A few hours later the entire gang were once again in Emma and Erica's apartment, this time with an open bottle of champagne, which they only use to celebrate.
"A toast, to Uncle Joey and Luke, and a, hopefully, healthy father-son relationship to come,"Erica says as they all raise their glasses.
"And here's to one less thing to blame George Bush about,"Sophie says smiling while everyone else looked confused.
"And total weirdness aside, cheers,"Jack says as they clink their glasses together and take a sip.
As Ben changes the hand he was using to hold his glass, Emma notices the scratches on her brother's hand.
"Ben, what the hell ?"Emma asks grabbing her brother's hand to take a closer look.
"It's nothing, I'm fine,"Ben says trying to ignore the attention he was now getting from everyone in the room.
"What did you do, punch a wall or something man ?"Jack asks leaning over from his spot on the chair to get a better look.
"No Nate, that's how he got that black eye didn't he ?"Emma asks as Erica and Ben share a look.
"I don't know what you're talking about,"Ben says taking a sip of his champagne.
"So you beat up the guy who was gawking at my sister, and now here's my question, isn't that supposed to be my job ?"Jack asks as both Ben and Erica laugh.
"No offence Jack, but, okay let me put it this way if I need someone to debug my computer or to come bring the spare key after Emma and I lock ourselves out of the apartment, I'll call you, but if I need someone to beat up the guy who won't stop staring at me, I'm going to call Ben,"Erica says as Ben smiles, and Jack looks a little offended.
"So I'm just the computer geek who does the captain of the football teams homework while he goes out, wins the championship game and gets all the glory. Funny I didn't think we were in high school again,"Jack says as there's a knock on the door.
As Emma gets up to get it,Ben leans over to Jack,"FYI, I was the captain of the basketball team in high school, not football, and I did my own homework,"Ben says as Emma opens the door to reveal, Luke standing on the other side.
"Luke,"Emma says a little suprised as everyone in the living room turns to face the door.
"I'm sorry to stop by so late, but do you think I can come in ?"Luke asks like he's unsure what to say.
"Yeah, yes, sure, of course,"Emma says as she motions for Luke to enter,which he does.
"Ah, hi, everyone,"Luke says as he enters the living room,and Emma closes the front door.
"Hey man, I'm really sorry about the whole Joey thing,"Jack says setting his champagne glass down on the coffee table.
"And I'm sorry for just running out like that, and if you still need a roommate, I'd still like to,"Luke says as Jack nods.
"Yeah, I mean if you don't mind the fact that everyone in this room calls your Father Uncle,"Jack says as Luke smiles slightly.
"I actually don't mind my father that much anymore,"Luke says as Emma walks up beside him.
"So dinner went well ?"Sophie asks as Emma had told everyone about Luke and Joey's dinner plans.
"Really well actually, we talked, I told him all about my life, and he told me all about his family, including you guys, and you all sound pretty cool,"Luke says as everyone smiles.
"Well we are cool,"Sophie says drinking some more of her champagne.
"And I think I'd like the chance to get to know you all,"Luke says as Erica looks up at him.
"Are you saying you'd like to be friends with us ?"Erica asks craning her neck.
"Yeah, I mean if that okay with all of you,"Luke says as the rest of the group shares a look.
"Sidebar,"Jack says as they all stand-up, and walk into the kitchen leaving Luke alone in the living room.a
"So what do you think ?"Ben asks as they all crowd around the kitchen table.
"He seems like a genuinely good guy,"Emma says looking around Sophie's shoulder to catch a quick look at Luke who has crossed over to the front of the couch and sits down.
"Yeah, he does but what else is he like, I mean we barely know this guy. He could be an ax murderer for all we know, and your not the one who will be sharing an apartment with him,"Jack says as they all take another look at him.
"Does he look like an ax murderer to you, why do you always assume everyone is and ax murderer ?"Erica asks her brother trying to keep her voice low so Luke look doesn't hear them.
"Blame mom, my point is, he might be a maniac with an ax, and although I didn't believe this at first, he could be our one shot for a Joey,"Jack says as Sophie smiles.
"See I told you, my theory is right, you wanted a Joey,"Sophie says as Jack tries not to smile.
"Maybe it would be nice,"Jack says still hiding a smile.
