CAMERON SAT ON THE COUCH, LIAM IN HER LAP WHILE LIP AND IAN PASSED AROUND BURGERS,

Lip's new girl thing, Karen, was sitting in the arm chair while everyone else squeezed onto the couch or other seating around the living room. The kids had Friday off, so they decided to have a late night tv binge fest. They gathered around the tv and watched stupid shows while eating pizza and burgers and other junk food. V was going to join them, since Kevin was working.

Steve lifted Cameron slightly to sit behind her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders so she could lean into his chest.

The front door slammed behind them and they turned to see Frank with a bloody face stomp in, "You okay, Frank?" Steve asked,

Ian followed their dad towards the kitchen, "Hey. Is that my shirt?"

Frank paused and walked towards him, "Yeah."

The redhead began to back away, "I-I'm just asking."

He head butted Ian and the teenager fell onto the coffee table. Everyone panicked, some going for Ian and some going for Frank, "Guy in the bar said to pass it on." Frank grumbled,

Steve pushed Frank back, "What the fuck is wrong with you, Frank?!" He shoved him back again, "You're drunk, Frank, you're drunk!"

Frank raised his eyebrow, "This-this is drunk?"

Cameron stood from Ian's side and went to grab Steve, "Stop it, okay, Steve?" This was behaviour from Frank that was normal, she didn't need Steve to get involved,

Debbie came over with a frying pan and Lip moved to take it away from her.

"You want to see drunk?" Frank threatened,

"Don't do this to your kids, Frank."

"Aw, what are you, a tough guy, Steve? You think you're a fuckin' tough guy? Because you look like a premenstrual Filipino!" 

Steve went for Frank but Cameron pushed him back, "Steve, go! Get out! Hey, just go." He stared at her for a second, as if he was asking if she was serious, "Go, Steve, please."

"He's shitting his pants. Pussy." Frank spat as the other man walked towards the front door,

"You're pathetic, Frank."

"Get out now! I mean it!" Cameron told him as Debbie led him to the door. Frank began antagonising him and Cameron rolled her eyes, "Shut the fuck up, Frank!" 

Fiona went to grab some ice and Frank rolled his eyes, "It's a bloody nose. He's not dying."

"Really, Frank?" V shot at him,

"Anybody notice that I'm bleeding?"

"Yeah, and we all know you probably deserved it." Cameron spat before going towards her room. She grabbed a jacket from her door hook and went down into the kitchen, "I'm going to a meeting." Cam quickly told Fiona before leaving out the back door.

The next morning, Cameron got up early and sent the kids to do their chores. Debbie would run around the neighbourhood, stealing coupons from doorsteps and Ian would intercept the dairy deliveries with Veronica.

She reached for her orange pill bottle on the top shelf next to the Crisco bucket and got a glass of water before swallowing her pills down.

Fiona went to get Liam ready for the day while Cameron made breakfast. She set cereal and bowls down on the table while making eggs and toast for Carl,

"Hey, special delivery." Ian walked through the back door, setting down milk and butter,

"Thank you." Cameron said to him before checking his black eye, "Did you ice it?"

He nodded, gripping half-and-half in his hands, "I gotta go run this to Kev and V."

"Don't forget Veronica's coupons!" Debbie called out as he left the house again,

Debbie continued to cut the coupons while Cameron grabbed the large tub of butter and using it to finish the toast off. She placed Carl's breakfast down in front of him before getting Liam's food ready,

Fiona walked in, Liam on her hip and mail in her hand. She set him down in his high chair and went back behind the counter next to Cam,

"Hey, buddy. Come here." Lip greeted his youngest brother, helping him eat his food,

"Any pizza left from last night?" Ian asked, walking back into the kitchen,

"No pizza. Fruit or juice." Fiona told him,  "OJ's in the top, grapes in bottom drawer."

"And we've got eggs." Cam said, "Want me to make you some?"

Ian shook his head and moved to sit at the table and grabbed some Fruit Loops,

"Pop-Tarts, Frosted Flakes, Bisquick, Heinz Ketchup, and ooh, ooh... even got a couple two-for-ones for Tide." Debbie grinned, holding up the cut coupons,

"Any coupons for meat?" Ian asked,

"Yeah, they've got a special on ground chuck at Costco, and Hot Pockets." Debbie informed them,

"That's great. We'll go tomorrow." Fiona told her, "Lip, you seen Frank?"

"Uh, no."

