "What's wrong?" Natalia was gasping to catch her breath, having a panic attack, tears streaming down her face. Lip grasped both her shoulders tightly, staring into her eyes in worry and horror, desperately searching for an answer. "Lia. What happened?" Natalia couldn't stay standing, unable to breathe properly, dropping the gun in her hand to the ground. Although the two stood in the middle of the road, Lip helped Natalia sit on the ground. Natalia didn't notice how the ground was damp against her jeans. All she could focus on was the fact that she could not breathe. Lip sat beside her, still trying to calm her down. "Breathe. Breathe. It's all right, Natalia. You're okay. Just focus on breathing."

Natalia shook her head, unable to contain a sob. "I ca--can't."

The sound broke Lip's heart. Not because she was crying, but because she sounded like a small child, sobbing uncontrollably and unable to stop. He felt his heart clench. Lip had never seen Natalia like this, so broken and vulnerable. In fact, he had never seen her cry at all. Had never known that, below the cool and uncaring demeanor, this side of her existed. It absolutely terrified him. He didn't know what to do or how to calm her down. Natalia squeezed her eyes shut, hugging her stomach, as if she were trying to keep herself together. The way she rocked back and forth was agonizing to both of them. Lip pulled Natalia into his arms, wrapping her in his protective embrace. Natalia didn't object, she didn't have much of a reaction to it at all. But as the time passed, with his soothing whispers and stroking of her hair, Natalia managed to calm down.

Soon, Natalia's breathing reached a steady pace. Her emotions were all over the place, confusing her. She had gone from reserved and distant to angry and outspoken to sobbing herself into a panic attack, and now she wasn't sure if she was angry or disappointed.

Lip didn't dare to remove his arms from around her. "Are you okay?"

Natalia let out a shaky sigh. "Yes." She forced herself out of the hug, not able to meet Lip's eyes. "I don't know what the fuck just happened. This... this isn't me. I don't do this. I don't break."

Lip swallowed worriedly. "Everyone's allowed to break once in a while. Even more." Natalia swallowed, looking down. "Was it your dad?"

"Lip..." Natalia trailed off.

"Just tell me if it was," Lip told her. Natalia barely nodded. Lip was already so angry, but he didn't know what they could do. "What happened?"

"We knew that he was in jail, so we thought it was finally safe to go back for things we left behind, including cash that could help with the new place," Natalia answered. "But it was just for a night, and he was there. Tristan paid his bail, apparently, because he knew I would try to go back home to get my shit when I knew Terry was locked up."

Lip was even more horrified. "Tristan was there?"

Natalia nodded. "They taunted about everything that happened since Micah. Tristan knows Eliana's in town, and that Kimberly and JJ are dealing to pay his debts. He said that they have to keep doing it or he'll take me, Kim and Zia himself. He was even talking about fucking me right there. And Terry was just going along with it, and..."

Lip's face twisted with horror and rage. "Are you fucking kidding me?"

Lip instantly jumped to his feet.

Natalia reached out to grab Lip's arm to stop him. "No. It's okay."

"No, that's definitely not okay," Lip told her, anger rolling from him like steam, nearly tangible.

Natalia stood, her legs aching. "They have their guns, Lip. My dad almost shot me with a fucking shotgun. Tristan almost shot me. They'll do it to you for real if you go back, so please. Don't." Lip paused at this, horrified, but not shocked at this point. "They tried to kill me, Lip. They'll try and kill you too. I just... I've already lost too fucking much because of them. To them. We all have. I'm not losing you to them too."

Lip was still so angry and protective, but more worried about making sure that Natalia was safe and okay now especially after hearing this, knowing that he didn't have a chance against Terry and Tristian with their guns, no matter how much he wanted to make them pay for everything they did and to try and keep Natalia and his sisters and JJ safe. "What are we supposed to do, Natalia? Every time they get locked up, they just get back out, even more pissed than before."

"I know," Natalia whispered, desperate, exhausted. She looked at the gun on the ground, slowly picking it up, sighing heavily. Lip looked at her sadly, both of them on edge and feeling defeated. "I don't wanna deal with it right now, Lip. I just... can we just go? Please?"

Lip's features smoothed over so slightly at hearing Natalia plead like that, so desperate and exhausted, heartbroken by the sound. He wrapped an arm tightly around Natalia's shoulders, leading her down the street.

⫷⑅⫸

Eliana's Hotel Room

JJ couldn't go to sleep that night. He found out where Eliana was staying and went to knock on her hotel room door.

Eliana opened the door, looking at JJ outside. "Oh, my God. JJ." JJ looked at Eliana, not knowing how he was supposed to feel, and definitely not knowing how he felt in the moment. "Oh, come in, come in." JJ walked in. Eliana closed the door behind him. "You look so handsome. God, has it really been 14 years?"

"Yeah," JJ answered. "It has."

"I didn't expect to see you so soon," Eliana admitted. "I thought that maybe you would wait to be brought over by the lawyer, or..."

"I was going to," JJ answered. "But, uh... I couldn't sleep. So..."

Eliana nodded. "I understand."

JJ took a deep breath. "Look, I don't wanna waste any time here."

"Waste," Eliana repeated sadly.

"I just wanna get to the point," JJ admitted. "Where have you been for the last 14 years? Why did you leave? Why did you leave me? Better yet, why did you leave me with that psychopath."

"I didn't just leave you," Eliana told him.

"Being abandoned at two years old tells a different story," JJ replied.

Eliana bit her lip, running her hands through her hair, knowing that this was going to be hard, but had been hoping to ease into it, not just go right into it, but knowing that JJ deserved answers now. She sat down, sighing heavily. "It's a very long story, JJ. One that goes back to your grandparents and I when we lived in Brazil."

"So?" JJ asked.

"Your father..." Eliana trailed off. "Tristan came to Brazil for business, and we met. We started dating. Before he became the psychopath he turned into. And... my parents and I, were in a lot of danger in Brazil with other families staged against ours. It was basically a war. And you were born in the middle of it. So... my parents had arranged a marriage between Tristan and me... and we came back to America with you. To raise you."

JJ frowned in confusion and curiosity. "Wars between families? I..."

"That part doesn't matter right now, Jeremiah Jordan," Eliana told him.

"Just... JJ," JJ corrected.

"Okay," Eliana agreed. "JJ."

"So you're saying that you were..." JJ trailed off.

"An illegal immigrant," Eliana answered. "Yes."

JJ was stunned to hear this. "Shit."

"Yeah," Eliana agreed. "Shit."

JJ had to sit down. "So what? ICE almost caught you, and realized the marriage was fake, and you took off?"

Eliana shook her head. "I wish that was the case, but no. I was never planning on leaving you with Tristan. I saw how psychotic your father was becoming, and I would never want to leave you in his hands. I didn't just leave, but I'm sure that's what Tristan told you and Veronica."

JJ realized. "He turned you in. Didn't he?"

"Yes," Eliana answered. "I was going to take you away, and we were going to be fine, just the two of us. But he found out what I was planning, had the marriage certificate dissolved since it wasn't an American marriage certificate to begin with, and called ICE. They arrested me, not just for being an immigrant, but for many other charges. Including ones I was involved with with my parents. Your grandparents. I was involved with plenty of bad things back then, but mostly it was just because of family loyalty. And I would always do anything for family. Including not giving up any information on my parents when I was arrested. Added with the illegal immigrant part and the family criminal activity part... and me refusing to give up my parents part... I was in the detention center for 12 years. In a facility where my parents couldn't find me. And during all of that time, I... I was barred from returning to the country."

JJ swallowed, nodding, processing. "In prison and barred for 14 years. You never had a chance to come back until now."

"Exactly," Eliana agreed sadly.

JJ scoffed softly. "Of course."

"You don't have to believe me," Eliana told him. "I wouldn't blame you if you didn't, but the lawyer can confirm it."

"I don't need the lawyer to confirm this," JJ told her. "My father shot me in a drive by and nearly killed all of my friends, and killed Zia's best friend. So yeah, Eliana, I believe you. Because turning you in and being the reason why you couldn't be here for the last 14 years is completely something that he would do. Did you try to write me?"

Eliana looked down. "That's another thing. Tristan... when I was locked away, and my parents started to search for me, and search for you... he had sent the body of a dead infant to them, and made them think that it was you. And made me think that it was you too." JJ looked sick to his stomach, but knew without a doubt that Tristan would do this after remembering that Tristan sent him the necklace with baby teeth and a note claiming credit for killing Micah. "I thought you were dead, Jeremiah Jordan. Your grandparents thought you were dead."

"He knew it was the only way to keep them from looking for me," JJ stated. Eliana nodded sadly. "Goddamn it."

"Yeah," Eliana agreed. "God fucking damn it."

"So what now?" JJ asked. "You said that you would agree to sign your rights to me away."

"And I will, if that's what you want," Eliana answered. "The truth is, JJ, my side of the family can be really fucked up too. Even if not as fucked up as Tristan, in a way. And I've been really fucked up the last 14 years after what Tristan did to me. And so many other things. I'm sorry that I couldn't be here, JJ. And I'm sorry that I can't take care of you now. But I'm willing to do what's right and make sure that Veronica and Kevin can."

JJ looked at her emotionally with tears in his eyes, licking his lips, looking away. "You never had a choice. Neither did I. But at least one parent has what's best for me in mind."

Eliana smiled, sniffling emotionally, shedding a tear. "I've always wanted what's best for you. Even when I thought you were dead. But if you would let me, I would like to stay around and get to know you. Even if I can't take care of you."

JJ looked away. "Hmm."

"So what about you?" Eliana asked.

"What do you mean, what about me?" JJ asked.

"How have you been?" Eliana asked.

