Rachel quietly skipped down the steps, careful to avoid the squeaky stair. Though for once, she wasn't trying to sneak out. Instead, she was off to work, and she was in great mood about it. It was her last week of fulltime shifts, as next week was volleyball tryouts and the week after, with any luck, the start of the volleyball season. She had a pretty good record her last three years, so she hoped that with hard work she could make the team for her final year.

Also, with any luck, Emmett would stop by for breakfast or lunch. Henry had mentioned stopping by the restaurant, but Rachel had been sure he was kidding. Not that she'd say no to seeing him either. He wasn't as great as Emmett, but she'd take some distraction over none at all.

Her hand instinctively reached up to grab the keys off of the hook – only to touch air. She glanced at the wall hanging, frowning to herself. The keys had been there the night before. She swore she remembered putting them up on the hook after Emmett had dropped her off….

Rachel tried to mentally retrace her steps, heading to the living room, then the kitchen to find them. The keys sat on the kitchen counter, a spot that Rachel had really only checked because she had nowhere else to look. It was a little odd that they'd be there; she'd sworn….

"Nice to see you alive."
She nearly jumped out of her skin. Her head whipped around, catching Dennis's eye. Nice to see you alive? What did that mean? "Uh, yeah…." He sounded irritable already that morning and she kicked herself for being loud and waking him up. They'd already had that fight once over the summer.

"Couldn't let me know you made it back home? Couldn't call and let me know you were going to be out late?"

Rachel hesitated. Her parent's door had been open when she'd gotten home. She'd said 'good night' to them. Had he not heard her? Didn't he hear her bedroom door close at least? Or the front door open? "Sorry, I thought you heard me come home."

Dennis took a step further into the room, his voice raising then, "Exactly! Waiting up half the night for you because you can't check in or let us know if you're coming home at all."

"It was ten thirty when I got home. I-"

"I know what time it was. I was up, waiting for you." He snapped, eyes set in a glare reserved especially for her.

"Sorry. I just thought because you knew where I was that it was fine. I'll call next time." She said solely because she thought it would end the conversation. With Dennis, there was a time to fight and a time to duck your head and agree. And there were a lot more times to duck the head and agree.

He scoffed, rolling his eyes at her like he thought she was an idiot. Maybe she was. Maybe she should've called. Maybe he really had been up worried all night…. Had Theresa been up all night too? She had seemed fine when Rachel said goodnight, but maybe that was because she was relieved Rachel was home safe.

"Hope you at least paid for dinner." Was the next thing Dennis muttered, making Rachel stutter again.

Rachel's chest froze, an icy wave of dread crashing into it. "Oh…uh, Judy cooked, so we didn't-"

"Of course, you didn't. Just mooching off of other people's generosity, huh?" He shook his head, as if he was disgusted. "First your car, now a free meal. What's next, Rachel? You gonna have 'em buy your groceries too?"

What? Rachel frowned as she tried to put those pieces together. "It was just dinner. I mean, I can offer to bring food next time or cook or take them out or something." Was that really what he thought? That she was taking advantage of them? Was she taking advantaged of them? That wasn't at all how she wanted to come across…. "I…I'm sorry. I really can cook or bring something next time. I didn't think-"

"You never do, Rachel. We established this." He snapped his fingers at her, just like he used to do when she wasn't fast enough to answer his multiplication questions in the third grade. "Keep up. You know, they're not your family, Rachel. You don't just get to treat them like they owe you anything."

"No, of course-"

"Or what, was that boy fixing your car some sort of payment? Just a little arrangement you've got going?" He raised his eyebrows, looking her over with barely hidden disdain. "What, Rachel, they do a favor for you and you're all too happy to return-"

"Oh my…Dad!" She burst out suddenly, jaw dropping at the insinuation. "No! It wasn't like that. I-I would never!" Her face flamed, appalled that he would even think such a think about her. Did she really come across that way to others? A sick pit filled in her stomach at the thought. If her own father thought such a thing…then what did others think?

What did Emmett think?

The pit in her stomach deepened at the that. She couldn't bear it if he ever saw her that way – if he thought she was just using him, or that she wasn't…good.

Dennis sneered, clearly not believing her. "Right. Because you're just some innocent little girl, relying on other people because you 'needed help,' right? But in the real world, Rachel, people don't help you just to be nice. They expect something back. They take something back."

