Mr. Tanner's smiling face greeted him. Stephanie must not have told him about their...fight? He wouldn't be so willing to allow Charlie in his home if he knew. "Good morning, Charlie!" By the looks of things-the shifted furniture and aroma of scented fragrance, Charlie presumed that he was cleaning.

"Morning," Charlie mumbled, unable to meet his eyes.

"Becky's in the kitchen cooking breakfast for Jesse and the boys. Have you eaten yet? You're welcome to some pancakes if you'd like," Mr. Tanner told him.

He'd eaten a bowl of tasteless cornflakes under his mom's watchful eye. He hadn't wanted anything but knew he wouldn't be permitted to go anywhere on an empty stomach. He shook his head. "No thanks."

"Alright, well Stephanie's upstairs," Mr. Tanner said after shutting the door. He returned to his spot he'd been standing in by the fireplace, turning the vacuum on.

Charlie went up the stairs one by one; he'd started to feel regret set in the faster he was approaching the top of the stairs. He shouldn't be here. He didn't have a right to be here. Not after snapping at her for something that hadn't even been her fault. She must have known that. He knew that.

He wasn't punished by his adoptive parents either. He'd expected a scolding for his attitude yesterday and how he'd stormed out of the room. But he didn't. They didn't even mention it. They were far too concerned with him over that...episode he'd had.

He'd never felt so embarrassed in all his life.

At some point, Charlie had fallen asleep, exhausted by that ordeal. When he finally came to it, it was well after midnight. Figuring they were asleep themselves and feeling thirsty, he crept downstairs for some water. He'd practically jumped out of his skin when he saw the silhouettes of his adoptive parents at the table with one dim light turned on overhead.

"I was just-" He gestured vaguely to the fridge.

"Go ahead," his mom nodded.

Filling his glass, he turned on his heel to return to his bedroom but then came his dad's voice.

"Hold on a second, Charlie. Let's sit down and have a talk."

He sat at the other end, grasping his glass, keeping his eyes diverted.

"How are you feeling?"

His mom was worried. She was tapping her fingers on the wooden table. Tap, tap, tap. It grated on his nerves. An overwhelming urge to lash out came over him like rushing water. He refrained. But only just.

"I'm fine," he said, voice devoid of any emotion.

"Charlie, listen," his dad started off, "we...we know you're not happy about having to go back to therapy."

He didn't say a word.

"It's in your best interest and it's not forever. Just for right now. We want this to help you. But it can't if you don't let it. You have to be open minded."

"Just try to give it a chance," his mom's words were wrapped around a plea. "It might not be as bad as you think."

Yeah right, Charlie thought. They were all the same. And they didn't care. They didn't have to. They could pretend all day long and get a paycheck out of it.

He wasn't stupid.

"We came up with a compromise," his dad said. Charlie looked at him with an impassive expression. "We want you to go to three sessions. That's it. If you go and find that you really don't like it, you don't have to go back. If you like it, then you can keep going."

It sounded too good to be true.

"Is that alright, Charlie?" His mom asked.

It wasn't like he had much of a choice or any at all. He'd have to go whether he wanted to or not. Although, admittedly, this was a better arrangement.

"Yeah, I guess so."

"Charlie, hi!" DJ said to him, brightly.

"Oh, hey..." He watched as another guy came out from what he assumed was her room-or maybe it was Michelle's room? He could have sworn it was. Maybe she was just using it during her visit.

"Charlie, this is my fiancé, Steve," DJ introduced. "Steve, this is Stephanie's friend, Charlie."

"Hey, man!" Steve said enthusiastically. "Nice to finally meet you. Steph's talked about you a lot-" DJ elbowed him in the side. "You know, as a friend, of course. She talks about her friends a lot and you know, you're her friend so she talks about you a lot."

DJ covered her face with her hand.

Charlie looked at him strangely. "Right..."

Laughing nervously, DJ tugged on Steve's arm. "Why don't we go downstairs? Aunt Becky's cooking pancakes." Her fiancé's eyes lit up and the two of them trailed downstairs.

Shaking his head, Charlie headed for the doorway of her room. Inside there was an empty air mattress and some belongings that he deduced were Michelle's. She must be staying with Stephanie while DJ was there. Speaking of Steph, she was on her bed, looking through what he believed was a job application. "Hey..." He said awkwardly.

"Charlie," she put the application side, getting to her feet. "Hey.."

"I'm sorry," they said at the same time.

Then stared at each other.

"You're sorry?" Charlie was confused.

