The house was never as chaotic as it was when everyone else came home to the surprise of seeing DJ.

They all went ballistic! They were all determined to hug her, asking a million questions a minute. Stephanie had stayed to the side, waiting until she wasn't being ambushed anymore. She smiled to herself. It might have been crazy but it was home. It wasn't the same with her sister being gone. It was nice to have her back, even for a little bit.

"You look great, Deej!" Aunt Becky complimented. "You're really glowing."

"Thanks, Aunt Becky," DJ beamed.

"Great to have you back, DJ," Uncle Jesse pulled her into another hug, patting her on the back. "We've really missed you around here."

"I've missed you guys, too," DJ said earnestly. "It's hard being so far away."

"The important thing is you're home now," Joey said to which everyone agreed.

Aunt Becky took DJ's hands into hers. "Tell us what you've been up to."

At that moment, the phone rang. Michelle was the closest to it so she answered. "Hello?" Stephanie briefly wondered if it was Charlie but then dismissed it. He had her cell phone number and hadn't been calling the landline anymore. It couldn't be him. "Steph, it's for you."

Or is it?

She got through the sea of people, ignoring Uncle Jesse and Dad's raised eyebrows. "Hello?" She said after putting the receiver up to her ear.

"Hey, Steph," came Harry's voice.

"Hey," She responded, eyebrows furrowing. "You could've called me on my phone, you know."

"My grandparents think that too intimate." She could practically see him grimacing now. "They think I should call on your landline until we're together. Otherwise it's improper."

"Until?"

"I tried to tell them," he sighed, sounding both amused and exasperated.

She turned so her family wouldn't be able to read her lips. "You could tell them we're married," she said with humor. "Nothing improper about that."

He snorted. "Somehow I'm not so sure they'd take that well."

She grinned. "Was there a reason you called?"

"Just wanted to know if your gift or whatever it was for Charlie went okay?" She didn't miss the way he said Charlie's name.

"It did," She said. "He liked it."

"I bet he did," Harry muttered.

She rolled her eyes. "Was that the only reason you called?"

It wasn't.

"No," he admitted. "I got bored and had nothing to do."

"You're in Japan. I think you've got plenty of things to do."

"We go every year," he said. "It's fun but we do the same thing every time we come. Right now everyone's resting for the parade tonight."

"Is that the one with fireworks?" She said. "Get a good picture for me, please. I wanna put it on my wall."

"Sure thing," he said. "I'll see if Dad will let me use his camera. The disposable one I got is crap."

"Aren't they all?" She said.

"Yeah, probably-nothing, Sobo. Just talking to Stephanie." Harry, if she was interpreting correctly, sounded a bit nervous.

"Let me speak to her." She heard a faint feminine voice.

"You don't wanna do that," Harry said quickly.

"Hand over the phone, Harry," the voice ordered.

"Sorry," Harry whispered into the phone before handing it over.

She'd never spoken to Harry's grandparents before. She'd only ever met his parents. "Hello?"

"Uh, hi," Stephanie said unsurely.

"What are your intentions with my grandson?"

She heard a loud cheer from behind her. DJ must have told the rest of the family about her engagement.

"Uh-"

"I've heard you two are very good friends," Mrs. Takayama said.

"Well-"

"My husband and I were very good friends as well," The woman said, speaking as if Stephanie had not been trying to.

"You see, we're not actually-" Yet again, she was cut off.

"As I told my grandson, it really isn't proper for a young man and young lady to be communicating so closely when they're not involved with one another," Mrs. Takayama said.

She was finally able to get a word in edgewise. "We're just friends, Ma'am. There's nothing going on between us."

"Yes, my grandson's old me," She said with a hint of judgment. "I'm not so sure I believe that. I couldn't help but notice that he had a framed picture of you in bedroom last time I visited."

It was hardly what she made it out to be.

Stephanie knew what she was referring to. Back in their freshman year, their biology class had gone on a trip to the zoo for an end of the year scavenger hunt. She and Harry had their picture taken in front of the giraffes. Not just her. She'd seen the aforementioned photo when she last went over to his house.

According to his grandmother, however, she obviously believed that to be a symbol of his love for her or something.