Rachel's throat tightened as she struggled to process his words. She didn't even know what to say, mumbling out a, "I…I'll be more careful," because it was the only thing that felt somewhat normal. Her hands fiddled with her keys, eyes cast downward to avoid the heaviness of her father's gaze.

Dennis rolled his eyes, clearly unsatisfied with her response. "Yeah, you better be. And don't think I'm not noticing you running off to that boy's family every time you need something. If you're so eager to leave, maybe I won't be here to bail you out next time."

His words hung in the air like a threat, and Rachel could only nod, the sting of his judgment settling deep in her chest. The silence between them was dense, pressing down on her like a weight. She could feel it sinking into her bones. Finally, desperate to escape, she nodded and, without another word, slipped out the door.

The morning air didn't help clear her head or lift her spirits. In fact, it felt colder than normal, such a stark contrast to the dinner she'd had with Emmett and his family the night before. Rachel couldn't help but picture Judy's kind smile, and the warmth in Tim's eyes. When was the last time her own parents looked at her like that? When was the last time Dennis's eyes held warmth instead of contempt for her?

Rachel couldn't remember.

On the drive to work, she contemplated her father's words; that kindness wasn't a gift…that kindness was just a debt to be paid. He wasn't necessarily wrong. Dennis never did anything nice for her without expecting a payment; helping out at his shop, paying him back once she got her check from the diner, buying groceries or things for the house. Rachel hadn't thought much of it at the time, other than that it kind of sucked, but maybe he was just preparing her for the real world.

If it was true, then what did the McCarty's expect back in return? Was dinner sufficient? Rachel wasn't sure what else she could give them. Or what else they would ask for. She couldn't picture Judy or Tim asking her for something back. Maybe she just didn't know them well enough.

And Emmett…he had paid Henry for fixing her car, but Rachel hadn't paid him back yet. What would Emmett expect from her? If he thought along the same lines as her father…if Emmett saw her that way too…no. Emmett wouldn't do that. Rachel re-wrote the ticket she'd been filling out, gripping the pen a little tighter so her writing didn't wobble. Her hands had been shaking too much, making it difficult for the cook to read. She took a shaky breath, inhaling the salty smell of bacon frying, and put the new slip in the window. Get it together Rachel.

To add to her anxiety, Emmett never showed for a meal, and he didn't send her any texts. The actions only gave her father's words more weight, proving to her that she really had messed up by accepting their kindness without offering anything in return.

With a heavy heart, she went to bed late that night. But not without sending Emmett a text asking how much she owed him for the starter and Henry's time fixing her car. Maybe she was supposed to figure it out herself. Was it rude to ask and make Emmett calculate everything out? Dennis usually didn't have any problem telling her how much something cost, which made her think that it was fine. And the last thing she wanted to do was short Emmett or Henry.

In the morning she had a response, one that was incredibly unhelpful. It was longer than one word, but was a little…short.

'You don't owe me anything, Rae Rae.' Was his response.

She'd sighed at the message when she read it. He was trying to be polite. That was all…but she'd never known Emmett to not say what was on his mind. Rachel's head was starting to hurt. 'Let me take you to dinner AND let me pay' She'd replied back.

'Dinner I can agree to. You paying, absolutely not :)'

What was he waiting for? Her money was just as good as anyone else's. Was Emmett actually waiting for…that? She tried to shove the thought away as she got ready for the day. She tried to imagine it on a piece of paper and pictured herself crumpling it up and throwing it away…ripping it up…lighting it on fire. It never left her.

Madison only ridiculed her when she called her friend to talk about it.

"Ugh, you sound like Lucy." Madison huffed. "Just man up and talk to him. You're already dating. I can't believe you can't talk to him about what he owes you for the car. Where'd Rachel go?"

'Currently buried under a mountain of anxiety,' Rachel thought to herself. In her defense, she'd tried talk to Emmett about it. He was the one who didn't want to talk to her or just tell her how much she owed him. The whole thing was driving her mad.

It was a long wait until Friday, the only day that Emmett could meet her for dinner since he was busy with work. Dennis asked her often why she wasn't hanging out with Em, wondering aloud if it had to do with Rachel's "rude" behavior the weekend before.