"Honestly?" JJ asked. "Pretty awful. Given that I thought my mother abandoned me, and my psychopath father is an abusive, controlling psycho dick that beats the shit out of me and everyone I love every chance he gets, and he literally tried to kill me on my birthday, and is the reason why all my friends almost died, and why Zia lost her best friend. We've all been pretty fucked up since then."

Eliana frowned in concern. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I couldn't be there for you before. But I'm here for you now. I know I'm out of time, and I don't want to confuse you or put you through any more pain than you've already been through in the 16 years of your life."

JJ was conflicted and overwhelmed with all of the information he had just received.

⫷⑅⫸

Malcolm & Milkovich House - Living Room

The house seemed oddly quiet when Lip and Natalia returned. It was quite late.

Natalia pulled off her jacket, hanging it on the rack.

A silence passed between them, but Natalia could hardly stand it any longer, the embarrassment that threatened to eat her alive.

Natalia sighed, turning to face Lip. "I'm sorry."

Lip was much closer than she had realized; their chests nearly touched, but she didn't step back.

"Why are you sorry?" Lip asked.

"For acting like that," Natalia answered. "I probably scared you."

Lip shook his head. "After what Tristan and Terry just did, there's nothing to be sorry for. It did scare me, but it was just out of worry, for you, and Kimberly, JJ and Zia, and..." Natalia nodded slightly, looking down. "Jesus, Lia."

Natalia sighed, turning and making her way to the couch, sitting down, burying her face in her hands. "I am so stupid. Only someone as fucked up as me would ever miss people like that."

Lip was taken aback by that. "You miss them?"

Natalia raised her head, but did not look at him. "Mostly just Mickey and Mandy, but now we're finally back together under one roof, thanks to Malcolm. Sometimes I miss my other brothers and cousins. I don't know why, since those brothers and cousins let it happen. It happens to Mandy too, and we tried to help make sure that it didn't happen to either of us again, but we've drifted apart and tried to handle things our own way on our own. And Mickey's the only one that tries to protect us, but he's still an asshole. It's just... they're the only family I've ever known. Even if normal people wouldn't consider that family. It's like an addiction, and not the good kind, where you might say you're addicted to someone's love, but I was forced into that life, and now, even though it's horrible and will end up killing me, I can't stop coming back to them. Like I said. I'm stupid. It doesn't make any sense."

Lip could do nothing but frown for a moment, sitting on the arm of the couch beside Natalia. "It does make sense. But at the same time, it doesn't. Natalia... staying here with Malcolm, and Mickey and Mandy... you're safe here. And with me and my family, and JJ, Kev, V and Carson next door. We would never hurt you. We would never let anything happen to you guys."

Natalia felt something stir deep in her chest, not quite sure what it was, but like it was a sign, a flicker of hope, happiness. "I know. Likewise. Thank you."

Natalia felt strong emotions lapping inside of her, working toward a strong wave. She buried her face in her hands once more.

"Lia?" Lip asked softly.

Natalia raised her head slightly; it was harder now to keep her eyes away from his, to shield the tears. "You know, I've been feeling so empty, and I feel like I've been fucking everything up. I shouldn't have moved in next door."

"Lia," Lip interrupted. "What the hell are you talking about? Okay, everybody loves that you finally got a place to stay, especially since it's next door. You haven't done anything wrong, and you can stop with thinking that you're putting us in danger, because you're not. And neither is JJ. And neither are me and my siblings when it came to Frank's debts. Okay? We're not our fucking fathers. And you are wanted here, even if you can't bring yourself to believe that." The words echoed in Natalia's mind, but she could not quite comprehend them. "Did you hear me?" Natalia swallowed, chancing a glance at Lip. "Natalia."

"I don't know, Lip," Natalia admitted. "I tried so hard to find some way to convince myself that I have a place here, that I deserve to be somewhere so great, or even just have a place to stay with the people that I love, but... all of us have gone through the fucking ringer and it could get worse, and I can't risk things fucking up even more. JJ, you and your siblings. You guys are not your fathers. I know that. And I know that me, Mickey and Mandy aren't our father either. I just... there is serious danger here, even if you don't think that it's because of us. Maybe I'm just a piece of shit that doesn't deserve to be here."

Lip shook his head. "Lia--"

Natalia was hysterical. "I'm a shitty person to be caught up with, Lip. I'm a thief. And a liar. I cause destruction everywhere I go, and I'm not good enough. I was too stupid to realize that before, but I see it now."

Lip had to raise his voice just a bit to get her quiet. "Natalia, stop." Natalia's lips trembled violently. "Listen to me. You deserve to be here, just like any of us. You do have a place here. This is where you belong. No matter what happened tonight, or anything that happened any other time, you can't let that make you think otherwise. Okay?"

Natalia looked at Lip, sniffling, a few tears slipping, but his words finally seemed to get through to her hysterical state. She nodded slightly, breathing shakily. "Okay."

Lip placed a hand on Natalia's shoulder comfortingly. "Good. You okay now?"

"Not really," Natalia answered. "I'm so tired."

Lip nodded in understanding. "Get some rest."

Not even having the energy to go to her room, Natalia leaned to the left and laid down on the couch, nearly curled in on herself, but not quite. After everything that happened, it didn't take much for her to fall asleep within moments.

Lip didn't move from his place on the arm of the couch, looking at her with an unreadable expression, reaching over to pull off Natalia's boots, walking away to grab a blanket and a pillow from the nearby chair, walking to the couch, slipping the pillow beneath Natalia's head and draping the blanket over her body. He didn't want to leave her side for obvious reasons, that of many, so he sat on the floor, placed at the center of the couch in front of Natalia, and folded his arms onto the empty space between himself and Natalia's sleeping form, resting his head in the cradle of his arms, and soon, he too fell asleep.

⫷⑅⫸

Fisher-Ball House - JJ's Room

JJ had just gotten home, reeling from all that Eliana had told him, just needing the time and space to process it all.

Kimberly walked into JJ's room to check on him. "Hey. I'm sorry. For being a gigantic bitch earlier. I don't know what came over me."

JJ huffed out a breath, shifting on his bed so that he was closer to Kimberly, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Apology accepted. And it wasn't like you did anything to me anyway."

"Really?" Kimberly asked. "That was too easy. Who are you and what have you done with JJ?"

JJ smirked, shrugging. "Nothing. It's me, I promise. I don't like fighting with you. It's too weird."

"So we're good?" Kimberly asked.

JJ scoffed. "Jesus, Kim. Yes, we're fine. You've really got to stop with the second guessing yourself shit."

Kimberly shrugged. "Hello, I have trust and abandonment issues."

JJ smiled. "All of us do. That's a given."

Kimberly nodded with a slight laugh. "Yeah."

"Besides, I think that you were overdue for a meltdown after spending so much time with trying to take care of everyone else," JJ pointed out. "Especially after everything."

Kimberly shrugged in agreement.

JJ grabbed a pillow, lightly hitting Kimberly in the head with it.

Kimberly mocked a gasp. "You did not."

JJ smirked. "I so did."

Kimberly grabbed another pillow, hitting JJ in the face, laughing. This started a full on pillow fight, that ended up breaking a lamp on the nightstand table. They both looked at each other, panicked expressions painted on their faces, before bursting into a fit of laughs.

Kimberly giggled. "You're totally cleaning that up."

"You did it," JJ told her.

"It's your room," Kimberly replied. They both laughed, before returning serious. "Do you think things will ever get better?"

"I don't know," JJ admitted. "I hope so."

Kimberly swallowed, nodding. "Yeah. Me too." She looked at JJ curiously. "You used to sleep around a bit. Before everything happened."

"Yeah," JJ agreed. "So?"

"I just... never realized that being promiscuous could be a side effect of BPD," Kimberly answered.

JJ scoffed. "Yeah. Well, it doesn't effect everyone the same way. I don't really like hooking up with random girls."

Kimberly nodded in understanding. "You never looked for a real relationship?"

JJ gazed off, shaking his head. "No. Always too distracted."

"By what?" Kimberly asked, but clearly they both knew by what. JJ gave Kimberly a side eye glance, both smiling slightly. "I never really liked hooking up with anyone random either. Just didn't get the point of it. But Fiona, Lip and Ian seem to enjoy it a lot."

"That they do," JJ agreed. "You haven't been in a real relationship either, you know. One that lasts more than a month at least."

"I don't know," Kimberly admitted. "I guess I just want someone I know I can trust and count on. Because I've seen what it does to my family, and I don't want to be latched to someone that I know is just gonna end up leaving and hurting me anyway."

JJ nodded in understanding. "I get that completely."

"So, what, we'd both rather just be alone?" Kimberly asked.

"I don't think so," JJ answered. "Like you said. We've seen what happens with our parents, or their hookups, or with your siblings. We've seen them have the briefest moments of happiness before it's ripped away and we got hurt because of it. And we were left with nothing. So I guess guarding our hearts, keeping to ourselves, not looking for hookups or relationships with someone that we know will do the same thing... is a way to remind us that in the end, we're most likely gonna end up alone."

Kimberly took a moment to speak, shaking her head. "No. I don't wanna believe that." JJ looked at her. "I don't care what happened with our parents and my siblings and all their relationships. I think we're just waiting for the right people that we know we can trust. And even if we can't really rely on our families some of the time, mostly because of our parents... well, if we're not wanted by anyone else, we can always want each other. If we feel lonely, we can comfort ourselves. Whatever happens after today, from here on out, having to do what we have to do... together, it can be a disaster or be a story of a lifetime."

"Probably both," JJ pointed out.

Kimberly smiled slightly, nodding. "Yeah, most likely both." JJ couldn't help but smile as he looked at Kimberly with admiration in his eyes for her still finding some semblance of hope for the future, for happiness for them. "It's up to you and me."

Kimberly met JJ's gaze, both understanding each other completely, and trusting each other implicitly. Even though they had both known they were drawn to each other for some now, they didn't want to risk making the wrong move and risk changing or destroying something beautiful they had now, but both had to admit they would rather take the risk and see how it could become more.

