Frankie stood on the sidewalk outside the Spinelli's house. He looked around anxiously, and nervously pushed himself up on his toes a few times, taking deep breaths. He checked his watch for the nth time in the past 10 minutes. And it still wasn't 6. As the seconds ticked by, he decided it would be okay to be 15 minutes early. He could re-introduce himself to her parents, as it had been years since he had seen them, and make a good impression on them. He checked his pockets and found a box of chocolates that he had brought for Ashley's mother. He also pulled out the purple orchid he had brought for Ashley. He slowly walked up to the door, and rang the bell. Ashley opened the door, grabbed his arm, and slammed the front door, yelling, "Bye mom, bye dad! See ya later!" and pulled him down the walk, to the road. Frankie had no choice but to let her pull him until she stopped.

"Umm…can't I at least give your parents the chance to question and embarrass me?" Frankie tried not to look put out, but it was obvious he was. Spinelli frowned. "Plus, I brought this for your mom. I thought she would appreciate knowing that I thought of her." He held out the box of chocolates, and then slowly pulled the flower out from behind his back. "And this will need some water." Spinelli's frown turned into a scowl. "It's for you." Spinelli growled at him.

"Fine." She turned, ignoring him, and marched dutifully to her door and slammed it open. Frankie followed her, feeling as if he was on a cloud. She was letting him meet her parents. He was shocked, though grateful. "MOM! DAD! Frankie wants to say hi!" She yelled. Frankie smiled at her, graciously, realizing how hard this was for her.

"It'll be okay, I promise." He sent her a reassuring grin and she groaned.

"It's your funeral." Spinelli responded with a shrug and collapsed onto the nearest chair, kicking her leg up over the arm.

"Oh my, oh my! What a mature, responsible young man you must be now!" Flo Spinelli said and she scurried into the room; Bob Spinelli following close behind her.

"Flo, stop, you'll embarrass him!" Bob scolded half-heartedly. "Hey kid." Bob smiled at Frankie.

"I'm Flo Spinelli, Ashley's mother; it's been ages since I last saw you! You must be Frank?"

"Frankie, ma'am." Hustler kid bowed his head at her, in a respectful gesture. "This is for you." He held out the box of chocolates. "I hope you like German chocolate."

"OH! It's my favorite!" Flo gushed. "And do call me Flo. We are old family friends." She took the chocolates, smiling.

"Ma'am, Flo, do you happen to have a vase for Ashley's flower?"

Ashley Spinelli, no more girly in that moment, with her feet over the arm of the chair, than she had been in fourth grade, rolled her eyes.

"OH! How sweet of you!" She looked to Ashley and lowered her voice. "You seem to have found quite the catch, Ashley!" and back to Frankie. "I'll put them in a vase, you two lovebirds be on your way!"

Spinelli jumped up, and grabbed Frankie's hand again, and raced out the door, quicker than the last time.

"Why did you have to subject me to that?!" She whined.

"Ashley, your parents are nice."

"In what world?" She moaned. Spinelli slapped her hand against her forehead.

"Ashley, it's okay. I didn't mind."

"I did."

"How's Joey?"

"Well, he got a girlfriend about a month ago, she seems nice enough. She's pregnant now. Seems like Joey's trying to clean up for her and his baby. And Bruce?"

"Ah, Bruce is Bruce. He's still in trouble a lot, but now, he's living on his own. Working at a chop shop up in Brooklyn."

"Oh yea? Guess resale runs in the family." Spinelli smirked and I laughed.

"I suppose so. Let's go before we miss the slaughtering." Frankie changed the subject to the horror movie they were about to watch and Spinelli enthusiastically chatted about the film as they walked to the theatre.

TJ found himself on a bar stool inside Kelso's that night, after the gang had left. He was drowning his sorrows with a strawberry milkshake and a winger dinger, courtesy of Mr. Kelso.

'Spinelli and HK were friends, but why can't I remember them ever hanging out or anything? What would they have in common? No matter. I can't stop Spinelli from hanging out with him. I couldn't hurt her like that…she likes him! I can't hurt him either, that would hurt her. And, I'm back at square one!' TJ sighed and took a deep gulp of his milkshake and laid his head down on the counter.

"Why do I care so much?"

"You love her."

TJ looked up to see Mr. Kelso smiling at him.

"Son, Spinelli and some boy were in here a bit ago, sharing a milkshake…I'm sure that's what's upsetting you."

"They came here?" TJ sounded outraged. "But, we always come here!"

"TJ, have you ever heard of the butterfly? You have to let it go. If you keep it trapped, it will hate you for caging it up, but if you let it go, and it comes back, you know it's yours. Spinelli will come back. She cares about you more than you know."