"Guess that boy finally got tired of you needing handouts all the time, huh? Can't say I blame him." He'd said Thursday morning after Rachel had grabbed her lunch for work.

She'd frozen, the words stinging sharper than she'd expected. She forced herself to breathe, but the pit in her stomach only grew heavier, the ground beneath her somehow feeling less steady. Did Dennis know something she didn't? Had she really been imposing too much on Emmett and his family? They'd been so nice to her, but... maybe her father was right. Maybe she was crossing an unspoken line. Maybe she was burdening them in a way she'd never meant to.

In the few moments that followed, Dennis finally glanced up at her, one eyebrow raised in that way he did whenever he felt he'd said something "helpful." She felt her throat tighten, the weight of shame and doubt closing it up.

"Have a good day at work." He had added with a dismissive wave, as though he just expected her to leave him once he'd said his piece.

Rachel had nodded and forced herself to put one foot in front of the other out to her car. But her father's words had rattled around in her head the entire drive to the diner, casting a dark shadow over her.

By the time Emmett had pulled into the parking lot of the restaurant they'd agreed upon for dinner, Rachel had been reduced to a nervous mess, convinced that Emmett had only met up with her to break it off. She'd gone and done all the thing she'd promised herself she wouldn't with him; get attached, spend too much time with him, allow herself to have feelings for him. She'd been stupid. So, so stupid.

Emmett, being weirdly observant, knew right away that something was wrong with her. He saw her standing on the sidewalk by the front door, wringing her hands like she was preparing for a job interview. Therefore, he asked her what was wrong as soon as he was close enough, a very convincing look of concern strewn across his face.

She hadn't meant to do it. The nerves took over and she spilled her guts without even thinking about it, "Look, if you're going to do it…c-can you just break up with me now before dinner? I mean, it'll save us some time and some money and-"

"What on earth are you on about?" Emmett asked, once again playing the faux surprise very well. "Rach, why would you think I'm going to break up with you?"

His words were the slamming of the brakes on her thought train. Her eyes flashed up to his, then back down, too embarrassed and ashamed to even answer. Would it be better to just walk away? The cement swallowing her up just didn't seem likely.

"Rae Rae," Emmett's voice softened considerably, and he placed his finger under her chin to tilt her head up gently, "talk to me, baby. Please?"

The words stuck to her throat, fighting her every step of the way out. When she first opened her mouth, nothing came out. She took a breath and tried again, this time with slightly more success. "I…you…. I just thought…m-maybe I was annoying or needy. I mean, I didn't bring anything to dinner last week…a-and you and Henry helped me with the car, and I didn't pay you yet."

Emmett frowned deeper the more she talked, looking more confused than actually angry with her. "Rach…" He inhaled, eyes dancing up to the sky, as they often did when he was trying to be careful with his words. "Baby, you don't…you didn't have to bring anything to dinner on Sunday. We don't – none of us do. Momma says the best thing we can bring her is just ourselves. So, that's how family dinner works. You just show up and Momma cooks and…." Em trailed off with a shrug. "And the car…you've offered to pay many times for it, but I really don't need you to. It's not a big deal, it wasn't expensive-"

"So, I can pay for it." She said stubbornly, crossing her right arm over her body so she could fiddle with her sleeve instead.

"Did Henry say something to you?" Emmett asked instead, furrowing his brows.

Did Henry think she was taking advantage of them, too? Her father's words echoed in her mind, filling the silence Emmett left behind: "Guess that boy finally got tired of you needing handouts all the time, huh?"

She shifted, her stomach twisting. Maybe Dennis was right—maybe Henry had only helped her out of pity, and Emmett was just being nice to save face. She could feel the chill in bones returning, the warmth of Emmett's touch fading. Her voice was nothing but a small whisper. "Did…did he say something?"

"Did he?" Emmett asked, not understanding her question.

"N-not to me. Did he say something to you?"

Emmett shook his head, "No! No, not at all. I just wasn't sure if he came in and was teasing you and that's why you were worried."

"I-it's common sense, Em. When somebody helps you, you gotta pay them back. Nobody does anything for free."

Emmett ran a hand through his hair, once again searching for the right words to say. "I mean…I get that maybe that's how things are for you, but I guess we do stuff a little different. We don't…keep score, I guess."