⫷⑅⫸

Day Three

Morning - Malcolm & Milkovich House - Living Room

Malcolm walked into the living room, pulling on a shirt, seeing Natalia sleeping on the couch and Lip waking up in front of the couch, raising an eyebrow.

Lip started to wake up, looking up at Malcolm. "Malcolm. Hey."

"Hey," Malcolm replied. "What's going on here?"

"Uh, long story," Lip stated. "Should tell everyone later though."

Malcolm nodded.

Mandy walked in. "Mickey's still passed out, but..." She stood next to Malcolm, following his gaze to Natalia and Lip. "Hey, Lip. Is Natalia okay?"

"Not really," Lip answered. "Uh, probably just best to let her sleep."

"Okay," Mandy agreed. "Um, I was thinking about going for a breakfast run. Anyone wanna come with?"

Malcolm nodded. "I'll go."

"Okay, cool," Mandy agreed.

"Lip, you want any?" Malcolm asked. "I can get some for your siblings too."

"Yeah, thanks," Lip answered. "That'd be great. Uh, we'll pay you back next breakfast round."

"And keep it going round," Malcolm finished. "There's coffee in the kitchen if you want any."

Lip nodded. "Thanks."

Malcolm and Mandy walked out of the house to get breakfast.

Lip sighed heavily, looking at Natalia on the couch, before standing, walking into the kitchen.

After a few moments, Natalia slowly woke up on the couch, slowly stirring. She knew she needed coffee, standing from the couch, walking toward the kitchen.

⫷⑅⫸

Kitchen

Natalia was so mortified by the state that Lip had found her in the previous night even after explaining what happened. She didn't think that she could look him in the eye after he saw her break down like that, starting to back away.

Lip turned his head slightly, noticing her. "Morning."

Natalia stopped, swallowing. "Morning."

"Feeling all right?" Lip asked, concerned.

Natalia nodded barely, sighing. "Bit of a headache."

"I've got aspirin," Lip explained.

Natalia sighed in relief. "Oh, okay." Lip turned to hand Natalia her coffee, and grabbed the aspirin bottle from the counter, about to open it. Natalia reached out to grab the bottle from his hand. "I got it." When her hand touched his, Lip and Natalia's gazes locked, but Natalia instantly averted her gaze to the bottle as she took it away, opening the aspirin, pouring two pills into her hand. "Thanks."

"No problem," Lip replied. Natalia took both pills with her coffee. Rather than walking away like Natalia wished he would, Lip lingered, eyes set on her. "Are you okay?"

Natalia was still unable to meet his eyes. "I'm fine. It always passes pretty quickly."

"That's not what I..." Lip trailed off.

"I know what you meant," Natalia said shortly. Lip looked down. "Sorry. I just... can we please just not talk about it?"

Lip frowned lightly, but nodded. "Sure. But... I mean, if you ever want to talk about it..."

Natalia forced her eyes upward, although they did not quite meet Lip's, and managed a small smile, forced. "Thanks. But, um, can you please not tell Mickey, Mandy and Malcolm about this?"

Lip tilted his head, knowing that she was going to ask that, sighing. "Natalia..."

"It's to keep them from losing their shit and going after Terry and Tristan and getting themselves killed after everything that happened already," Natalia pointed out. "Please, Lip. I can't lose my siblings or anymore friends because of them."

Lip looked at Natalia, knowing that she was right, sighing heavily, nodding in agreement. "All right."

"Probably shouldn't tell JJ either," Natalia added.

"You said that Tristan had a threat/message to Kimberly and JJ because of those two drug dealers going missing and Rod and Vlad being able to find out about it," Lip pointed out. "And even if they don't find out about it, then Tristan could still go after Kimberly and JJ to make them keep working and help him pay off his debts and keep you, Kim and Zia in danger especially after what he and your dad tried to pull with you last night. They need to know, Lia."

Natalia sighed. "I know, but we've all got enough shit to deal with, and this would just erase any progress JJ's made with his BPD. He could do something reckless again and almost get killed. Again."

Lip knew she was right, frustrated, but they both knew that they didn't have much of a choice. "They still need to know."

Natalia sighed. "Yeah. Just wish we could find a way to tell them without causing more damage and/or more life and death situations."

Lip scoffed softly. "Yeah. Me too." They both sighed heavily. Lip changed the subject, knowing they needed to stop thinking about this or it would drive them both nuts. "Mandy and Malcolm went on a breakfast run. Mickey's still passed out. We can eat with JJ, Kev, V, Carson and my siblings once they get back."

Natalia nodded in agreement. "Okay, yeah."

Lip sighed. "I gotta go get changed. You gonna be okay?"

Natalia nodded, taking a drink of coffee, eyes downcast. "Yeah, thanks."

"You sure?" Lip asked.

"I'm sure, Lip," Natalia answered. "You don't have to keep an eye on me. I'll be fine."

Lip was a bit reluctant, sighing, nodding, chugging his coffee, grabbing his coat, heading for the door.

Natalia let out a heavy sigh, grateful for what he did the night before and making sure that she was okay now, and knowing that he was right, everything crushing them down.

⫷⑅⫸

North Wallace Street

Eliana walked down North Wallace street, seeing the Gallagher house, walking up to Kimberly. "Hi."

Kimberly was confused. "Uh, hi."

"You're Kimberly, right?" Eliana asked. "JJ's told me all about you."

Kimberly looked at her in realization and surprise. "Eliana?"

Eliana smiled. "Yeah, hi."

"Is he okay?" Kimberly asked. "He seemed down, or kinda sick last night."

Eliana tilted her head, shrugging. "Love sick's more like it. And I think that what he really needs is, um, a little cheering up." Kimberly frowned in confusion, tilting her head in curiosity. "I'd like you to drop by my hotel for breakfast or lunch. I think it would be a great way to get to know each other. Maybe I can help the two of you with your Tristan issue."

Kimberly raised her eyebrows. "That'd be ideal, yeah. Uh, sure. I'll be there. Just tell me where."

Eliana smiled.

⫷⑅⫸

Fisher-Ball House - Bathroom

Carson had given Ethan a bath and put him to bed. The moment he touched the crib, Ethan fell asleep, still gripping Carson's finger. Carson stared at Ethan for a few moments, fighting back the tears. Everything was so dark in her mind, but here was a beam of innocent light, even if it came from her darkest trauma.

⫷⑅⫸

Rooftop

Natalia was standing on the rooftop that she, Mickey and Mandy used to meet up at, drinking a beer.

Mickey walked closer, standing nearby, giving Natalia a look, also drinking a beer. "Knew you'd end up here."

"What?" Natalia asked. "What's that look for?"

"I wasn't as passed out this morning as you thought," Mickey answered. "Heard you and Lip."

Natalia sighed, looking away. "Mickey..."

"What the fuck, Natalia?" Mickey asked.

"Don't start," Natalia told him. "I'm fine."

"Sure as hell didn't sound like it," Mickey replied. "Look, all this shit going on, and it's even got me scared."

"It takes a lot for you to actually admit that you feel something like that," Natalia remarked.

"Fuck off," Mickey replied. "I'm serious."

"I know," Natalia agreed. "I'm sorry. It won't happen again."

"Damn right it won't," Mickey agreed. Natalia sighed, taking out the gun from the night before. "You get that from him last night?"

"Yeah," Natalia answered. "You got yours?"

Mickey smirked, taking out his gun. "What the hell do you think?"

Natalia managed to chuckle.

Natalia and Mickey moved away from their spot on the edge of the roof and stood the bottles on the top of some old crates that had been up there for forever.

Mickey pulled out his gun, aiming it at one of the bottles, hitting it on the second try.

Natalia smirked. "Show off." Mickey snickered, handing the gun to Natalia. Natalia raised the gun to aim at the remaining bottle, closing one eye to get the shot accurate, before firing the gun, smashing the bottle on her first attempt. "Oh! Yes! Take that!"

"Who's the show off now?" Mickey asked, playfully pushing Natalia, taking the gun from her, flipping the safety back on.

Natalia flipped her hair over her shoulder with a grin.

Mickey laughed.

They both sat on the ground.

Natalia pulled a cigarette and a lighter out of her pocket, putting the cigarette between her lips, lighting it up, taking a hit, before handing it to Mickey, who did the same.

⫷⑅⫸

Eliana's Hotel Room

Kimberly knocked on Eliana's door.

JJ was here, visiting Eliana, opening the door, surprised to see Kimberly there. "What are you doing here?"

"Your mom invited me," Kimberly answered. "I hope that's cool."

Eliana walked closer, smiling. "Kimberly! Oh, you made it."

"Hi, Mrs. Fisher," Kimberly told her. "Or Rodriguez?"

"Hi," Eliana replied. "And neither. I dropped Fisher a long time ago because of Tristan, but Mrs. Rodriguez makes me feel old, so just call me Eliana."

"Okay, cool," Kimberly said. "Eliana."

Eliana smiled. "Come on in. Welcome." Kimberly walked in. Eliana placed a hand on JJ's chest. "Be a gentlemen."

JJ frowned slightly.

⫷⑅⫸

Gallagher House - Kitchen

Zia and Debbie were sitting at the table, waiting.

Steve walked in through the back door. "Zia. Debs."

"Jimmy-Steve," Zia replied.

"Where is everybody?" Steve asked.

Zia sighed. "Kimberly and JJ are having brunch with JJ's mom Eliana. Fiona, Liam, Carl, Lip and Ian are next door with Carson, Veronica, Ethan, Natalia, Mickey, Malcolm and Mandy eating breakfast. Kevin took Frank somewhere. That our shut up gifts?"

Steve held up a couple bags hanging from each hand. "Well, I like to think of it as a peace offering."