"Let's put it to a vote, all those in favor,"Ben says as everyone sticks their hand up in the air.
"Okay, we're agreed, but if he turns out to be an ax murderer and kills me in my sleep, I'm coming back and haunting all of you,"Jack says as everyone sticks their hand down.
"Would that be worse or better than it is now ?"Emma asks as Jack chuckles sarcastically.
The gang crosses back to the living room.
"Alright Luke,we've made our decision,"Sophie says as Luke turns around in his seat to look at the rest of the gang,standing behind him.
"And ?"Luke asks actually sounding a little bit nervous.
"You're in,"Emma says as Luke looks a little relieved.
"Thanks,"Luke says as the gang crosses back into the living room, and sits down, Ben and Emma on the couch, Jack in his chair, Erica in the chair across from him, and Sophie on the floor, in front of the TV.
It then follows a moment of silence, until Luke speaks up,"So what exactly do you guys do on a Wednesday night".
"This is basically it, we hang out, talk, watch tv, and sometimes when the ugly naked guy across the street does something interesting we watch him for a while, this is essentially it,"Jack says as Erica pours a glass of champagne and hands it to Luke.
"You watch the guy across the street, you're all basically peeping toms,"Luke says as everyone nods.
"When you put it like that it makes it sound creepy,"Jack says as everyone else smiles.
"It is creepy, and it's also illegal,"Luke says drinking some of his champagne.
"Actually, it's only illegal if the person we're peeping on feels threatened, if not we're free to look at him as much as we please,"Erica says as everyone looks at her.
"Erica's a defense attorney, and as our grandmother puts it, the people who make the most money from other people's mistakes"Jack explains to Luke.
"In all fairness that's the tamest thing she said when I told her I got a job at Nicholson, Hewlett and West,"Erica says drinking her champagne.
"You work for Nicholson, Hewlett, and West,they once tried to close down the clinic to put in some night club, but good thing for us one of my coworkers happened to be married to a lawyer from Oliver, Mackenzie, Brown, and Lowry, him being the Lowry,"Luke says setting his glass onto the end table.
"And the only thing missing from Erica's firm is another name,"Jack says smiling even thought it was a bad joke and he knew it.
"I'm really sorry about that if you want I can tell off my boss for you tomorrow,"Erica asks sipping her drink.
"No, it's fine it wasn't your idea,"Luke says picking up his glass.
"Good thing you said no because she would never have done it anyway,"Sophie says as Erica looks at her like she had no idea what she was talking about.
"I would have done it,"Erica says as everyone,except Luke,smiles.
"Sure you would have sis,"Jack says as Emma looks out the window.
"Guys, guys, Ugly Naked Guy Jr just got a pogo stick,"Emma says as they all run to the window, with the exception of Luke.
"What's the big deal about him getting a pogo stick ?"Luke asks as he now walks up to the window,"Oh, wow, that man really is naked".
"Yeah,"Ben says still watching.
They all watch for a minute, and when Ugly Naked Guy Jr falls back first onto his coffee table.
"Oh,"the gang cries says at once.
"There goes his new coffee table,"Jack says as they make their way back to their seats.
"That was actually kind of fun,"Luke says sitting back down on the couch.
"Yeah, stick with us kid, you'll have all sort's of fun, peeping at the guy across the street, sabotaging our friend's relationships and.."Jack says before Sophie interrupts him.
"Breaking into The Museum of Natural History,"Sophie says as Luke looks at her shocked.
"Soph, we told you already, we're not doing that,"Ben says as Luke looks relieved and Sophie looks disappointed.
"So think you'll stick around a little while,"Emma asks Luke hopefully.
"Yeah think I will,"Luke says as Emma tries to hide a smile.
"I'd purpose a toast but I think we drank all of the champagne,"Erica says picking up the almost empty bottle.
"You know what that's alright, I'm not a big drinker anyway,"Luke says looking at his now empty glass.
"I think we have some ginger ale, I'll go check,"Emma says as she gets up off the couch and goes into the kitchen.
As Luke asks Sophie about the museum, Emma watches.
She's happy that she and Luke are friends, but at the same time sad that they'll probably never be more than that.
Maybe Emma and her mother weren't that much alike after all, because right now, Emma felt a lot like her father did,when he used to look at her mother when he thought it would never be.