He paused, watching her face as he took a breath. Seeing that she was still not convinced, he continued, "Look, when Henry helped you with the car, he did it because he wanted to, not because he was waiting for something in return. That's just how he is. He's the most annoying person on the planet, but he likes to help people. And when you came over for dinner, my mom was just glad to have you there. She didn't care if you brought anything or not. Like I said, she doesn't even want or care for us to bring anything. She just likes everyone being together. She doesn't keep track of the cost of dinner and charge us for it." He smiled softly, chuckling at himself. "And, honestly, Henry's fixed my truck more times than I probably even remember. That's just how it is. When he needs help, I help him. Or when Momma needs the gutters cleaned, she calls one of us. We don't keep score. We just help each other out where we can and…call it good."

Rachel nodded slowly, her mind trying to process Emmett's words.

It was a weird sentiment, completely backwards from what Dennis had told her. But why would Emmett lie to her? He'd been perfectly honest about every other thing Rachel had asked him about.

Unless he was just trying to be polite again. That was why he'd bought Rachel's bubble waffles, right? No, that had been to go out with her, which they were doing, so they were even for that. But the car, and dinner…surely, he was just being nice to someone who was so painfully clueless.

Therefore, when he picked her up for Sunday dinner once again, Rachel was prepared.

"What on earth do you have here?" Emmett leaned over the center console, trying to get a peek at the pan that Rachel held in her hands.

"Dutch apple pie." Rachel held it up proudly. She'd spent all day looking for and making the recipe. She'd never made pie before, but she thought it had turned out decent. Hopefully well enough to thank them for dinner.

Emmett whistled as he drove, nodding appreciatively at her, "Dang, girl. I didn't know you baked. This is going to be dangerous if you keep bringing dessert over to dinner every week."

"Well, I can bring other stuff." She said quickly. "Bread, a side, whatever y'all want."

"No, no, no." He was also quick to shut down her worries, "Dessert is always welcome."

His brothers whole-heartedly agreed with that statement as well. Henry and Nolan both were caught trying to sneak some of the crumble off the top, only leaving it be when Judy lovingly threatened to bring out the wooden spoon.

"These boys!" She told Rachel, giving her a motherly nudge. "I swear, they act like I've never fed them before in their lives!"

Rachel giggled as she stirred the butter into the potatoes. When she realized how much milk and butter went into them, she was glad she'd just taken a few the last week. It was no wonder that people said Judy was a fantastic cook.

It was, however, a wonder that the boys were as fit as they were. Rachel swore she'd been told that butter was bad for people. Maybe farm work was more strenuous than Rachel had originally thought.

While Heidi and Judy finished up the veggies and pork chops, Rachel began taking the food that was ready out to the dining room.

As she set the bowls of steaming food down on the table, Henry leaned back in his chair, eyeing the Dutch apple pie she'd brought with exaggerated suspicion.

"Now, Rach," he said, a grin spreading across his face, "you don't have to keep bribing us, y'know. We already tolerate ya just fine."

Emmett, already seated next to Henry, rolled his eyes. "Ignore him," he said to Rachel, smirking. "He's just jealous he didn't think to bring dessert first."

"Jealous? Me?" Henry put a hand to his chest, pretending to be shocked. "I'm just saying, I'm starting to see a pattern here. First, she's buttering up Momma, now she's winning over the rest of us with pie. Pretty soon, she'll have us wrapped around her finger. It's dangerous."

Rachel's cheeks started to feel warm, and she prayed it was just from the potatoes she'd been carrying. Despite her blush, she shot back, "Maybe that's the plan, Henry. I'm just working my way up to you."

"Oh, is that so?" Henry's eyes lit up as he laughed. "Alright then, I'll need a chocolate cake next week if you're trying to win my affection. And maybe some ice cream on the side."

Emmett groaned, shaking his head. "Don't listen to him, Rae Rae. We don't need to be feeding his ego, or his stomach. He's plenty spoiled. Trust me."

"Excuse you, baby brother," Henry turned on Emmett, giving him a hard look. "I'm just looking out for the family, making sure Rachel knows what it takes to keep up with us." He nudged Rachel's arm as she set down the last dish, adding with a grin, "But seriously, this pie smells amazing. If it tastes half as good as it looks, you just might have secured yourself a permanent Sunday dinner invite."