Cameron rolled her eyes before taking a sip of her orange juice. No one ever sees Frank before seven am. He's usually passed out and wakes up before any of them and goes for a search for another high,

"What day is it?" Fiona asked, glancing at the calendar,

"Friday. Why?" Lip questioned,

Fiona hummed and moved to go upstairs. The younger kids looked over at Cameron, who shrugged before cleaning up the kitchen,

There was a knock on the back door and Ian stood to open it, "Morning, campers." Steve greeted as he walked into the house, hands full of coffee and pastries,

"Oh, what you got?" Lip asked,

"Jelly, plain and glazed." Steve answered as he set the coffee down and the kids reached for it, "Save me an apple fritter."

Steve grabbed some toast from Carl's plate and dipped it into the yolk before taking a bite, "Bet you hate it when that happens?" He joked,

"They're his tits. It's the only reason he eats eggs." Ian told him,

"And he just licked that one." Debbie stared in disgust,

Steve grabbed one of the large coffees and approached Cameron, "I'm trying to get them to eat a healthy breakfast." Cameron pouted,

 "I brought all the essential morning food groups: caffeine, sugar, lard." He told her before pulling her into a deep kiss,

Once they pulled away, Cameron grabbed his hand and led him away from the table, "I'm sorry about last night." She whispered,

"Never apologize for your parents. Believe me, I don't." He kissed the tip of her nose, "So you can let go of that."

"Has anybody seen Dad?" Fiona asked as she walked down the stairs, "Oh... hi, Steve."

"Morning." He gave her a small smile,

"He was asleep behind the armchair." Debbie answered,

Fiona sighed and moved into the living room, the other children following. They watched as she kneeled on the chair and looked behind it, "It's a tent." She turned to the kids, "Why is there a tent in the living room?"

"Oh, uh, drying it out. ROTC training in Wisconsin next week." Ian smiled sheepishly,

"I thought it was Dad." Debbie leaned down and grabbed a mug she placed on the floor, "I left him a cup of coffee this morning. I thought I heard him say 'thanks'."

Fiona went to check with Kevin, and Cameron ushered the kids back into the kitchen, "Finish up breakfast."

Cameron stood at the counter, biting her lip. Frank could take care of himself, he usually shows up eventually.

"Hey." Steve wrapped an arm around her waist and kissed her temple, "Don't worry."

Fiona came back in, "Anything?" Cameron asked,

She shook her head, "I think dad's missing."

"Why do you need to find him?"

Her older sister held up a yellow envelope, "His check came in. He never misses the last Friday of the month."

With that, the whole clan went to work. V came over with her landline and cell and they all began calling neighbours and anyone who possibly could've seen Frank in the last 12 hours.

"Anything?" Fiona asked when everyone was done with their calls,

"Nobody's seen him since last night." Lip stated,

Debbie began to panic and Cameron moved to comfort her, "Hey, hey, don't worry, Debs. We're gonna find him, okay?"

"We split up. All the regular spots, okay?" Fiona ordered them, "Let's go."

Everyone stood to leave the house and Cameron checked the time, "Fi, I got work."

She nodded, "We'll keep you updated."

The group left, minus Steve, and Cameron went upstairs to get dressed. She slipped on her 'Patsy's Pies' shirt on and Steve stood in the doorway, "How are you sure that he's missing?" 

"It's disability-check day. He never misses it. Practically pounces on the mail man to get to it. And today, it came through the door." Cameron explained, moving to put on her shoes,

"Can I drive you to work?" Steve asked,

"Sure." She grinned at him, and followed him to his car outside, "I'm sure he's just passed out somewhere. He probably drank way too much last night."

Steve held her hand as he drove her to the diner. Once they got there, he opened the door for her and kissed her goodbye, "I'll pick you up."

"You don't have to do that." Cameron insisted,

"I want to." He gave her one last kiss, "See you at nine?"

She nodded and watched him drive away before going into the diner, "Ooo." Jackie grinned, "Is that the husband-to-be?"

Cameron rolled her eyes and smiled, "He's not even officially my boyfriend." She glanced over at Sean, who was shaking his head, "What?"

"He drove you to work, opened the door for you, and kissed you goodbye. That sounds like a boyfriend to me." He stated,

"Or you're having really great sex." Jackie joked,

Cam shrugged, "I mean, we're just having fun right now. And I'm okay with it."

"Ok, Miss Denial, get to work, you have some tables." Sean stated, pointing at a couple that sat down in the corner booth.

Cameron nudged him before grabbing some menus and walking away from the counter,