Debbie stood, going through the bag meant for her. "A peace offering implies a one-time thing." She pulled out her new pink vest. "This could take a while."

Steve sat across the table from them, crossing his arms. "How long?"

"Till we're sure that you're not still lying," Zia answered.

Steve sighed. "Okay. I gotta get back up to Lake Forest. They're releasing my dad from the hospital. I'm gonna pick him up and take him home. You know everything there is to know. No more secrets. I promise."

Zia was going through her bag that was meant to start building her fort for her and her siblings.

Debbie grabbed her cooking things bag. "Sifter sifts and rolling pin rolls. Nice when things do what they say they will."

Zia stood, shrugging. "Fiona said that I had to take out the trash, so when you're done here, go sit by the curb." Steve was not surprised by their attitudes toward him considering his secret double life. Zia and Debbie walked to the back door, grabbing their coats, pulling them on. Debbie opened the door, walking outside. Zia looked back to say this one more time, knowing that it bothered him when she said it because it reminded him of how messed up this double life was. "Jimmy-Steve."

Steve sighed, frustrated, but letting them have this, knowing it was deserved.

Zia walked out of the house, closing the door.

⫷⑅⫸

Grocery Store - Outside

(Song:) Kings and Might-Have-Beens - Saturn Missiles

Frank was waiting for Monica to arrive, sitting on the ground of the parking lot by some shopping carts, a glass in his hand, a cigarette between his lips. He checked the time, standing up. "Fuck." A big semi truck pulled up to the grocery store. A blonde woman got out of the passenger seat of the semi truck, all smiles as she climbed down. Frank looked stunned by the sight of her. "Monica." Frank hid behind the shopping carts to watch. Monica walked around the truck toward the driver of the truck, which was a burly black woman named Roberta or "Bob", taking her pictures, before the two shared a kiss. Frank peaked his head up in surprise. "Monica?"

Monica and Bob ran into the store.

Frank took one more drink from his glass, placing it down.

(Song Ends)

⫷⑅⫸

Eliana's Hotel Room

JJ and Kimberly were sitting at the diner table for a nice looking lunch.

Eliana walked closer with the food. "I hope you like garlic. Here we go."

Eliana put out the food for them.

"This all looks so delicious," Kimberly complimented.

Eliana chuckled. "Oh, aren't we a love?" She sat down, looking at Kimberly with a grin. "So tell me about you."

Kimberly looked at JJ curiously, raising an eyebrow.

JJ nodded. "It's fine."

Kimberly looked at Eliana, tilting her head. "Well, what do you wanna know?"

"Your family, anything you'd like to share," Eliana answered. "How long you've known JJ and all that."

Kimberly nodded. "Okay, well, JJ and I met in kindergarten. Veronica and Kevin moved onto our street not long after that, and he was over at their place a lot to get away from Tristan."

JJ nodded.

"So that means you two practically grew up together," Eliana realized.

"Yeah," Kimberly answered.

"How many siblings?" Eliana asked.

"Seven," Kimberly answered.

Eliana laughed. "Jeez, that's a lot."

"Yeah," Kimberly agreed.

"Compared to JJ, who is an only child," Eliana mused.

"We're aware of that, Eliana, thank you," JJ told her.

"But, uh, he's been best friends with me, and Lip and Ian, my brothers, and our friend Natalia, since we were five," Kimberly explained. "So that's saying a lot."

(Song:) Hips Don't Lie - Shakira

"I bet," Eliana agreed. She gasped when she heard the song playing. "Oh! I love this song!" Eliana stood, walking toward the radio, turning it up, starting to dance around. JJ and Kimberly exchanged a look. "Get up and dance with me."

"What?" JJ asked. "No. Eliana, not--"

"Jeremiah Jordan," Eliana replied. "Come on! Come on! Get up right now! Come on, come on."

Kimberly shrugged, standing. "I never need a reason to dance."

Eliana smiled. "I like her."

Eliana and Kimberly started to dance, having fun.

JJ was bewildered by the entire thing, raising his eyebrows, sighing.

Kimberly took JJ's hand, smiling. "Come on, come on."

JJ tilted his head back, unable to help a small smile. "Not you too. No, no."

Kimberly nodded with a teasing smile. "Yes, yes."

JJ gave up, standing, causing both Kimberly and Eliana to cheer, as they continued dancing to the song.

After a moment of dance, Eliana returned the table. "Oh, we should eat. This looks delicious. Who made it?"

JJ and Kimberly both looked at her in confusion.

"You did, Eliana," Kimberly told her.

Eliana frowned, before nodding. "Of course I did. I was joking. You kids never get my jokes."

JJ and Kimberly exchanged a confused look.

(Song Ends)

⫷⑅⫸

Grocery Store

Monica and Bob were speaking to a worker.

Monica was crying after finding out that she didn't get the teddy bear.

"Is this your idea of a joke?" Bob demanded.

"No, ma'am," the worker answered.

"Because you're scared of women with an opinion," Bob stated. "Yeah? Yeah. Watch this, crinkle-dick. Oh, yeah, I'll show you what's funny when I rip your fucking face off your fucking head!"

"Let's just go," Monica told her.

Frank was watching them from outside.

Bob went to grab a snow shovel, about to attack the elderly worker with it.

Monica stood in her way, protecting the elderly worker. "Bob. Bob. No, no, no."

"Out of the way, Monica," Bob ordered.

"No, please, no," Monica begged.

Outside, Frank walked away.

"Get out of the way!" Bob demanded. "Out of the way, now."

"Put the shovel down," Monica told her. "Let's just leave. Please."

Bob put her arm around Monica, leading her to the door. "Just go."

Monica glanced back at the worker. "I'm sorry."

⫷⑅⫸

Outside

Bob led Monica out toward the semi truck. "Who lies about a teddy bear? Wasting my fucking time! Are you sure this is the right store?"

"Yes," Monica answered.

"Did they specifically say this store?" Bob asked.

"Yes!" Monica answered. "I told you. Yes. I wrote it down. I wrote everything down." Bob opened the passenger seat door for her. Monica climbed up into the truck. "Stop talking to me like I'm stupid." Bob closed the door, walking over to the driver's side. Upset, Monica looked into the rear view mirror to wipe her tears away, only to see Frank's reflection in the mirror as he was walking away behind the truck, recognizing him without even seeing his face, only from behind. "Frank?" Monica peered out of the window, yelling. "Frank!"

"What?" Bob asked.

Frank turned around, knowing he was busted.

"Frank!" Monica yelled.

(Song:) Blockbuster - Sweet

Frank turned around, starting to run.

Bob started the truck, about to go after Frank.

Frank ran up to Kevin in his car, yelling. "Start the car!"

"What?" Kevin asked.

Frank ran around the car to the passenger side, getting in. "Go, go, go!"

Kevin started the car. "What the fuck, Frank?"

"She saw me," Frank answered.

Kevin pulled the car back out of its parking space. "What's going on?"

"Come on!" Frank told him. "We gotta get out of here! Go!"

Kevin threw the car into drive, barreling down the parking lot to try and drive away.

Bob pulled the semi truck in front of Kevin's car to block its path, making Kevin come to a screeching halt before the two vehicles could collide.

Bob opened her door, stepping out slightly, pointing at Frank, yelling to be sure he heard her. "I'm gonna rip it off when I catch you!"

Kevin threw the car into reverse, barreling back in the other direction.

Bob got back into the truck, closing the door.

"Can't this piece of shit go any faster?" Frank asked.

"No!" Kevin answered.

Frank gestured toward the semi truck. "Monica's batting for the other team."

"What?" Kevin asked.

"My wife's a fucking lesbian," Frank answered.

Before they could get out of the back way of the parking lot, a worker wheeled a long line of shopping carts into their way, blocking the path, making Kevin come to a screeching halt.

"Shit!" Kevin complained.

Bob turned the semi truck so that she would drive right toward Kevin and Frank, blaring the horn of the semi.

Kevin, at a loss for options, drove right toward the semi.

Frank shook his head in a panic. "No, no, no."

"Shut up, Frank," Kevin replied.

"No," Frank repeated. "No." When Kevin got close enough, he did a sharp right turn, taking them off out through the side of the parking lot, leaving the semi truck behind. "Fuck off, lesbos!"

Kevin laughed in relief.

(Song Ends)

⫷⑅⫸

Eliana's Hotel Room

JJ, Kimberly and Eliana were still having lunch.

Eliana poured them each a glass of wine. "Everybody lets their kids have a little nip or two now and then. I wanna make a toast." She raised her glass. "Today is the four year anniversary I was going to take JJ away from his father, and we were going to live a good life away from him. Wish it had been a reality. Cheers!"

JJ frowned. "That was 14 years ago. Not four."

Eliana took a drink, looking confused, before nodding. "I know, but it feels like four. Tristan's a son of a bitch. Good riddance." She stood. "I will be right back. JJ, you said that you were curious about our family and Brazilian heritage. I'm gonna break out a family album and tell you all about them. Especially your Grandpa Vincente and Grandma Izabel."

"Okay," JJ agreed. Eliana walked away. JJ looked at Kimberly, frowning. "She seem a little weird to you?"

"Yeah," Kimberly answered. "But I actually kinda love your mom. I mean, she didn't choose to abandon you. It's not her fault that Tristan outed her to ICE and sent her away for 14 years. And made Eliana, Vincente and Izabel think you were dead all that time. Fucking asshole."

"No kidding," JJ agreed.

"But she's funny, and she's fun," Kimberly pointed out. "And, okay, yeah, she's a little kooky, but so what? I like kooky. I mean, I like you, don't I?"

JJ chuckled, smiling in amusement. They both realized what Kimberly had said, even on accident, but both of them didn't mind, and just smiled.

JJ nodded. "Back at you."

Kimberly smiled in relief.