"Yeah," Stephanie said remorsefully. "I'm really sorry I upset you."

She thought it was all her fault that he'd been upset?

"You didn't," Charlie stressed. She needed to know that. "It wasn't your fault, Steph."

"Are you sure?" She wasn't easily convinced. "I really didn't mean to make it sound like I only called you because Gia couldn't come. I wanted all of us to go."

"It's okay," he gave her the first real smile he'd done in hours. "It wasn't you. I was a jerk and I'm really sorry."

Stephanie studied him, like she was trying to decide if she believed him or not. "Can I ask what you were upset about?"

He guessed he owed her that much.

"It's my parents," he groaned. "They want me to-" He trailed off abruptly, hesitant about revealing the reason why.

"They want you to what?" Stephanie was frowning, concerned.

"You know," he gave a shrug, "they want me to...go to therapy."

She was going to think he was nuts now. What sane person went to therapy, anyway?

"Oh," she said with a blink. "And you don't want to go?"

"No," he said strongly, inwardly taken back by the lack of judgment. "I don't need it and I'm not crazy."

"Why do they want you to go?"

"Because of school," he scowled. "They think I'm gonna spaz out or something if someone asks why I'm there again. I don't care what someone else thinks!"

Alright, maybe it wasn't exactly the truth. He had cared when Stephanie told him about what Harry Takayama said about him, not wanting to be seen as the same person he'd been at eleven. But that wasn't the point!

"Shut the door," Stephanie instructed after pondering his words.

He did.

"Is it...is it really so bad they want you to go?" Stephanie was being careful to avoid him erupting at her again. He couldn't deny feeling guilty for causing that.

"Yes," he said without hesitation.

"But why?"

She was probably the only person to get him to say it and only because of previous circumstances.

"I just can't, Steph," Charlie said quietly. "I can't sit there and talk about my feelings and feel better. It doesn't work for me and no one listens."

She sat on her bed, looking his way, listening.

"I've already been forced into it twice. I can't go through it again."

"But Charlie-" There it was. He knew it was coming. Her attempt at defending his parents, whether intentional or not. "They're probably just trying to help you."

"Is it really helping?" he said back to her, calmly. "Look, all I have to do is go to three sessions and if I don't like it-which I won't-I don't have to go back. So I'm not gonna talk."

"You're not?"

"Nope," he said. "Why should I? I don't wanna go, so why talk? They can force me to go but they can't force me to talk." It was a foolproof plan. He was proud of it.

"But what if they ask the therapist how you're doing?" She asked.

"Oh, she won't be able to say anything," Charlie explained. "Patient-confidentiality and all that."

"Still," Stephanie crossed her legs, brushing her hair back over her shoulder. "I don't know if that'll work."

"Well, it has to," he said matter-of-factly. "I'm not actually going to talk to her."

"Why are you so against it?" Stephanie questioned.

"Dunno if it's occurred to you, Tanner, but people just don't go to therapy unless they're-" He searched for an appropriate word. "Messed up."

With her palms pressed against the edge of her bed, seemingly contemplative, Stephanie murmured, "If it helps, I went to a therapist."

A look of shock flew across his face fleetingly. She was lying. She had to be. Stephanie wasn't the type of person to need therapy. Speechless, Charlie sat down beside her on the bed. "What are you talking about?"

"Do you remember that earthquake years ago?"

"I remember one when I was seven," he recalled. "Why?"

"My dad was late coming home because of it and we didn't know if anything happened to him," she told him. "I was really scared. I'd already lost my mom and didn't want anything happening to Dad. I stayed at his side all the time until he finally took me to see a therapist."

"What was it like?" Charlie frowned.

"Well, probably different than what you went through," she said. "She had me do some kid stuff like drawing."

"And that made you better?" Charlie was skeptical.

"No. It took a while," Stephanie told him. "I stayed in therapy for nearly a year. It took almost seven months for me to feel comfortable being away from Dad."

Charlie did not want to spend a year-or more!-in therapy. "Well, that's great it worked out for you, Steph, but it doesn't work like that for me. Trust me, my last one tried everything to get through to me. Nothing worked."

"Did you let it?"

He glared at her. She didn't let it intimidate her.

"I didn't want it."

"So that's a no."

"Shut up, Tanner," Charlie grumbled.

Twisting so she was fully facing him, she said, "I'm not judging you, you know."

No, he didn't. Much as he wanted to believe that-because Stephanie Tanner was just that kind of person-he couldn't. There was so much doubt. So much that he couldn't fight through it right now.