Eww!

She decided it was best to play dumb. "Does he?"

"Yes," Mrs. Takayama said as if she'd just spoken a fine piece of gossip. "If I were you, my dear, I would have a talk with Harry and make sure you are on the same page. It's clear there's something more going on and I don't want my grandson getting hurt."

Stephanie was torn between laughing and rolling her eyes. "Of course," she said politely. "I'll talk with him right away."

"See to it that you do." She heard Mrs. Takayama gave the phone back to Harry, telling him she was going back to rest now. There was some silence at first. She felt sympathy for his obvious embarrassment.

"I'm sorry," She said, wincing.

"My Sobo is so embarrassing sometimes," he groaned.

"It's sweet," Stephanie tried to be positive. "She cares about you." It made her remember her own grandmothers, specifically Grandma Irene who passed away when Stephanie was a sophomore. She'd battled through some disease in her lungs that eventually took her life.

"She's overprotective," Harry corrected. "Even worse than my parents."

Stephanie had to grin at that. It was true. Harry's parents were a little restrictive with him at times. "She told me I should talk to you soon. Apparently it's clear that something's going on." She heard him groan again, sounding more whiny than the previous one. "She said she saw that picture in your room."

"The one of us?"

"Yeah," Stephanie giggled. "She thinks it's some sign you love me."

"Can your dad adopt me?" Harry muttered.

"But wouldn't that get in the way of our love affair?" She teased.

"What love affair?" Nicky demanded to know. Unfortunately for her, his voice projected seeing as he had no concept of an indoor voice. She felt the eyes of the rest of the family on her.

"Was that your cousin?" Harry asked.

"Yeah," Stephanie bit back a sigh. "You know what, I'll talk to you later, Harry."

"Okay," Harry agreed easily. "I should probably go anyway. See ya, Steph."

"Bye," She put the phone back where it was, pretending to be nonchalant.

When, in fact, she wasn't.

"I thought you were talking to Harry?" Uncle Jesse said, suspiciously.

"I was," She said, going to the fridge to pour herself some juice.

"Then what was that about a love affair?" Dad looked kinda alarmed.

"It's nothing," She wished she didn't have to explain anything. "Harry's grandma just thought there was something going on between us, that's all. And there's not so I was just teasing him."

As if they didn't already focus a disproportionate amount of time on her love life.

"Or is there?" Michelle said slyly.

Stephanie gave her sister a dirty look.

Aunt Becky sensed some tension and diffused it skillfully. "Steph, did you hear? DJ's engaged!"

"Oh, yeah," She said. "She told me and showed me and Michelle her ring."

"It's very nice," Aunt Becky admired. "Steve did a nice job."

"Yeah, not too bad," Uncle Jesse agreed.

"Oh, speaking of Steve," DJ remembered. "He's going to be staying with us for a bit. His folks are on vacation and he doesn't have the house key anymore."

"Yeah, in DJ's old room," Michelle was trying to stir things up tonight.

"Your old room?" Uncle Jesse repeated.

"Jess," Aunt Becky warned.

"Dad said I could," DJ shrugged.

"You are too young to be doing-Huh?" Uncle Jesse blinked.

Joey yawned. "Well, I'm off to bed. Carmen and I have a busy day planned tomorrow." He gave DJ a hug, congratulating her once again on her engagement before going off to his bedroom.

"What do you mean you said she could?" Uncle Jesse evidently didn't like that idea.

"Uncle Jesse, I'm an adult," DJ said. "Besides, Steve's going to be on the air mattress. It's not like we're sharing a bed."

"Not yet," Michelle muttered.

Dad gave her a look. "Michelle, why don't you take Nicky and Alex upstairs? I'm sure it's almost time for them to be in bed. You too, young lady."

"Aww," Nicky and Alex complained.

Michelle didn't like this either-a disadvantage of being one of the youngest's-but she didn't argue. She mumbled, gesturing for Nicky and Alex to follow her. It was not done lightly. They all heard the way she stomped up the stairs.

"Hola, Tanneritos!" Kimmy came through the back door in a yellow neon dress with what looked like smarties glued to her white tights.

"Kimmy, now's not a good time," DJ said.

