The Gallagher House, Kitchen.
A familiar feeling washed over Ian. One look at the tense standoff, and he knew something had gone down.
Hearing Ian, Lip immediately offered an explanation, his tone full of annoyance. "Fiona started doing coke. She's throwing it everywhere..."
Ian looked at Fiona.
Meanwhile, Fiona, who was genuinely about to lose her mind, roared at Lip, "I said! It's not mine!!"
Lip sneered coldly, glancing at Fiona with a look of utter superiority.
Just that one glance made Fiona shake with rage.
Looking at Fiona in this state, to be honest, Ian believed she was using. After all, he knew exactly what kind of mess she had been these past couple of days...
So, after a moment's thought, Ian spoke to Fiona. Not criticizing, but advising, "Fiona, you can't go on like this. Being drunk every day, and now doing coke... it's not good."
Fiona: "!!!!"
She hadn't done it, yet her family was convinced she had!
This injustice was something Fiona, who considered herself the pillar of this family, absolutely could not and would not accept!
"Motherfcker! I didn't..." Feeling wronged and furious, Fiona glared, screaming her denial.
And so.
A classic Gallagher-style farce erupted in the kitchen, and it didn't look like it was ending anytime soon.
One minute, two minutes, three minutes...
Carl, nursing a headache, turned to check the clock on the wall. He couldn't wait any longer. He said to Debbie, who also looked like she had a headache, "Debbie, I have to go to the funeral home. Welcome back."
Saying goodbye, Carl didn't waste a second. He turned and walked out.
Debbie didn't want to watch this circus anymore either. Without hesitation, she grabbed her soda and followed Carl. "I'm coming with you."
Fiona and the others clearly saw Carl and Debbie leaving.
Instantly.
The argument stopped abruptly.
Fiona called out anxiously, "Debbie, Carl, don't rush. You just got back. Stay a while, we'll go over later."
Monica chimed in too. "Carl, you guys going to the funeral home? Your dad and I are coming too."
Carl didn't stop walking, didn't even turn his head. His tone was flat. "Come if you want."
Seeing Carl didn't refuse, Monica was delighted and immediately chased after him.
Frank's face contorted wildly. He didn't follow immediately. After a moment's thought, he pulled the bag of coke from his pocket, expertly poured some out, snorted it, shook his head vigorously, took a deep breath, and then chased after Monica.
Fiona watched this scene helplessly, feeling an indescribable pain in her heart.
One second, two seconds.
So much had happened right after Debbie got back. Fiona didn't dare try to persuade Debbie further. She had to change her plan, giving up on having Debbie stay and celebrate for a bit. She figured they could celebrate after the funeral. She turned to Lip and Ian, who also hadn't moved yet.
"Then we'll have the party later. Let's go too."
Lip sneered decisively. Too lazy to waste words with Fiona, he turned to Karen. "Karen, let's go do business."
Karen nodded obediently, acting like the girlfriend of the year.
Seeing Lip's reaction and realizing he didn't plan to attend the funeral, Fiona bit her lip subconsciously. "Lip, Peg was family after all. Debbie wants us all to go too."
Lip, already walking out, didn't look back. "None of my fcking business."
Fiona: "..."
At this point, Ian, tired from his night out and a bit sleepy, spoke to Fiona. "I'm not going either. I need to go upstairs and sleep. I'm tired."
Finished, Ian walked towards the stairs.
"..." Fiona froze.
One, then the other...
Why had the two brothers she worked so hard to raise turned out like this?
Fiona couldn't understand. She just felt tired. So incredibly tired.
With that, the good mood from picking up Debbie vanished completely.
Then, Fiona instinctively wanted to escape this miserable, painful reality...
Alcohol and the coke in her pocket flooded her mind, suddenly becoming incredibly tempting.
Fiona stood frozen, staring blankly as Lip and the others walked further away. After a few seconds, she snapped back, took a deep breath, said nothing more, picked up Liam, and walked toward the front door.
Whatever!
Lip, that bastard, can do whatever the hell he wants!
As for Ian... God knows what his deal is. Fiona didn't have the energy, and she didn't want to care anymore.
Fck it all.
---
2118 North Wallace.
Dexter sat on his sofa, smoking a cigarette, sensing the information fed back by Little Crow. He was about to die laughing.
It was just too funny.
Fiona was unjustly accused, and her loving family unanimously refused to believe her explanation...
Debbie just got back and immediately got a taste of the Gallagher chaos...