So he said nothing.

"I get it," she continued. "You don't like it. You don't have to. But what I don't get is why? Why do you hate it so much? Besides what you said about it not helping."

With his head bowed and his eyes closed, Charlie felt a rush of memories consume him.

"Tell me about your father, Charles."

"Did your father regularly do that?"

"How did that make you feel?"

"I can't do it," Charlie was back on his feet, shaking his head. "I can't! I won't!"

"Won't do what?" Stephanie was worried for him.

"She's going to ask!" Charlie erupted, voice raising to a degree that hadn't happened in the presence of Stephanie. Speaking of her, she froze. "She's going to ask me a bunch of questions about him and I can't answer her! I can't!" His hands were curled into fists, his breathing labored.

Her eyes were wide, mouth slightly ajar, evidently stunned.

"I don't want to think about it anymore, Steph. I think about it enough already. It's with me all the time. It doesn't matter if it was years ago or I know that he's in jail now. It doesn't matter." His hand gripped part of his hair. "I can't sit through that again."

"Do they know?" Stephanie's voice came out as a whisper.

"They can't."

"Why not?" She asked.

"All the more reason why they'll think I need it.," he plopped back down on the bed, burying his face in his hands.

Stephanie was still standing. She pondered over what he said, then offered tentatively, "What if...what if I go with you?"

"What?"

"If you want," she added quickly. "I don't have to."

"I don't think you're allowed inside," he frowned.

"I didn't mean in there with you. Just out in the waiting room until you're done," she clarified. "That way you're not alone, and we can go hangout after."

Charlie was blown away by her offer. Blown away by her. Ever since he'd returned to San Francisco, she'd been nothing but nice to him. She didn't hold anything he'd said in the past against him. It would have been easy for her to keep as an acquaintance or less, but she didn't. She'd tried her hardest to get to know him and be his friend.

And now this!

"You'd do that?"

"Of course," she was smiling so brightly that he could not help but smile back.

/

"This is so cute, look," Gia showed Stephanie a picture from the magazine she was browsing through.

"No way," Stephanie was enthralled for some reason. "Those look amazing!"

"I know!"

Gia came over an hour ago. The three of them were still up in Stephanie's room not doing much of anything. He didn't mind it nor did he mind Gia. She was pretty cool, he had to admit. When she got there, she'd given Stephanie a look, who gave her one right back. He didn't really understand it but guessed it was a girl thing.

"What's so amazing?" He used air quotes.

"Look," Gia showed him the magazine, a picture of some black jeans with zippers on the sides near the pockets.

He raised his brow.

Gia rolled her eyes. "You're such a guy." She was working on braiding Stephanie's hair into two. "Here, hold this for a second." She forced him to hold onto the end of Stephanie's hair while she searched for one of those ponytail holder things.

He couldn't help but notice how soft it was.

...He also couldn't help but tug on it.

"Sorry," he said teasingly.

"Yeah right."

"Now you won't accept my apology?"

"Because it's not sincere."

"Says who?"

"Me."

"Right, like I'll take your word for it," Charlie scoffed.

"You should," she grinned.

"Ugh, I'm feeling very third wheel right now," Gia complained. She took back Stephanie's hair and finished it off. "There. What do you think?"

Stephanie liked it. "It looks great!" She beamed when saw it on her closet mirror. Turning around, she asked Charlie's opinion.

It was...pretty on her. But pretty pretty. Not like he was interested in her. He could think she was pretty without feeling anything.

And yeah, Stephanie was pretty, he supposed; hen her hair was all flowy down her down and her smile wasn't half bad either-

Holy crap, get a grip!

"Looks fine," he shrugged, "if you're seven."

"I should've known you couldn't say anything nice," she said with her hands on her hips.

"Shouldn't have asked."

"Hey, Stephanie!" Mr. Tanner called up.

Stephanie went to the doorway where she called back, "Yeah, Dad?"

"Harry's here."

"Harry?" Stephanie's face lit up and she rushed downstairs, leaving Gia with Charlie.

Charlie didn't like the way Gia was looking at him. All smug and knowing. "What?"

"I saw it, you know," she was satisfied with herself.

"Saw what?" He said tersely.

"The way you looked at her," Gia crossed her arms. "You looked at her funny when she asked what you thought of her hair."

"Don't be stupid," he said, annoyed.

"Don't be in denial," she retorted. "You clearly have something for her."

"You really think I like Tanner of all people?"

She sashayed out of the room, looking too smug for his liking. "Denial isn't just a river in Brazil!"