Eliana walked closer with a family album to show JJ. "Okay. So here." Kimberly and JJ slid closer to look at the album. "So, I was born in Panama City. I grew up in Rio before moving to the states. If you're really curious about the family background, my father Vincente has some Scottish and Irish ancestry, and yes, he is white, but we don't hold that against him. And my mother Izabel comes from Portugal, and has some Mexican ancestry."

Kimberly smiled. "I think it's really cool that you have Latino roots, JJ."

"Yeah, well, it's kinda newish to me, so..." JJ trailed off.

Eliana smiled. "I wish I could have been around to teach you. Show you everything. While you and I both might be only children, we do have plenty of cousins to go around." Kimberly and JJ chuckled, smiling. "Most of them are undocumented, though, like us."

Kimberly looked at her in surprise, confusion. "I'm sorry, did you say, 'like us'? As in JJ too?"

JJ sighed, looking down.

Eliana looked at JJ in confusion. "You didn't tell Kimberly?"

"I was going to," JJ answered. "I just... got caught up with all of this."

Eliana nodded in acknowledgement. "Understandable."

"Kimberly..." JJ trailed off. Kimberly looked at him. "Eliana and Tristan met in Brazil when they had me. Apparently Eliana, Vincente and Izabel were in the middle of a war with other families that led to me and Eliana being in danger, so Vincente and Izabel arranged the fake marriage between my parents to get us into the country. To be safe, I guess."

Kimberly processed. "Okay. Um..."

"It's a lot," Eliana stated. "I know. But, uh... that's not even the rest of it."

Kimberly frowned. "You said that you were in prison for 14 years because of criminal history with your family, and Vincente and Izabel didn't know where you were to get you out, but you refused to give them up. And that your family was at war with other families? Which is why you two had to come here?"

"Yeah," Eliana answered.

"What, is this some mafia bullshit?" JJ asked, not thinking for a second that it was, just making it like a joke.

Eliana raised an eyebrow, tilting her head, clasping her hands as she leaned her head against her hands, shrugging. "Well..."

Kimberly and JJ both looked at her in surprise and confusion.

"You're joking, right?" Kimberly asked. "Like literal mafia, The Godfather type..."

Eliana tsked her tongue. "Why do you think my parents had to go through all this to keep us safe, or why I was locked away for so long, Jeremiah Jordan?"

Kimberly and JJ exchanged a completely stunned look.

⫷⑅⫸

Jackson House - Kitchen

Zia and Debbie were with Sheila in the kitchen.

Sheila took out some milk for baking. "Okay. My advice to you would be to let Fiona live in her own relationship. You can't do it for her."

"There's things she should know," Debbie admitted.

Sheila put the milk down. "Well, sometimes, sweeties, when people are in love, they don't tell someone everything for a reason."

Zia frowned. "That's like lying."

Debbie added milk to her bowl, before handing it to Zia.

Zia added milk to her bowl, placing the milk down.

Sheila tilted her head. "No, sweetie, it's just--it's a little editing." Debbie and Sheila picked up the sifters, cranking them. "Now, by sifting, see, we separate and aerate those flour particles, to make them absorb liquids better."

"Someone should sift our dad," Debbie remarked.

Zia chuckled just barely.

Sheila laughed. "You Gallaghers. You're all so funny. You'll understand love better when you're older."

Zia shook her head. "I don't understand it. And I don't think I ever will. If this is what it's like to be in love, I don't want it."

Debbie frowned, tilting her head. "It can't be all that bad."

Suddenly, Frank and Kevin burst into the house to hide.

"Frank!" Kevin yelled. Zia jumped, turning toward the door, dropping her bowl in the process, which splattered everywhere, much to Sheila and Debbie's shock, and Sheila's dismay due to her need for cleanliness. Debbie and Sheila turned around. "This is bullshit!"

"Lock the door, lock the door!" Frank ordered.

"What is happening?" Sheila demanded, sinking down to the floor, crying.

Debbie and Zia knelt down with her.

"It's okay, Sheila," Debbie told her. "It's just a little mess."

Kevin closed and locked the door, as he and Frank hid underneath the windows at the wall.

"I thought we lost them," Frank said.

"Did you even have a plan back there?" Kevin asked.

"I was going to charm her into signing once she was there," Frank answered. "How the hell was I supposed to know she would show up with ghetto Godzilla in a Peterbilt?"

They looked out the window for a moment, before ducking down again.

"I am seriously this close to punching you in the dick," Kevin told him.

"Then Dad can join Steve in that club that I started for him," Zia stated.

That managed to get a chuckle out of Sheila even in this state.

Hearing the semi truck outside, they looked out the window as it pulled up in the street in front of the house.

On the front grill of the truck, there were two rainbow stickers for gay pride.

Kevin and Frank both ducked and crawled away from the window, around the couch, bumping into each other on the other side.

Frank pushed Kevin off. "Get--they're just girls. Stop. You talk to them."

Debbie and Sheila were cleaning up the mess that Zia had accidentally made when being scared by Kevin and Frank busting in.

Zia stood, walking toward the window in the living room, confused. "What is going on?"

Debbie stood, just as curious, following to see for herself.

Frank crawled toward Sheila. "I need the key to the back door. That is not a sexual euphemism. I need the fucking key. What did you do with it?"

Upset, Sheila was on the verge of crying. "I don't know. I can't think when you yell, Frank."

"I'm not yelling," Frank replied. "What did you do with the key?"

"You're still yelling," Sheila stated.

Frank turned away, crawling out of sight. "I need the key, Sheila!"

Sheila was hyperventilating now. "Okay. It's by the--it's by the--it's by the washing machine."

Frank went to check. "It's not by the washing machine."

"It is," Sheila disagreed. "I put it by the washing machine."

Zia was looking out of the window in pure confusion.

Debbie looked stunned by the sight of Monica out there, instantly reaching for Zia's arm. "Zia, we need to go, now."

Zia was slightly hurt when Debbie, going to grab her arm, clenched down on her knife and pen wounds, but still barely felt anything other than pressure on the healing wounds. "Debbie!"

"Sorry," Debbie apologized. "But we need to go."

"What's going on?" Zia asked.

Debbie led Zia to the door. "Come on."

⫷⑅⫸

Outside

Debbie and Zia walked outside.

Monica walked up the walkway, surprised but happy to see her little redheaded daughter, recognizing her instantly. "Debbie." She held out her arms, kneeling down. "My sweet pea." Debbie led Zia down the stairs, glaring at Monica, shaking her head. Monica sighed, lowering her arms, before looking at Zia, confused, since the last time that she had seen Zia, she had been three, so of course now, Zia looked quite different since then. "This is..."

"Zia," Zia answered, confused, since none of the Gallagher kids had wanted to see pictures or videos with Monica in them given how she disappeared, and Zia had no memory of her mother in front of her.

"Don't answer her," Debbie told her. "She would've known if she would've stayed around."

Zia realized. "Wait. Debbie... is this... Mom?"

Monica looked heartbroken that she didn't even know that it was her daughter. "Faouzia."

"Zia," Zia corrected in annoyance, hurt at the thought that Monica hadn't even known it was her.

Monica nodded in agreement, hoping to keep her daughters close, but knowing how hurt they must have been. "Zia. Okay. I..."

"No," Zia cut her off coldly.

Debbie pushed Monica out of the way, running away down the street.

This time, Zia followed Debbie without complaint, as neither of them could get out of there fast enough.

Monica watched her daughters go in pain and regret, sighing heavily. She turned to see Sheila staring at her through the window. "What  the fuck are you looking at?"

⫷⑅⫸

Inside - Living Room

Kevin was trying to get out, but stopped when he saw Bob and Monica walk in, raising his hands. "Hey, look, I got nothing to do with it."

Bob pointed at him. "Sit."

"I'm just the driver," Kevin stated.

"Sit your ass down," Bob commanded.

Kevin sighed, sitting down.

Frank peaked around the corner from the back of the house.

Monica saw him, gasping.

Frank darted back out of sight.

"That was a nasty trick," Monica told him. "Even for you, Frank." Frank stepped forward, taking off his hat, leaning against the doorframe in front of him. "I had my heart set on that teddy bear."

Frank put his hands mockingly to his chest. "Oh, poor Monica. Well, what about your kids? Remember? The eight kids? Youngest was only 2 months old before you ran off, Zia was only three so they don't have a single memory of you. And you ended up with fucking Shrek here."

"You want me to step in?" Bob asked.

Monica shook her head. "No. I didn't leave you, Frank."

"Yes, you did," Frank replied.

"I didn't chose to leave my family," Monica told him. "You almost destroyed me. When I turned up at Roberta's that night, I was an..."

Monica and Bob both said, "Emotional cripple."

Frank scoffed. "Bullshit."

"With not one ounce of self-respect,' Monica went on.

Frank clearly did not care, mocking. "I'm gonna start crying."

"You drove me into the ground, Frank," Monica accused. "You robbed me of any sense of dignity I ever had and..." During the entire fight, Monica and Frank wound up closer and closer to each other until they were in each other's faces, and Monica paused when she realized how close they were, before looking away. "Where's the rest of the kids?"

"They're out playing," Frank stated.

"They live down at Fiona's," Sheila answered. Monica frowned, as she and Frank glared each other down. Sheila started to hand out her bags to Kevin and Bob. "You mind putting some bags on? Can you put some bags on your feet, please?"

"Bags on my feet?" Bob repeated.

"Yeah, I need you to put bags on," Sheila answered.

Frank took off his shoes.

Confused, Monica started to do the same.

⫷⑅⫸

Street

(Song:) Rockadillo - John McCarthy

Still upset and furious from seeing Monica and how that reunion went, Zia and Debbie were on their way home.

(Song Ends)

⫷⑅⫸

Gallagher House - Living Room

JJ and Kimberly had brought leftover food from their lunch with Eliana home to the Gallagher house to share with the rest of the Gallagher siblings, Natalia, Malcolm, Veronica and Carson, who were all sitting around the living room, chatting away.