"She already has a permanent Sunday dinner invite." Judy interjected as she brought out the meat. "You, on the other hand, are still up for debate."

Rachel and Emmett laughed at her joke. The last person she'd expected some sass from was Judy, but that only made it funnier.

Henry gaped at his mother, throwing his hands up as he questioned her, "What's that supposed to mean? Don't tell me you're replacing your favorite son for some girl you've only met twice."

"You think you're the favorite?" Emmett shot Henry a look. He shook his head, just in time for Nolan to bring the kids into the room.

"Yeah, Henry. You ain't the favorite." Nolan confirmed, "We all know 'Baby Emmy' is the favorite 'round here." He ruffled Emmett's hair and Rachel giggled as the 'family baby' swatted at his older brother.

"Boys, not at the table." Tim put a hand on each of them as he walked to his seat. It seemed Rachel's initial assessment, of him needing to say that a lot, was correct.

They passed the food around before digging in, the atmosphere far more comfortable, at least for Rachel, with the absence of Jackson and Chelsea. Part of her wondered if Emmett had something to do with that.

She didn't have too much time to dwell on it during dinner. Just like the week before, dinner was filled with light teasing and laughter. The first time, Rachel had thought maybe it was a fluke. Everyone was on their best behavior because she had been there. But two weeks in a row…she was starting to think that was just how the McCarty's had dinner together. Maybe school wasn't the only place that mealtimes could be fun.

The pie seemed to be a hit around the table, each person talking about how good it was at least once.

Henry, naturally, took the opportunity to rag on Heidi a little bit, asking her why she never brought them pie when she was first dating Nolan.

"Well, if I thought Nolan had any brothers worth impressing, I would've brought some."

The whole table erupted in laughter, Henry feigning offense. Rachel eyed Heidi, more than willing to hop on the bandwagon of teasing Henry. "Hey, I'm just trying to keep him in line."

"If you can keep him in line with pie, you need to come over every Sunday." Heidi giggled as she shot Rachel a wink.

"Sunday? Hell, if she can keep him in line with pie, she's gotta come over every day." Tim mumbled, earning another round of laughter from his other two sons.

Henry finished off his piece, leaning back to pat Rachel on the shoulder once he set his fork down. "S'fine. Least I got one sister-in-law who cares about me."

"Sister-in-law?!" Heidi exclaimed, eyeing up Emmett sharply. "You're proposing already?"

"No!" Emmett was quick to deny the claim. A little too quick in everyone else's opinion.

"Damn, Em!" Henry leaned forward once more to grimace at his brother.

Nolan patted the younger boy on the back, "Didn't have to say no so quick there, kid."

"Yeah, Emmett." Rachel nudged him with a playful glare. "Am I not good enough for you or what?"

"No!" Emmett immediately tried to backtrack. "Th-that's not what I meant. I just meant…what are you doing?" He chuckled as Rachel reached over his arm to take his unfinished pie away.

She was quick to pull it out of reach when he grabbed for it, teasing as she said, "I only bake pie for people who appreciate me."

Henry took Emmett's plate from Rachel – though that hadn't been her intention – setting it on top of his own. "Thanks, baby." He placed a dramatic kiss to Rachel's cheek.

Emmett groaned, mumbling something about regret. Rachel couldn't hear him quite right over her own playful shriek of Henry's name. She wiped the kiss off with her sleeve, elbowing the McCarty with a grin.

He took it all in stride, shooting her a wink. "Hey, you ever want a real man, you just let me know."

After dinner, Tim, Nolan, and Henry ventured out to the living room to watch the kids, while the rest cleaned up.

Emmett nudged Rachel's arm as he passed with the bowl of green beans, "Told you Henry was worthless."

She snickered, gathering the last plate before picking them all up to bring in the kitchen. The sound of Henry and the kids hollering brought a smile to her face. One could only imagine the trouble they were getting in – hence why Nolan and Tim had followed the three out, Rachel was certain.

As she thought, she wasn't watching where she was going, tripping on the leg of a chair not fully pushed in.