"It's Egypt!" He said loudly.

/

"You didn't tell me you were coming back so soon!" Stephanie was happy to have him back, it seemed.

Charlie followed Gia downstairs, keeping off to the side as he watched the girls interact with Harry Takayama, the guy he hadn't seen since fifth grade. He and Stephanie were around the same height and he'd gotten a haircut, getting rid of that bowl cut he used to tease him about.

"My grandmother has a cough," Harry shrugged. "She's fine, though. She gets that way sometimes. She used to smoke but stopped a few years ago. She didn't want us to be her hacking so we came home early."

Gia waited approximately two seconds before asking, "You got the stuff?"

"Gia," Stephanie said reproachfully.

"What? Oh, fine. Sorry about your grandmother. Hope she gets better," Gia said and then sent Stephanie a grin. "Better?"

"It's okay, Steph," Harry said, rolling his eyes. "I know where Gia's priorities are."

"Oh, come on. You know I'm just kidding," she said and then added, "but you did bring them, right?"

"Yes," Harry zipped open a fanny pack-which Charlie kept his mouth shut up and didn't say how dorky it was-to reveal candy. "I stocked up."

"Alright!" Gia cheered.

"Wait a sec," Stephanie cut before Gia could take something. She gestured for Charlie to come closer. "Harry, you remember Charlie, right?"

To Charlie's surprise, Harry did not show anything other than a smile after that. Nothing to indicate that he was upset with him. "Hi. So Steph tells me you're back now, right? You'll be going to school with us?"

"Uh, yeah."

"Cool," Harry nodded and Charlie blinked, not expecting that kind of reaction, even if Stephanie did tell him that Harry trusted her judgment.

"Yeah, great," Gia said dryly, "anyway-"

"I see you've not worked on your patience while I was gone," Harry handed out the candy. It was different kinds that Charlie had never seen before. Crunky, Every Burger, Meiji, Botan Rice. "Oh, here. I got some for you, too," Harry gave him a Meiji chocolate bar and a Botan Rice. "Hope you like them."

Stephanie was really happy. Her smile was so big. Gia, on the other hand, broke her chocolate bar and was currently eating a square of it.

"Thanks," Charlie said sincerely.

At that point, Mr. Tanner came into the room. He was pushing a drawing board that was on wheels.

"Uh, Dad, what's all that?" Stephanie asked.

"Sit down you guys," Mr. Tanner motioned at the couch. They glanced at each other before sitting down. Charlie sat next to Stephanie, who sat next to Harry who was stuck next to Gia. "Now with your senior year approaching, I want to say a few words."

"Oh, no," Stephanie whispered.

"I remember my own senior year," Mr. Tanner continued, "I remember feeling excited, anxious. I know that at your age, you're probably overwhelmed with hormones-"

"Noooo," Stephanie groaned, mortified. She sunk into the couch. "This is not happening. Tell me this isn't happening."

"Oh, it's happening," Charlie said cheerfully.

"It's not funny," she hissed.

"It's hilarious," he disagreed, grinning.

"But you have to stand strong kids," Mr. Tanner said. "Realize that hormones are not your friends right now."

"This is so lame," Gia muttered.

"I think he's right," Harry said.

"You would," Gia snarked.

"Now I've drawn up a scenario," Mr. Tanner said, pointing to the first of his numbered drawings. "See this? This is a perfectly normal teenage couple doing perfectly normal teenage couple things. And this-" He pointed to the second drawing, "is them starting to get ideas." Much to Charlie's amusement, Mr. Tanner put two different voices to represent the teenage "boy" and "girl."

"I really like you, Robert."

"I really like you too, Doreen."

"I think we should sex."

"I think we should too."

In the midst of her dad talking, Stephanie covered her face. "This is the most embarrassing moment of my life!"

"And this is the best moment of mine," Charlie snickered.

"I hate you."

"Get in line, babe," Charlie said without thinking. Mr. Tanner didn't hear it but Gia and Harry did. Unbeknownst to him or Stephanie, the other two stared and then looked at each other.

Mr. Tanner continued, oblivious to any of this. "Doreen and Robert are so caught up in their feelings that they aren't thinking straight. They're not thinking about the possible consequences-"

"Is that a new cologne?" Stephanie murmured to him.

"Huh? Oh, eh," he shrugged. "I couldn't find mine so my dad got me a new one while he was out."

"I like it," she said offhandedly. "Better than your other one."

"Thanks," he drawled.

"Oh, shut up. It was a compliment."

"Could've fooled me."