JJ tossed some popcorn at Carson to cheer her up, as she was holding Ethan.

"Don't, don't, don't," Carson told him, both laughing lightly.

Veronica couldn't help a small smile.

"Hell hath no fury like popcorn burned," Kimberly said, bringing more popcorn.

"Steve coming?" Veronica asked.

"Hope so," Fiona replied.

"Are you guys gonna make a baby while we watch Cosmos?" Carl asked. "Because that's gonna make me throw up."

JJ waved his hands at Carl teasingly. "Billions and billions of sperm."

"Ew!" Carl complained, causing more laughter.

Fiona gave them a look but couldn't help a smirk.

"Holy shit, Eliana must be loaded if she sent you guys home with all of this," Ian told them.

Natalia took a big bite. "Absolutely. Thank God Eliana supplied lunch. We breezed through the breakfast Malcolm and Mandy got."

"Yeah, you're welcome," Malcolm replied.

Lip looked at Kimberly and JJ. "You guys gonna tell us what Eliana said?"

"Yeah, later," Kimberly answered.

Lip nodded, giving Natalia a knowing look. "Good, because we gotta talk to you two later too."

Natalia nodded in agreement, sighing.

"We're not gonna like this talk, are we?" JJ asked.

"Not at all," Natalia answered. "But we can talk about it later."

"We still on for this weekend at the concert?" Malcolm asked.

"If we can, yeah," Ian answered.

Kimberly, Natalia, Lip and JJ nodded in agreement.

Kimberly looked at Natalia. "Oh, did you get the extra one for Mandy?"

"I couldn't get my cash from back home, but, uh, I found another way, so don't worry," Natalia stated. "Yeah, she can come with us this weekend."

The others nodded in understanding.

"I think it's cool you kids are going to a concert," Veronica stated. "You sure as hell deserve it."

Fiona nodded in agreement. "Mm-hmm."

Carson doted on Ethan in her arms as she looked at the TV. "Can we please press play already?"

Ian brought over drinks. "Yeah, hurry up, I gotta get back to work."

Fiona pressed play.

Steve walked into the house. "Hey."

Fiona sat down with Liam in her arms, looking up at Steve. "Missed you, stranger."

Steve leaned over the back of the couch to kiss Fiona. "You too."

Carl made a face. "Get a room."

Carson managed a chuckle, and the teens smirked.

JJ handed a beer over to the double-lifer. "Stevie-boy."

Steve took the beer, sitting down next to Fiona, giving Natalia, Kimberly and JJ a look. "Do you three just team up to call me that behind my back and to my face?"

Ian and Lip nodded bluntly. "Yes."

Natalia, Kimberly and JJ smirked.

Malcolm smirked, shaking his head in amusement, eating his food. "Well, at least you guys are fast at paying back for meals like this morning."

"Always have been," Veronica agreed. "Glad to have you in the mix with us now, Malcolm."

The kids smiled in agreement, while Fiona shrugged.

Ethan was slightly fussy.

Carson rocked him slightly, whispering while watching the TV. "One, two, three. Sweet baby boy." Ethan smiled at Carson, calmed down and happy. Carson smiled, stroking his cheek. "My sweet boy. You're a sweet boy." Ethan smiled, leaning his head against Carson's as she doted on her son. "Yes, you are."

The others glanced at Carson and Ethan, though Carson was being very quiet with the whispering as to not disturb them, all sympathetic for her, but moved with how much she loved Ethan and would clearly do anything to him.

Lip whispered to Natalia. "It's sad that the 11 year old is the best mother we've ever known."

Natalia nodded, tilting her head. "Well, you're not wrong."

"Shh," Kimberly told them.

"We're watching," JJ told them, clearly teasing.

Lip and Natalia smiled sarcastically. While they were still worried about what happened the night before and what it could all mean, they knew they couldn't talk to Kimberly and JJ about it yet without things getting worse, especially in front of everyone.

When they all heard the front door slam closed, they all turned their heads to see Zia and Debbie walk in, both still upset.

"Zia?" Malcolm asked. "Debbie?"

"Hey, what happened?" Carson asked, concerned for her newfound friends.

"Dad have one too many again?" Lip asked.

"Z, Debs, you just gotta ignore him when he's like that," Ian told them.

Zia shook her head. "It wasn't Dad."

"Why do you always blame Dad first?" Debbie asked.

"Who else is there?" Fiona asked.

Ethan and Liam were both babbling.

"She's over at Sheila's," Debbie told them.

"Who?" JJ asked.

"Monica," Debbie answered.

Lip, Ian, Carl, Fiona and Kimberly all reacted in stunned, shocked silence.

Natalia, JJ and Veronica, shocked, looked at them in concern.

Malcolm, Steve and Carson were confused.

"Who the hell is Monica?" Carson asked.

"Our mother," Kimberly answered.

Malcolm raised his eyebrows in surprise, understanding. "Oh."

"Yeah," Carl whispered. "Oh."

Zia looked so upset, almost crying. "She didn't even know who I was."

The other siblings looked at Zia in sadness, but not surprised in the least given the age she had been when Monica left.

Fiona placed Liam aside. "Z, Debs, did you s--"

"What do you care?" Debbie asked, crying, backing away. "You'll be living with Steve in that house he bought across the street."

Debbie ran upstairs.

Zia sat down on the stairs, desolate.

Everyone else looked at Steve in surprised confusion.

Steve smiled awkwardly. "Surprise."

Ian couldn't deal with this, shaking his head, standing. "I'm going to work."

Natalia tilted her head. "Ian."

"Ian, come on, wait," Fiona told him.

Ian walked out of the house, leaving.

Liam babbled slightly. "Mommy. Mommy."

Kimberly, Lip, Carl, Zia and Fiona a looked at Liam, all still reeling.

Veronica held Liam, whispering. "I know."

"Mommy," Liam said. "Mommy."

Fiona leaned against the wall, sliding to the floor.

⫷⑅⫸

Malcolm & Milkovich House - Outside

Ian ran next door, up the steps, knocking frantically.

Mickey opened the door, a cigarette in his mouth. "What the fuck?"

Ian was breathing heavily, overwhelmed. "I need to see you."

Mickey glanced back at Mandy in the room nearby. "Not a good time."

Ian shook his head, breath shaky. "I don't know where else to go."

Despite his cold façade, Mickey looked concerned by Ian's state, acting like he wasn't. "I thought you were working today."

Ian nodded, looking down. "Linda's gonna have my ass. I'm supposed to be there now."

Mickey glanced around. "I'll meet you there in 20."

Ian nodded gratefully.

Mickey closed the door.

Ian ran off.

⫷⑅⫸

Jackson House - Living Room

Bob stood by the door awkwardly, while Sheila and Kevin sat at the living room table on the couch and a chair, as Frank and Monica were having a screaming match.

"Aw, bullshit!" Frank said.

"Yes!" Monica retorted. "You physically abused me."

"What?" Frank asked. "When?"

"The 4th of July," Monica answered.

"Oh, come on!" Frank complained. "You hit me in the face with a tray of apple pandowdy."

Monica got in his face. "And you hit me back."

"Yeah, after you broke my nose and scratched my cornea," Frank replied.

"Oh, yeah?" Monica asked, lowering the sleeve of her shirt to show a scar. "What about this?"

Frank backed away. "Oh, come on! You started that one!"

"And I'll finish it if you lay a finger on her," Bob threatened.

"Roberta," Sheila chided.

Bob pointed at Sheila, correcting. "Bob. Only Moni calls me Roberta."

Kevin looked down awkwardly.

Sheila sighed. "All right, well, Bob, perhaps we're just in the way here. And we should make our exit and leave Monica for her apologies."

Sheila gestured to the door, which was opening.

Monica glared at Frank. "Apologies? For walking out on this piece of shit?"

"No," Sheila answered. "For walking out on them."

Frank and Monica looked over to the door as they heard it closed.

Fiona, Kimberly, Lip, Debbie, Zia and Carl stood together, while Kimberly was holding Liam.

Monica looked stunned to see all but one of her kids together, looking at her. "Oh, my God."

Veronica, JJ and Carson walked toward Kevin on the couch. Carson had Ethan in her arms.

Kevin sighed in relief to be finally saved from this situation.

Veronica looked at Monica, gesturing between herself, JJ, Carson, Ethan, and Natalia. "It's all right. We're not yours. Just came to rubberneck."

Natalia stood by the door.

Monica put her hand over her mouth.

⫷⑅⫸

Kash and Grab - Backroom

Ian and Mickey were in the process of having sex, Mickey the bottom and Ian the top, their hands clasped around a shelf pole in front of them.

Kash walked into the store, throwing up his arms, yelling a cheer in Arabic. "Ian! I did it! Linda's pregnant! Ian!" He looked around for Ian but saw him nowhere. "Finally knocked her up. Where are you? I did it. It's over."

Kash walked to the backroom, looking in through the window on the door, shocked and betrayed to see Ian having sex with Mickey, opening the door, walking in.

Ian and Mickey both looked back at Kash.

Mickey quickly snatched up his jeans, pulling them on. "What the fuck?"

Mickey pushed Kash out of the way of the door, into the wall behind him, as he took off running out of the store.

Ian looked at Kash, speechless, not sure what to feel.

⫷⑅⫸

Night - Jackson House - Living Room

The Gallaghers and Sheila sat in the living room.

Sheila brought a beer over to Kimberly and Lip, knowing they both felt the need for a drink.

Kimberly and Lip both took their beers.

"Thank you," Lip told her.

Kimberly nodded in agreement.

Monica looked over her kids, emotional. "You're all so big."

"That's what happens when you disappear for almost three years," Kimberly muttered, taking a drink. "Didn't even recognize Zia."

