Many children bring happiness, a shameless start

Lip overheard Fiona talking with Vi and a strange man downstairs.

He realized that tonight was when Fiona met the infamous "eldest brother-in-law" Steve, just as the plot dictated.

"Ian, let's head down and see what's going on!"

"OK."

The two brothers headed downstairs together, with Debbie and Carl following close behind.

From the staircase, Lip saw Vi sitting on the couch, tending to a wound on the forehead of a shirtless man. Fiona was sitting nearby, laughing and chatting with him.

"Hi, my name's Steve."

"Carl."

"Lip."

"This is Debbie," Fiona introduced.

"Hi, Debbie."

"Your watch is great!"

"Thanks, it's a Panerai."

"And that's Ian," Fiona added, pointing to Ian behind Steve.

"Hi," Steve said, turning to greet him.

Ian raised a hand in acknowledgment.

"Yo, Veronica!" Kevin called as he walked into the house. "You got the key?"

"What's going on?" Kevin asked, spotting Steve.

"This is Steve," Vi explained, "He beat the hell out of the security guard at the Purgatory Bar—for me."

"For me," Fiona corrected, smiling brightly.

"Yeah? Which security guard?" Kevin asked, intrigued.

"Jimmy Clifton," Steve replied.

"Jimmy Clif—oh man, you're a legend! I love you already!" Kevin exclaimed, shaking Steve's hand eagerly.

"That guy's always standing there like an idiot."

"Well, you've probably made his top five enemies list now," Kevin joked, plopping down next to Lip, and they exchanged a grin.

Fiona quickly stood up to stop Carl from sneaking a drink from a bottle.

"Okay, it's bedtime! Upstairs, now!" she commanded.

Lip, Ian, Debbie, and Carl obeyed, heading back to their rooms.

Kevin and Vi teased Steve a little before leaving. Once Fiona ensured the younger kids were upstairs, she returned to clean up while chatting with Steve.

As they talked, the two grew closer, eventually sparking a "battle" of their own.

"I guessed it! Pay up!" Lip raised his eyebrows at Ian and Carl, who each handed him a dollar.

Before things could escalate further between Fiona and Steve, a knock came at the back door. Fiona bolted to her room, and Steve hurriedly pulled on his pants.

"Oh, man! No fun!" Carl whined.

Tony had arrived, dragging a drunken Frank back home.

Steve slipped out the door, still sweaty from the chaos. He nodded at the Gallagher boys watching him from the second-floor window, then hopped into his stolen BMW and drove off into the night.

Lip knew the washing machine was secure—for now.

"What do you think of him?" Ian asked.

"I think he's awesome! He decked Jimmy Clifton—what a hero!" Carl replied.

"It doesn't matter what we think. It's Fiona's opinion that counts," Lip said with a grin.

"Lip, is that guy gonna be our brother-in-law?" Carl asked, tilting his head.

"Maybe. Who knows?" Lip replied, still smiling.

But in his heart, Lip had already decided to help Fiona make things official with Steve.

Life had been brutal for Fiona. For years, she had shouldered the responsibility of raising her five younger siblings while working irregular hours and juggling multiple jobs to keep the family afloat.

She had sacrificed so much—her opportunities, her youth, her freedom—all to ensure her siblings had a chance. Even when she felt like breaking down, she never showed weakness in front of them.

Fiona needed someone who could support her emotionally, even if just to offer a shoulder to lean on.

Lip thought Steve was a good match. Compared to the other men Fiona had been involved with, Steve was leagues better. Fiona was amazing at everything—except picking the right guys.

If she couldn't see it herself, Lip was determined to step in.

"Alright, time for bed," Lip said to Ian and Carl.

Since becoming involved with Karen, Lip's mind had been working overtime. He had to consider so much: his family's financial struggles, Karen's background, his own goals, and the future of everyone under their roof.

Lip wasn't content with just using the system to pursue girls. He wanted to ensure a brighter future for his entire family.

To achieve that, he needed to juggle three goals: winning over girls, building connections, and eventually creating a stable life.

But first, two conditions had to be met: a secure home base and financial stability.

Lip already had the beginnings of a plan.