"Yeah, go bother someone else," Stephanie quipped.

Steve came inside behind Kimmy, sweeping past her and looking as though he were aiming to kiss DJ on the lips but settled for her cheek when he saw Uncle Jesse glaring at him. "Hey everyone," he greeted.

"Hi, Steve," Aunt Becky was warm as usual, though her smile became a little fixed as she took a subtle step in front of Uncle Jesse.

"What's his problem?" Kimmy remarked, gesturing to Uncle Jesse.

She was ignored.

"Did DJ tell you guys the great news?" Steve asked as he threw his arm over DJ's shoulders.

"She did," Dad said with a nod. He smiled. "Welcome to the family, Steve."

"Thanks, Mr. Tanner!" Steve grinned. "Or can I start calling you Dad now?"

Dj got her fiancé's attention. "Oh, Steve. Dad said you could stay in my old room with me."

Dad cut in quickly. "On an air mattress."

"Right on," Steve was happy with that. "Let's do it. My stuff's in my trunk."

"You know," Kimmy said to Dad, "if you want, I can stay here and keep an eye on them. Make sure they don't get too frisky in there."

"I'll risk it," Dad deadpanned.

"Nice dress, Kimmy," Stephanie smirked as she came to stand beside them. "How considerate of you to warn everyone of your presence within a ten mile radius."

Kimmy glanced down at her hideous attire, before telling her matter-of-factly, "I'll have you know, I can make people green with this dress."

"With puke, Gibbler. Not envy."

"Alright, alright," Dad looked tired all of the sudden. "Enough excitement for one day. Let's get everyone to bed and we'll deal with anything else we've forgotten in the morning."

"Hold up, Daniel," Uncle Jesse said.

"Jess," Aunt Becky sighed. "Don't start."

"I'm not starting anything, Beck. I'm just surprised Danny is allowing this sort of sleeping arrangement."

"Uncle Jesse, I'm an adult," DJ repeated.

"Doing adult things," Kimmy chimed in. "Living the adult life."

"Nothing's going to happen, man," Steve assured him. "Me and DJ wouldn't ever do something to disrespect Mr. Tanner while we're here."

"He's right," DJ said firmly. "We would never."

"You say that now," Uncle Jesse said, "but what happens when you get caught up in the moment, huh?"

DJ looked mortified they were even discussing this.

"Jesse, that's enough," Aunt Becky frowned.

"Becky's right," Dad said. "Let's just all calm down-"

"We have more self control than that," DJ was getting upset. "We wouldn't just do it!"

Steve put his hands on her shoulders. "I'm sorry," he said quietly. "I didn't know this was going to be a problem."

Dad was shaking his head. "Steve, it's not your fault. You and DJ should just upstairs for the night."

"Night, Dad," DJ muttered as they left. Kimmy was going to follow.

"I'll be right up with you, Deej."

"Go home, Kimmy," Dad told her, pointing to the door. She did, leaving just the four of them-himself, Stephanie, Aunt Becky and Uncle Jesse-in the kitchen.

"How are you okay with this, Danny?" Uncle Jesse demanded to know. "You didn't even want Michelle going out with a boy and now you're letting DJ sleep in the same room with Steve?"

Dad sighed. "I don't exactly like it either, Jess. But DJ's right. She is an adult and she's been very responsible whenever they're together. I'm going to trust her on this to make the right decision."

Aunt Becky nodded her approval. "I think that's great, Danny." Uncle Jesse obviously didn't think so. But he didn't say anything else. "Come on, let's go get the boys to bed." She gently ushered him towards the stairs.

Stephanie stepped out of the way, lowering her eyes to the floor as they passed by. She was kind of surprised no one else had noticed she was wearing Charlie's shirt. Or maybe they were all so caught up in the night's events that they didn't even care about it. "Dad?"

"Yeah, honey?"

"For the record, I think you're being pretty cool about this," She told him.

He seemed pleased by that. "Well, they did call me the Cool Cat in school," he made finger guns at her.

She scrunched her face. "Really?"

"No," he eventually admitted. "I tried to get it to catch on but it did. Although Doreen the lunch lady called me that if it counts."

"It doesn't," She shook her head.