Monica closed her eyes in regret, shaking her head, opening her eyes. "Kimberly, please. I missed you so much."

"Why didn't you take us with you?" Debbie asked.

Carl raised his gaze, also wanting to know this answer.

Monica sighed. "Because... I knew you'd be fine with Fiona."

Kimberly and Lip both scoffed at how much pressure Monica put on Fiona, and everything that happened where they all needed their parents' help.

Fiona gave a small, bitter smile, looking down.

Zia looked up numbly, barely able to feel a thing but pain and sadness after Monica came home and didn't even know who she was, and what she just said about Fiona and how they would be 'fine' without their mother.

Natalia and JJ were both in the foyer, shaking their heads.

"Kev and V take Ethan home?" Natalia asked.

"Yeah," JJ answered. "But, uh, like us, Carson didn't want to leave them yet. She wanted to be here for Zia and Debbie if she could be."

Natalia nodded in understanding. "I get that. We want to be there for them too."

JJ sighed heavily. "Yeah."

"Carson's outside, right?" Natalia asked.

JJ nodded.

⫷⑅⫸

Kash and Grab

Ian was dressed, now working, looking toward Kash, who refused to look at or speak to him, causing Ian to get frustrated and storm past him to the back to continue working.

Mickey walked into the store, glaring at the back of Kash's head. "Fucking right, you keep your mouth shut." He grabbed a Snickers bar. "You better keep it shut." Kash walked behind the counter without a word. "You hear me?"

"Put the candy back, Mickey," Kash warned.

Mickey opened the Snickers, taking a bite, giving a shit eating grin. "Mm. That's sweet. I like them sweet. But then, uh, so do you, huh?"

Mickey chuckled, turning away.

Kash took out the gun, aiming it at Mickey. "Put it back. Now."

Mickey had his back to Kash, so he didn't see the gun.

Kash fired a warning shot, hitting a pasta sauce can in front of Mickey to the left, splattering the sauce everywhere.

Mickey ducked out of shock, turning toward Kash. "Fuck."

Kash fired another shot, which Mickey ducked, as the bullet hit a bag of Doritos next to Mickey, destroying it.

Ian stormed out of the back. "Kash, what are you doing?"

"It's a fucking Snickers bar," Mickey told him. Kash shot Mickey in the leg, making him fall to the ground in shock and pain. "Fuck!"

Ian was completely in shock. "Holy shit!"

Ian looked back and forth between Mickey and Kash, not knowing what to do.

"Jesus Chr--" Mickey started.

Ian knelt next to Mickey to help with his wound. "Okay. You okay?"

"Fuck," Mickey complained.

Kash watched expressionlessly.

Ian put a hand on the side of Mickey's head. "Hey, hey. Listen to me. Look at me."

Mickey glared at Kash incredulously. "You fucking suck!"

⫷⑅⫸

Jackson House - Outside

(Song:) Family Line - Conan Grey

Carson was sitting alone on the porch steps to gather her thoughts, flashing back to her life with her own birth parents.

Carson's real parents chose drugs and alcohol over her. Had let her believe, in their paralyzed states, due to ecstasy, that they were dead. They did meth for a while, and fed Carson the horror stories they believed were true, of the demons dwelling in their presence, soon to kill the whole family. They went crazy and bit each other and broke each other's bones. Carson would cry out, and they would beat her unconscious for the interruption. When she woke, they would be next to her on the kitchen floor, naked, shameless in the presence of their daughter. In several fights, they attempted to involve Carson. They confided in her their sins and affairs, then threatened her should she ever spill their secrets. Once caught, Carson would be brought into the argument, then beaten viscously for not spilling the truth before. The only time she did so, she was beaten for accusing the other of such a thing, then beaten again for ratting. She had been left bruised and bloody and broken and alone.

Tears streamed down Carson's flushed cheeks. She struck herself in the face, but could not feel it. She touched the lit end of a cigarette to her arm, among an old scar, but could not feel it. Oh, but she could feel the internal pain. A pain with the potential to break bones, to paralyze, to kill. It dwelled deep in her broken heart, beyond reach. She could never heal.

Carson started to cry, and tossed the cigarette down; she had never intended to smoke it, putting it out with her foot.

JJ walked outside to see Carson like this. "Hey. Carson? You okay?"

Carson quickly wiped her tears. "I'm fine."

JJ sat next to her. "Yet you're crying?"

Carson shook her head sadly. "I'm so fucking weak. Can I go a day without crying?"

JJ gave her a look, shaking his head. "Crying doesn't make you weak. It makes you human. You are. You're here. I see you. We all see you. You just have to know that."

Carson slowly looked at JJ, nodding slightly in appreciation, looking down.

Natalia and Lip walked outside.

"Hey," Natalia said. "You two okay?"

JJ noticed the fresh burn on Carson's arm, looking at her in concern.

Carson hid the burn underneath her jacket sleeve. "Yeah. We're fine now."

Natalia and Lip sat on the porch behind Carson and JJ. Lip had his head resting on her shoulder, which was surprising, as he was never one to cave and talk about his emotions, but usually just lash out or pretend they didn't exist. Natalia was great at reading him and she tried not to ever push him into talking about how he was feeling, though she had gotten better at saying the right thing, which most of the time led to them talking until the middle of the night.

Natalia had her hand placed in Lip's hair, comfortingly twirling a few strands of it around her fingertips. Neither of them spoke, Natalia once again not wanting to force him to talk. Him leaning on her was enough to show how upset he was.

Lip pulled the cigarette away from his lips, blowing the smoke out.

Ian came running down the street, breathless.

"I thought you were at work," Lip mused.

Ian sat on the set of steps a row down. "There was a shooting. Mickey and Kash."

"Holy shit," Carson said.

"Mickey shot Kash?" Lip asked, in shock.

"No, Kash shot Mickey," Ian answered.

"What?" Natalia asked worriedly.

"In the leg," Ian assured. "He's fine. Just wanted to get out of there before the cops showed up."

Natalia sighed, frustrated. "I should go."

"There'd be no point," Ian admitted. "Mickey's just gonna get arrested because he was shoplifting, before you even get there."

Natalia hung her head. "So he's going back to juvie."

"Yeah," Ian answered. "Sorry about that, Lia. What'd I miss with Mom?"

"You know how Frank's a total fucking asshole?" Lip asked.

"Yeah," Ian answered.

"Turns out he's the good one," Lip told him.

JJ shrugged, looking down. "Yeah."

"So, Eliana and Monica are both back," Lip stated. "Tristan and Terry are psychos still at large." Natalia gave Lip a look, not wanting him to say what happened the night before right then, but Lip couldn't hold it in. JJ looked at them, not knowing what happened the night before, but knowing that his father was still out there, just not knowing how close. "Even Carson's gone through hell with her parents and foster parents alike." Carson nodded slightly slightly. "Malcolm too with his and Micah's parents gone and all. Frank's... well, Frank. And we're all screwed because of our parents and all they did. So fucked up beyond compare. And we can't even run or escape from it. Guess what they say is true. Can't hide from family lines."

Natalia, JJ, Carson and Ian all knew that he was right.

⫷⑅⫸

Inside - Living Room

Frank and Monica were arguing in front of the kids.

"I can't believe you sucked me back in here for money," Monica snapped.

"I did no such thing!" Frank replied. Lip and Ian walked inside. Frank turned to Monica. "But since you're in town, why don't you sign up for this little thing and I'll cut you in--"

"Oh, fuck you, Frank!" Monica yelled.

Zia flinched, looking down. The stress of the situation easily caused her to start to zone out, as she scratched her arm intensely. No one noticed yet because everyone was focused on the fight.

Kimberly was in a daze of her own because of everything that had been happening to her as well.

Lip looked at Frank. "Wait, you brought her back here?"

Monica sat down, turning toward Lip at his remark, in the process seeing Ian by the door. "Oh, Ian."

Kimberly looked at Frank. "You knew where she was the whole time?"

Frank sat down across from Monica.

Bob walked behind Frank. "This little reunion was bound to happen sooner or later, anyway." She looked at Frank. "We were thinking about coming around to talk to you about something else."

Monica quickly stood. "No, no, not now."

"Yes, now!" Bob told her. "Yes, now!" She looked at Frank. "Moni and I wanna take Liam to live with us."

"What?" Fiona demanded, rising to her feet.

Frank stood. "Over my dead body!"

"How about Moni sign whatever the hell it is you need, we get Liam?" Bob asked.

Frank nodded. "Done."

Frank sat back down.

Natalia, JJ and Carson stood by the door.

Carson noticed Zia's state behind everyone, while the others didn't, walking toward Zia, gently touching Zia's arm in concern when she realized Zia was scratching her arm so badly that she made herself bleed, right over the top of her cast, snapping Zia out of her stupor, whispering. "Zia."

Zia became alert again, looking around, feeling a sting in her arm as she looked down, noticing how badly her arm was scratched, which was bleeding.

Carson looked at Zia worriedly, while Zia looked up at Carson, more and more scared about what was happening to her.

Lip glared at Frank incredulously. "No fucking way! You can't have Liam."

"Why the hell not?" Monica asked. "He's not even Frank's."

"Fact is, Liam is black," Bob told them. "All you white folks scooping up black babies like fashion accessories have a rude awakening coming."

Kimberly glared, standing. "Fact is, you two are talking like Liam is a prize to be won when he is literally a baby that neither of you give a damn about raising, while the seven of us have been taking care of him every day of his life. And who are you again? This isn't your business, so butt the fuck out! You can't just come in here saying you want to steal a kid. He's not even yours! He's our brother."

Bob glowered at Kimberly. "You people need to stop underestimating the cultural importance of a black parent raising a black baby. Liam needs me, he's coming with us."

JJ raised his hand. "As a black baby being raised by his black psychotic father, I guarantee you that it's not as important as you're exaggerating. Trust me, I would've been better off without my father. All of us would've been, and Liam's definitely better off without you."