The rest happened in slow motion. All the plates in her hands tipped forward, sliding out from the stack like an animated movie scene. Shattering and clanging filled Rachel's ears as they hit the floor one by one. She watched the white shards fly everywhere, a few unscathed plates slipping across the wood flooring and under the cabinet.

Dread filled her stomach, twisting and squeezing it like a fidget toy. She strategically tried to fall onto her forearms, desperate to keep at least one plate from hitting the ground.

Tears welled in her eyes as she scooped up the broken pieces after her fall, desperate to at least clean up her mess. 'Stupid.' 'Wreckless.' 'Idiot.' The words filled her head, Dennis's frustration replacing Tim's kind eyes and smile. They'd hate her. It didn't matter that she'd brought pie or helped cook or laughed with them or that they had smiled at her. She'd ruined it all. She'd been careless and destroyed their stuff.

Judy was first to the scene. She'd gasped as soon as she was through the door, also dropping down to Rachel's level.

Rach panicked, her blurry gaze set on Judy, and words tumbled out of her mouth. "I-I'm so sorry. I-I didn't mean too…I'll pay for it, I swear. I promise I-I'll clean it up and I'll make it right. I-I-I…."

"Honey, honey, stop. You're hurting yourself, sweetie!" Judy wasn't even focused on the plates, grabbing Rachel's hands, now covered in blood from the little shards. Rachel hadn't even noticed the bleeding, but once Judy pointed it out her hands stung from the wounds.

Tim and Henry came in the side door then, taking in the scene.

"Sweet, now we can get some new plates!" Henry exclaimed with a cheeky grin, though Rachel wasn't watching his expression or listening to his words.

"I-I'm sorry. I promise I'll pay for them." She whispered to Tim, flinching when he took a step forward.

He stopped then, eyes flashing up to Emmett, who was standing in the doorway to the kitchen, watching and waiting for an opportunity to be useful. Though his eyes quickly met his fathers at Rachel's undeniable flinch.

Tim crouched down in his place, not moving towards Rachel at all, and keeping his hands folded together in the space between his knees.

"Hey." His voice was soft, quite possibly the softest one Rachel had ever heard. It didn't make sense. She'd just broken 75% of their plates and he was perfectly calm. Did the anger come later? Had she warded it off by offering to pay for it?

"It's alright." He continued. His words didn't make sense. "They're just plates, Rachel. We're just worried about you, alright? Your hands look cut up something awful. Can Em and Judy take ya to the bathroom? Get ya cleaned up?"

Rachel looked between the two faces he'd mentioned and the mess she'd made. "I'm fine. I-I can clean this up first, I just-"

"Hey, don't you worry about this, alright? Henry and I got it. Nothing a broom won't fix. Take care of yourself first, Rachel. Em, why don't you and Momma take Rachel and get her some band aids? Watch your step."

Emmett was dutifully at her side in the next blink, blocking Tim from Rachel's vision. He and Judy helped her up, Judy carefully guiding her backwards, so she didn't step in the shards. Emmett wrapped his arm around her as they walked, slowly stroking her hair. "You're alright, Rae Rae. It's no big deal. Pretty sure those plates came out of the 70's."

"Hey." Judy giggled at her son. "They did not!"

"But I'm close, ain't I?"

She laughed again, shaking her head. "Maybe. He's right though, Rachel. It's no big deal! Really, I should be thanking you. Now I can finally get those new ones I've been eyeing up at the store."

Rachel thought Judy was just saying that to make her feel better, but Emmett chimed in to ask if they were the gray ones she'd been looking at and then Rachel wasn't so sure.

Judy flipped on the bathroom light and got to work, carefully cleaning Rachel's hands and making sure that there were no plate pieces in her skin. Emmett leaned against the wall beside her, talking happily about how Judy was a nurse and that Rachel was in good hands. He told her stories about the injuries the boys had faced over the years (a baseball bat to the head from Nolan – he needed five stitches) and how that made Judy good at fixing people (with five boys, she had to learn quick).

When she was all finished, Rachel's tears had dried up, leaving behind a bitter, salty taste in her mouth. "Promise that you'll tell me how much the new plates cost." Rachel mumbled. "I promise I'll make it right."

"Oh, sweetheart," Judy rubbed her shoulder before cupping her cheek in a loving way that only mothers could do. "you're kind enough to put up with my boys, and that is plenty of payment for me."