Jake, Josh and the Northwestern crew attempted to quietly enter Tess' house. They were doing well until Edgar knocked into the hall mirror and started cursing. After that all attempts to be quiet were forgotten, they just trusted that Phil could keep Tess and Stella upstairs until the surprise was ready.

Tess heard the crash downstairs and immediately sat up in bed, she heard Edgar's voice and wondered if everything was ok. When the commotion continued, she realized that there were more people than just Edgar downstairs. She turned to Phil who was awake but seemed unwilling to give her the answer she sought. However, when she made a move to get out of bed, he held her arm so she couldn't get up.

"Don't go down there. It's a surprise." said Phil blandly.

"Didn't you just ruin the surprise portion?" laughed Tess.

"No. I didn't tell you what the surprise is." replied Phil.

"If they don't keep it down they are going to wake Stella." said Tess.

"Really? Will she come in here or go straight downstairs?" asked Phil, mildly concerned.

"I don't really know. We've never really been in this type of situation before" said Tess

"You're kidding. You've never had a group of crabbers break into your house to set up a surprise in the middle of the afternoon? It happens everyday here" said Phil sarcastically.

Tess dissolved into a fit of giggles. Phil saw Tess transform into a little girl when she laughed, not the guarded laugh he'd heard before. This laugh was beautiful and he realized he would like to hear it more often.

"So what do you suggest we do up here until they are finished downstairs?" asked Tess.

The question was ridiculously vague and Phil wasn't sure how he should answer. Tess looked at him clearly expecting an answer.

"We could play a game." said Phil

"What kind of game?" pressed Tess.

"I don't know, do you have any cards?" said Phil

"Not up here, this bedroom is only used for one thing." Phil's eyebrow shot up in an unspoken question.

"Sleeping." answered Tess. "Although I do have some nail polish in the bathroom, I could give you a manicure." Phil looked horrified. "Or not." said Tess.

They lapsed into silence listening to the commotion downstairs. It was really a wonder that Stella hadn't woken up. But after one particularly loud thump and the following flurry of swear words the guys luck finally failed and little Stella awoke from her nap. Instead of walking across the hall to her mother's room Stella decided to check out what was making the noise downstairs.

Stella rounded the landing at the bottom of the stairs and ran smack into Jake Anderson who was suppose to be the stair lookout. Jake jumped a mile and barely managed to contain his scream.

"Hey Stella." Jake said trying desperately to distract the girls attention from the other rooms.

"Hi Jake. said Stella as she quickly darted by him and into kitchen. She ran right up to Matt who was putting the finishing touches on a tray of brownies.

"Hi Matt!" she bellowed. Matt jumped in shock and dropped the sprinkles he was using.

He smiled down at Stella then yelled "Jake you idiot, I thought we said to guard the stairs."

Jake appeared in the kitchen looking sheepish. "Dude, she slipped right by me. She's quick."

Matt picked up Stella and carried her into the living room. "I found an extra helper for you guys."

"Stella!" said the guys, then immediately made room for her on the couch. They were still working on putting together a pot rack for Tess' kitchen. Stella's surprise had been finished before they arrived at the house.

Edgar watched as she stared at the mess of iron and screws, she looked completely uninterested. Thinking quickly he remembered that Matt had said she loved the movie Enchanted.

"Hey Stella, would you like to watch Enchanted with Jake?" asked Edgar pointing to Jake Harris.

Jake immediately scowled. But it was too late, Stella was already enthusiastically nodding her head. Jake gingerly cued up the movie and Stella hesitantly crawled into his lap. Jake felt a little uncomfortable, she was little and squirmy and he had no idea where he should put his hands. Finally Stella stopped squirming and found a comfortable spot laying her head on Jake's shoulder. Jake took a deep breath and began watching the movie.

Upstairs Tess and Phil were playing 20 questions. It had taken Tess 6 questions to guess the name of the first boat Phil had ever worked on. Phil was up to 18 questions on what Tess' favorite drink was, so far he knew it was a soda, and was continuing to guess specific brands and so far was completely unsuccessful. Tess was giggling almost constantly because she was so close to winning. Finally after reaching number 20 with no success Phil asked her what the stupid soda was.

