Someone was waiting just outside Joannie's gate as she and her Dad pulled up.

"Hey, Bobby," the woman exclaimed as she jumped out of the car. The two old friends embraced warmly, bobby tousling her hair much like he used to do when she was little, but she could feel the tenseness in her friend as he saw who she brought home with her.

"Hey kid," Kreese rolled down his passenger window and gave a little wave. "Long time no see."

The gesture bobby returned was not a very holy one.

"Alright, both of you, behave yourselves," the woman warned.

"What? I didn't do anything this time," Kreese objected, but he rolled up the window, nevertheless.

"And you ... So much for all that preaching about forgiveness and redemption," Joannie commented dryly. "So, are you still gonna bless my new house or what?"
"forgiveness and redemption must be earned," Bobby brown said flatly. "And I will absolutely bless your house," he agreed without hesitation. "Because if you're gonna let him in it, you'll need all the blessings you can get, my sweet little J."

"Jesus, I'm not three years old anymore, B. And you are a doll, bobby," Joannie said. She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek then ushered him in to her back seat.

Having always been close, Joannie and Bobby chatted warmly to one another. Kreese remained silent. But it was still a long and tense trip up the winding driveway, and everyone was relieved to finally get out of the car.

"Through that door, top of the stairs, all the way to the end of the hallway on your right, old man," Joannie directed her Father into the house. "It's a room directly across from mine. It's also the only other bedroom right now that has a bed in it."

As Kreese disappeared into the house, she turned to her old friend.

"Okay, spit it out, bob. You're not gonna feel better until you do,"

"He's your Father, and you have a big heart, too big sometimes. I get that, J," bobby said carefully. "But—"

"I knew that but was coming," the woman replied. "But you're gonna go running straight to Johnny, right."

Yes, I am," Bobby told her. Then, with a huge sigh, he simply opened his arms to the woman, and she all but fell in to them. She clung to him and pressed her face hard against his shoulder.

"You know I just don't want to see you get hurt anymore, don't you, J?" bobby said gently into her hair. "and Johnny won't like it, either."

'oh, dear me! bobby Brown and Johnny Lawrence don't approve of my life decisions? I'm utterly crushed," she muttered. "How will I ever recover from the shame?"

"My sweet little J, you are such a smart ass," bobby laughed and hugged her even tighter. "I guess it's the Kreese blood in you, and I thank god for it. That is the only reason I'm not begging you to get Kreese out of your house right now. I'm sure you can handle this guy. But—"

"Another but," Joannie groaned.

"But you have my number, my email, Facebook, Twitter, everything. And I want you to call me, anytime day or night, if you need help, a shoulder to cry on, or someone to kick this guy's ass out of the house for you, whatever you need. And I mean that, Joannie. You know I'm always here for you, right?"

"Yes, yes, I know. You always have been there when I needed anything at all, anything. I'm not likely to forget, am I?" Joannie grinned up at him, and they both blushed a bright red. "But I believe you came this evening to bless my house, right?"

"Yep, I sure did," bobby said. "and, considering who you are sharing house room with, I'll give it my extra super-duper double blessing, too."

Joanie scrunched up her face in mock rage and gave him a gentle shove. In response, he lifted her off her feet and twirled her around her garage for a moment.

"Okay, that's enough. Put me down! Can't you be serious for ten minutes," Joannie laughed as she pulled herself free of his embrace.

"Don't know if I can," Bobby quipped. "See, I know what happens when I get too serious around you, pretty J."

"But you came out here anyway, and all by yourself. And if you'd stop calling me that, it might help," she said quietly.

"No," bobby said softly, suddenly very serious as he leaned over her. "No, it really won't help all that much, Joannie.

Before she could think of a reply, bobby cupped her chin in one hand. He brushed some hair out of her face, pressed a light kiss against her forehead, then moved away quickly to gather his tools of the trade.

"Let me go get my Mom's beads. Their upstairs. You can use them, can't you?"

"You bet."

"And be careful in the basement," Joannie called back over her shoulder. "I swear the damn place is haunted."

"Haunted! Oh, now you tell me," Bobby caroled after her a she started to climb the stairs.

Her Father was waiting at the top of them for her, a frown on his face.

"And just what the hell was all that with you and Brown?" he demanded.

"Don't spy on me in my own home, old man!" she warned as she pushed past him and headed down the hallway to her bedroom. "My relationship with Bobby is none of your damn business."

"whose spying. I just stuck my head in the garage to ask if you wanted me to make us some supper. I didn't mean to interrupt your dancing or whatever the hell you two were doing. And what do you mean, relationship?" Kreese exclaimed as he stayed right on his daughter's heels. "What kind of relationship? Should I make it a supper for three, then? Is he staying the night or what?

Joannie whirled on him, one hand raised as if she wanted to slap him. But after a second, she let it drop. Without another word, she turned away, retrieved her Mother's favorite rosary beads from the top bureau drawer. Clutching the beads as if she might use them as a weapon any second, she swept past her Father without a word and down to her front porch where Bobby stood waiting for her.

"supper for two then," Kreese called after her.