Fiona gestured to JJ in agreement. "Thank you."

Lip glared at Bob. "Exactly. Out of the fucking question, Roberta!"

"Roberta and I want to start a family of our own," Monica told them.

"Well, why don't you finish this one first?" Fiona asked.

Zia was crying. "They're taking Liam?"

Fiona, Kimberly and Lip all said, "No!" the same time Monica and Bob said, "Yes!"

Zia flinched at the loud voices, and Carson squeezed her shoulder comfortingly, as Debbie looked over and noticed Zia's arm, worried.

Lip looked at Zia reassuringly, softening his voice for her. "No one's taking anyone anywhere."

Fiona glared at Monica. "You don't just get to abandon your kids. And then show up one day to take your pick of the litter!"

Frank stood. "Oh, that's not fair. Your mother's made mistakes, but she's here now."

Kimberly glared at Frank. "Oh, my God, you fuckface, shut up! You're just siding with her because you want the money!"

"You have zero morals," Natalia told him.

Frank looked at JJ and Natalia since they both spoke up during this. "What did Kimberly say to Roberta earlier? For her to mind her business? Well, why don't Natalia, JJ and Carson do the same thing? This isn't even their family!"

Kimberly and Lip both glared at Frank, about to retort.

Ian spoke up before they could because he knew that he would be more calm about it, trying to calm things down for everyone. "Yes, it is. Natalia and JJ have been here for all of us when you haven't. JJ got shot and almost died trying to protect us. He and Kimberly are working for the people that you and Tristan almost got us killed for, so that they can protect us. Natalia's been helping take care of us since we were kids. Since you started all of this, Carson's been helping Zia more than you have her entire life, just in the short amount of time she's known her. You don't get to decide who's family and who's not, especially since you're trying to trade out Liam for money."

Frank didn't know what to say to that. "I--"

"Shut up, Frank!" Fiona snapped. "This isn't about you." She looked at Monica. "This is about you. This is about what you didn't do. It's about what I did. And you know what? I did a fucking great job. Debbie is class president. She's on the debate team going to nationals. And Lip, he's top of his class. He set the curve. Ian was promoted in ROTC, and he tested out of English. Kimberly is going above and beyond to save our family from something that our father doomed us to die going through. Carl made something blow up for his science project. And Zia... she's dyslexic but she's still so fucking smart for someone so young, and she's been through more this year than you have in your whole fucking life. Look at her. Look at her and tell me that you can't see that she's been through hell and back."

Monica looked at Zia sadly, noticing Zia's arm cast and that she had a wound in her hand and arm, and scratches over her face, and the scratch bleeding over the top of her class. "What happened to you, baby?"

Zia just looked down numbly. "Why would you care?" She looked at Monica, tears in her eyes. "You walked out when I was three years old. You didn't know who I was today." Monica looked like she could break from those words. "You never gave a shit about anyone but yourself."

"She's right," Fiona agreed. "You never cared about her, about any of us. And you know what? They did it all, no thanks to you, because you weren't here! Zia doesn't even have a single memory of you because you left! You left all of us! You didn't raise us! You didn't raise them! I did."

"And I appreciate that, Fiona," Monica told her. "But I'm here now, and Liam belongs with me."

"Mother of the year," Kimberly said sarcastically. "You didn't even know who Zia was today, and she didn't know who you were. Liam doesn't know who you are either!"

"I'm his mother!" Monica cried.

"You were my mother too!" Fiona cried.

Liam was babbling. "I don't. I don't know!"

Kimberly looked at Monica, crying, shaking her head. "You lost your right to come back here and try to be a mother. Because you abandoned all of us and left us to take care of each other on our own. You don't get to come back now and act like a mom when you haven't done anything to earn that."

Monica broke down into tears, looking at Kimberly, Fiona, Ian and Lip. "Maybe I'll never be able to make things right with you, but there's still time with Liam. And Debbie, Carl and Zia..." She sat in front of the three younger ones. "I am so sorry if I hurt you. Please. I love you so much. Please let me be your mommy again. Please."

Carl and Debbie both hugged Monica.

Zia gazed off at nothing, but she knew that she couldn't breathe, feeling panicky and anxious, holding her arm which was burning from scratching into it so intensely. Monica wrapped her arms around Zia, and Zia broke down into tears, which seemed to break everyone's hearts.

Even Frank looked down in sadness.

Fiona shook her head in disbelief, walking to the door. "You know what? You're right. You are their mother. And you're here now, so I'm done. I'm done with the school and the bills and the clinics. I'm done. They're all yours now, Mom. Good luck."

Fiona stormed out of the house.

Kimberly, Ian and Lip watched Fiona go in disbelief, knowing that Monica would never be able to do everything they needed for these kids.

Monica tried to hug Carl, Debbie and Zia again. "It's okay."

Zia stood and brushed Monica off, backing away into the wall, sliding to the floor.

Kimberly held her head in her hands, in shock.

Lip had no idea what to do.

Ian was the sibling with his head mostly on right, kneeling down next to Zia, keeping her out of another of her states. "Shh, shh." Carson, Natalia and JJ sat with Debbie and Carl comfortingly. Zia couldn't stay in here, standing, running out of the house. "Shit. Zia!"

⫷⑅⫸

Outside

Zia ran outside, calling out for her older sister who was more of a mother than Monica could ever be. "Fiona!"

"Just go inside," Fiona told her, storming away from the house. "I need a break from all of this. From all of you."

Zia stopped, looking as if her heart broke from hearing those words.

Fiona jogged away down the street, rounding the corner, and disappearing from sight.

All of this was enough to send Zia into her worst state yet.

Zia stood frozen outside, completely freaking out, in the middle of a panic attack.

Micah appeared next to Zia in her mind due to her spiraling state. "That must suck."

Zia closed her eyes, unable to deal with his tormenting on top of it. "Just go away, Micah."

"Your mother didn't even know who you were," Micah told her. "And now she doesn't even want to know you. She wants to take Liam and leave the rest of you to fend for yourselves to start a whole new family. At least Lip, Kimberly, Ian, Debbie and Carl got some memories with her before she took off. You didn't. Your mother is a stranger and she still doesn't want to know you, even though she's back. And Fiona just took off on all of you."

Zia was shaking slightly. "Please just stop."

Micah took Zia's hand, but of course, Zia couldn't feel it. "I know what you're going through. It's okay. They're all gonna run out on you eventually, just like Frank and Monica and Fiona just now. Natalia, JJ and Carson will end up leaving too. Kevin and Veronica. And you don't want any of them to keep having to take care of you, do you? You don't want to feel like a burden that they have to keep looking after. A broken little girl that can't take care of herself. But they've all got their own lives to live. And they can't be here all the time to save you from yourself. Might as well just make it easier for yourself and take yourself out of the equation. 'Cause at least then they won't have to worry about you anymore. Just like Malcolm doesn't have to worry about me anymore. And they won't have to spend money that they don't have on medications and treatment on you that might even work. You already feel dead inside, so might as well make it official. Like me."

Zia shook her head. "I don't know what to do."

"Yes, you do," Micah replied. "You know exactly what to do. This will all be over. It's the right thing to do, Zia. You know it is. Admit it."

Zia gazed off, unable to think clearly at all. "I can't do this. I can't leave like Fiona. I can't leave Kimberly, Ian and Lip. Or Carl, Debbie and Liam."

"They're better off without you," Micah stated. "Without having to take care of you. If your own parents can't take care of you, your siblings can't either. Don't you see that? You're already living on borrowed time. You deserve to die just like I did. Just come to me, Zia. You'll finally feel safe. And they won't have to worry anymore."

Zia was trying everything in her power to try and ignore the words and everything she was going through.

But in reality, Zia was in her sleepwalking trance, walking like a zombie into the road.

A couple cars drove past, horns blaring, trying to avoid hitting Zia.

Zia kept walking like the living dead across the road.

A large truck barreled down the road toward Zia.

The driver looked away from the road to check his delivery list. He looked back to see Zia in front of his truck. He hurriedly blared his horn, tires squealing as he tried to stop in time.

Kimberly, Ian and Lip saw what was happening just in time.

"Zia!" Ian yelled, but they knew that she was in her state and couldn't snap out of it.

Kimberly, Ian and Lip ran frantically, desperately closer.

Ian got there first and grabbed Zia, pulling her up from the ground into his arms, pulling her into safety, diving for the verge, landing on the ground with Zia in his arms.

The truck continued to drive away.

Ian held Zia in his embrace, both lying on the ground, breathing heavily.

Zia was finally snapped out of her episode because of this, realizing what just happened, starting to shake and cry, terrified.

Kimberly and Lip ran closer, kneeling next to Ian and Zia, helping the two sit up.

Natalia, JJ, Carson, Carl and Debbie ran outside to see what happened, all of them horrified when they realized what did happen, running closer.

"Oh, my God," Natalia said.

"Zia?" Carl and Carson asked.

"Zia, you okay?" Debbie asked.

Zia shook her head, sobbing. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean... I didn't know what I was..."

Kimberly stroked Zia's hair as calmingly as she could with shaking hands. "Shh, shh. It's okay. It's okay. We know."

"You were sleepwalking," Lip told her. "It's okay. You're safe."

JJ nodded, breathless with worry. "You're okay now."

Zia shook her head. "No. I'm not."

Ian was holding Zia comfortingly, as Kimberly, Lip, Carl and Debbie knelt with them in shock and horror, each one holding onto each other. Natalia, Carson and JJ stood with them in absolute shock, all scared of what could have happened, absolutely stunned.

Frank and Monica walked outside to see what happened, confused, stunned and horrified, neither of them knowing what to do or where to start learning how to take care of their own children, especially after this.

⫷⑅⫸ Worlds Colliding (Shameless) ⫷⑅⫸