"Matsuya Cider, is my absolute favorite. It's only available in Japan as far as I know." replied Tess.

Phil was flabbergasted, how the hell was he suppose to guess that answer. He'd never even been to Japan.

"So what was your favorite thing about Japan? Other than the soda." asked Phil

"The sushi, the vending machines, the fact that almost every public toilet was clean, Tokyo Disney, the fashion they wear, that the Japanese are really friendly to children. Almost everything." said Tess rather dreamily.

"Why didn't you stay there?" asked Phil.

"We couldn't stay, we lived on a military base, I needed to bury Eric at home. Then I just left." said Tess sadly. "I doubt I'll ever go back, at least not by myself, I think I'd be drowning in the past" as she said the last few words she looked over at the medication bottles.

"Is that why you and Stella left to travel?" asked Phil.

"I don't know. I suppose I was just overwhelmed by the whole situation. I just needed to leave, to be away from everyone who knew Eric and me. To just be alone." Tess paused for a moment then continued in a barely audible voice. "I didn't want anyone to see if I completely lost it."

"I don't think anyone would have thought any less of you if that happened." said Phil reassuringly.

Tess gave him a smile that clearly said she didn't believe him, but didn't comment.

"You know I wish I could just scoop you up and carry you off somewhere no one could hurt you, that I could brush away all the pain you've had, make all the hardships disappear."

"Oh Phil, that's the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me. A great TV show once told me that whatever doesn't kill you only makes you stronger. So I suppose all these troubles and strife are just making me a stronger person."

Tess sat up straight, clasped her hands on Phil's cheeks and stared into his eyes. "I think you are an amazing human being, you are smart, strong, funny and humble. To me those characteristics are what any woman should look for in a man, what I look for in one. I think I'm falling for you." Tess sat back on her heels. "I know I'm not the innocent you thought I was and that what happened the other night has changed our relationship and not necessarily in a good way. I think you deserve a good girl and I don't think I fit into that category any more."

With that Tess got up and headed to the bathroom leaving a very stunned Phil sitting on the bed.

Downstairs the pot rack was hung and Stella was directing Norman as to what pots and pans Tess used most when cooking. The array of cookware was staggering and Norman was surprised that Stella knew the names and uses of almost all the pans he pulled out.

The others were gathered around the TV making completely boorish comments about what they'd do to Giselle the princess if they'd found her on the streets of New York.

"Oh I would definitely take her back to 'And to Lays Ya'" said Jake.

"Yep, the jewelry I'd give her on the wedding night would be a pearl necklace" added Jake Anderson.

Edgar was laughing then told them to keep it down and headed back into the kitchen.

He walked in to see Norman holding Stella up to hang the last pan in the rack. To see the two of them together was cute. Edgar never really saw Norman open up to anyone that wasn't family, yet this little girl completely captivated him for some reason. Stella bent down to whisper something in Norman's ear and he smiled and pulled his sleeve up to show her the bracelet. When she saw he was wearing the bracelet she gave him a kiss on the cheek causing Norman to blush.

Edgar cleared his throat. "So I think everything else is all done, why don't we order pizza before we send Phil the all clear message." Norman just nodded and put Stella back on the ground.

"So Stella what do you and your mom like on your pizza?" asked Norman.

"Um, I like sausage and mushrooms and mommy likes anything." replied Stella. "But we don't ever order pizza we always make our own. I can show you if you want."

Edgar and Norman exchanged looks, they were imagining how many pizza's they would actually have to make to feed all the guys and the mess that would probably be made by they attempts to make homemade pizza.

"Uh thanks Stella, but I think we will stick with ordering this time, but next time we will definitely let you teach us." said Edgar.

Stella smiled, nodded and headed back into the other room to finish her movie.

Phil was still sitting on Tess' bed when she came out of the bathroom. He noticed immediately that her eyes looked different, colder, more distant. He wanted to reach out to her and tell her it would be ok, that he liked her even if she wasn't what he'd originally thought, but he didn't. Instead he watched her change her shirt and put on a pair of socks then walk over to the vanity table and begin to brush her hair.

