Chapter 9

That night, Allison and Joey went out to eat and then to the opera. She had to nudge him a couple times towards the end to keep him from falling asleep. Then she realized how much of a sacrifice this was for him. He didn't really want to go see the opera; he just wanted to make her happy.

They got home, for it was her home now too, very late, and Allison practically had to carry Joey into the house, he was so tired. She helped him downstairs and they sat on his bed.

"I want to thank you again, Joey," she said. "I know you didn't really like that opera, but you took me anyway."

He tried to protest, but was too tired to fight her claim. He took his tux coat off.

"I just want to know a way I can pay you back for that. It must have cost you a fortune, for the dress and the opera tickets. Not to mention dinner."

"You don't need to pay me back. Just being with you is enough."

"You're sweet, but I'm not going to relax unless I can do something for you." She smiled slyly. "Do you know what I'm thinking?"

"Bedtime?" he said curling up in his bed, eyes closed, ready to sleep.

"Yes, but not that way."

He didn't quite comprehend her meaning in that until he felt her lips on his. He pulled her down on the bed next to him, still kissing. She broke the kiss, and stood up looking at Joey. Joey didn't know what she was doing. She took her hair down and it bounced around her face.

She turned her back to Joey. "Help me with the zipper?" she asked about her dress.

He obeyed, too distracted with her to think straight. She took her arms out of the sleeves slowly, seducing Joey. The dress dropped to the ground. She crawled on the bed and over Joey slowly again, never losing eye contact. She kissed him gently at first and then harder. Allison started taking Joey's dress shirt off. She kissed his lips, his neck, his chest, all the way down to his belt, all the while Joey letting out small moans. Just as Allison was starting to unbuckle his belt, Joey stopped her.

"Allison," he said seriously, "we can't do this. I wouldn't feel comfortable after everything you've been through. I don't want you to have to pay me back this way. It doesn't feel right to me. I want to make sure you feel okay with it."

Allison had been staring at him confused about him wanting to stop but she softened when he was considering her feelings. Of course, it was foolish of her to put that on him. She felt like she owed him but that was not the way to show her appreciation.

"I like you, Allison," Joey continued. "I only want to respect you. I want to do…" he hesitated and gestured to the two of them, "this, but if or when it's going to happen, I want us both to feel the same way about each other and do it when we're both ready."

"No one's ever said that to me before," she said surprised by his words.

"Now if you want to do something that I think we'll both like and you can pay me back, just come lay down and cuddle with me."

Allison smiled genuinely and snuggled in next to Joey, laying her head on his chest.

"Thank you," she said softly.

Joey smiled and stroked her hair. He could feel her relax and knew that was the right choice. He wouldn't have felt right having her pay him back in that superficial way. He was starting to fall in love with her.

Allison awoke late the next day and left for work in the afternoon. She had a late shift that night. Of course if Joey had told her about the opera she would've taken off, but now she had to go.

Joey walked up the stairs from his bedroom and he saw Allison leaving through the back door. He smiled at her. She looked at him with an ashamed look, but she waved and left.

Joey sat down at the kitchen table next to Jesse, who was reading the newspaper, and grabbed a muffin Danny had left out from breakfast that morning. Jesse confronted Joey about the night before.

"So, how'd it go?" Jesse coaxed Joey to tell what happened with the opera.

"It was good," Joey said casually, yawning.

"Only good!?" Jesse said, surprised and confused at the same time. "You spent the whole day with Allison, the girl you're obsessed with."

"Well, the morning was great and so was dinner, but after that it was just a little awkward."

"Awkward how?"

Joey sighed and proceeded to tell Jesse what had happened last night.

"Oh, man, Joey," Jesse responded to his story. "You should've let her go all the way!"

"What!?" Joey yelled. "You think that would've been okay? I just wouldn't feel right about that."

"Hey, that's the good thing about having the basement bedroom. You're in the basement, no one will know anything that happens. I wish I had your room instead mine," Jesse said annoyed. "It's pretty hard to impress a girl when you have pink bunny wallpaper."

"Well, it's also hard to do something you don't feel comfortable doing," Joey said angrily.

Jesse opened his mouth to say something, but closed it again, knowing Joey was right about this statement. "Yeah, you're right. You did the right thing, Joseph, thinking of her and the both of you and the future of your relationship."

Joey smiled and at the same moment, Danny walked in the room.

"What are you guys talking about?" he asked.

"Nothing," Jesse and Joey said together, embarrassed.

"Okay." Danny said, slightly confused and suspicious. He turned to leave, but Joey stopped him.

"Danny, wait," he called as he stood up and walked towards him. "I just want to say how grateful I am that you're letting me live here with you." He paused looking down. "This really is a great experience and I'm happy that I get to share watching your children grow up with you."

Jesse smiled. "Yeah, me too."

"Thanks," Danny said a little confused. "I don't know where that's coming from, but it means a lot to me." He paused, then said curiously, "where is this coming from?"

"Oh, nowhere," Joey said simply. "I… we just realized that we never thanked you for your generosity."

Jesse nodded and smiled slightly.

Danny smiled back at them.

A/N: I know, it's a little cheesy, but Full House can be cheesy at times. And as we all know, it can also be very dramatic and that's the turn it's going to take. So let's take a rest from the romance and switch to the drama. Stay with me, the next chapter is better I promise:)

A/N (11.30.22): I changed this one up since the first writing. I had the reason they didn't go all the way Joey felt uncomfortable doing that in Danny's house, which is ugh. This is such a better and more heart-felt reason and more Joey to think of her feelings over his own. That is the way a relationship should be and it's more believable.