He felt his phone vibrate and opened to read the text that said he could release Tess from the handcuffs and bring her downstairs. Phil looked around the room wondering if somewhere within these drawers were a pair of handcuffs.

"They are ready for the big surprise downstairs, if you're ready." he said.

Tess stood and calmly walked out the door. For some reason Phil felt as if something terrible had just happened between him and Tess and he had no idea what it was.

The surprises were great. Tess loved her hanging pot rack and vowed to use it everyday. She also asked if they'd made sure it was securely attached to the ceiling, Matt then made a show of hanging from it to show her it was sturdy. Stella's gift was amazing. The guys from all the boats had signed a huge card, many drawing pictures of their boats and fellow crew members. The Northwestern also presented her with a bicycle with a princess basket. Norman promised to teach her how to ride it. After Stella finished her piece of pizza he took her out for her first lesson.

The guys stayed until a little after 8 when Tess said Stella had to get ready for bed, because she had school in the morning. Everyone wished Stella good luck on her first day of school and gave her some hints on how to make spit wads, or give boys wedgies and a variety of other troublemaking suggestions. Jake, Josh and Phil were the last to leave. Stella gave the boys a tour of her room and allowed them to stay and play with her toys while she took her bath. Once she returned to the room she read both boys a bedtime story and allowed Jake to tuck her in and kiss her goodnight.

"You watch one movie with her and suddenly she loves you. I will never understand girls." said Josh as he and Jake walked out of Stella's room. Jake merely smirked in response.

Tess walked the Harris's to the door and said her goodbyes. The boys turned and started their walk back to the boat. Phil waited until they were out of earshot. "Tess, I had a really nice time talking to you. I know what you said about you not being a nice girl, but I think you're wrong. You are a really nice girl."

Tess smiled, then stood on her tiptoes and whispered into Phil's ear. "When I'm good I'm good, but when I'm bad I'm even better." As she stepped back Phil gazed into her eyes, the cold, distant eyes were there. Phil turned and jogged a bit to catch up to the boys, a chill chasing his vertebrae up and down his back.

The next day Stella was up as soon as the sunlight streamed into her window. She had already gotten dressed by the time Tess' alarm clock went off. The first day of school excitement was spreading. Stella could barely sit still through breakfast or during the ride to school. However, once they arrived at the drop off point, she started to get a little nervous. Tess held her hand as they walked to morning line up; once they got there the two girls who had sat with Stella at lunchtime immediately came over and dragged her into line. Without a second glance back she was gone. Tess stood back and watched the kids file into the classroom, her heart was full and breaking at the same time. With a sigh she got back into the truck and went to find Frank.

Frank was pretty easy to find, he was currently loading supplies into the Farwest Leader. He smiled and told her to stay on the dock until he was finished. As he hopped onto the dock he had a strange look on his face, both happy and sad at the same time. Frank suggested they go get a cup of coffee.

"How about my house." suggested Tess "Or rather your house."

"Sure." said Frank.

Once seated at the dining room with coffee and breakfast muffins steaming on the table Frank started to speak. "I don't really know how to say this." he began. "Seattle has been too far for me, I really prefer it up here. Margie has been missing me something fierce and I've been missing her twice as much." Tess was shocked, she'd had no idea that they were a couple.

Frank continued. "I've decided to forgo my management career and go back to the job I was doing before."

Tess froze, she was getting fired. Her only real reason for staying in Dutch Harbor was this job. The anchor that kept her in this spot had just disappeared.

"Now, I don't want you to think you have to move, you can stay here as long as you like. I'm going to be moving in with Margie, we've decided to take our relationship to the next level. " Frank went on "I know that Stella just started school here so I'm sure you want her to finish out the year or if you don't I understand that too."

Tess barely heard the rest of the statement, she merely nodded when Frank told her he had to go and that he would let himself out. She sat at the table for the rest of the day, staring at the Japanese character on the mantle. She only got up when she heard the clock chime 2, she didn't want to be late to pick up Stella.