Monica and Frank showed up. Coupled with Clayton and his brothers appearing at the funeral today, haha...
This funeral was going to be lively as hell.
Not to mention, Lip and Ian's absence would leave a mark on Carl...
Everything was perfect.
Thinking this, Dexter smiled brilliantly.
Just then, knock, knock, knock, someone pounded on the front door.
Dexter knew it was Carl. He got up quickly and walked out.
"I'm ready. Let's go to the funeral home," Carl said immediately upon seeing Dexter.
Dexter glanced at the scene outside.
Debbie, Frank, and Monica were standing outside his front yard; they hadn't come up with Carl.
Lip and Karen were walking toward the van parked on the street.
Fiona, with a dark face, holding Liam, had just walked out the door and was coming down the stairs, looking in their direction.
"Okay," withdrawing his gaze, Dexter nodded and walked toward his car.
Walking out of the yard.
"Debbie, long time no see," Dexter smiled and greeted Debbie.
Debbie didn't hate Dexter, but she didn't like him either. She responded calmly, "Long time no see."
Dexter quickly sized her up.
Debbie's changes were quite noticeable.
Dexter thought this should be a good thing and looked forward to Debbie's future. "Going to the funeral home?"
Debbie nodded. "Yeah."
"Get in. I'll drive you guys," Dexter offered.
Soon.
Dexter, Carl, Debbie, Frank, and Monica all got into the car.
Fiona, holding Liam, stood outside the Gallagher front yard, witnessing this scene. Experiencing the awful taste of being completely ignored, her eyes turned fierce, filled with hatred.
In this moment, Fiona hated Dexter even more.
"Fck You!" The next second, cursing viciously, Fiona spun around and started walking toward the L station.
Dexter had just started the car. through the side mirror, he clearly saw Fiona's reaction. He smiled silently, then asked Carl while driving, "Is Fiona going to the funeral too?"
Carl nodded, replying calmly, "Seems so."
"Too bad the car is full..." Dexter said, acting apologetic.
The car was full. That was a fact.
Carl didn't care. "Doesn't matter."
Debbie and Monica cared a little.
After all, everyone else was in a car. Letting Fiona walk to the train with Liam in her arms... did seem a bit inappropriate.
But the problem was, the car really was full.
"Mr. King, let me out. I'll walk with Fiona," Monica said with a droopy face.
Honestly, Dexter didn't hate Monica.
Monica was crazy, yes, but when she wasn't having an episode, she was alright.
Hearing this, Dexter didn't hesitate. He hit the brakes immediately. "That works too."
"Frank, see you at the funeral home," Monica smiled and said to Frank, then quickly opened the door, got out, and ran toward Fiona.
Seeing this, Debbie hesitated for a moment, gritted her teeth, but in the end said nothing and looked away.
Dexter glanced at Debbie through the rearview mirror, smiled, hit the gas, and drove off.
On the sidewalk.
"Fiona, I'll walk with you," Monica ran up to Fiona, saying happily.
In this situation, having someone accompany her gave Fiona—who was actually starved for affection—a surge of comfort.
But comfort aside, Fiona almost instinctively kept her face dark and glared at Monica. "Are you going to mess around?"
Hearing this, Monica shook her head vigorously. "Absolutely not. I'm better. The doctors let me out."
"Taking your meds?" Fiona frowned, asking coldly.
"Yes, taking them. I'm really better. I'll take good care of you guys, be a good mother," Monica promised solemnly.
Fiona laughed outright. "Heh. Too little, too late."
Monica couldn't refute that. She stomped her foot anxiously. "Fiona, I know I wasn't a good mother before..."
Monica kept explaining.
Fiona stayed silent.
The two walked together like that.
---
The Funeral Home.
9:30 AM.
Dexter arrived with Carl and the others.
A sign was already set up at the entrance of the viewing room, featuring Peg's photo.
Frank looked at the photo, his ugly face gradually twisting as he stared, lost in thought.
Dexter ignored him and walked straight into the viewing room.
The viewing room was already set up, looking quite high-end.
Some people were already seated in the rows of chairs.
Kev, Veronica, and Ethel—a family of three—sat quietly. Hearing footsteps, they all turned around.
Also turning around were some old barflies who had been drinking at the Alibi for years, as well as Clayton, Jerry, and Wyatt—the three Gallagher brothers.
Seeing Clayton and his brothers, Dexter immediately thought of the farce that would ensue once Frank appeared. He chuckled internally and sat in the empty chair next to Kev.
One second, two seconds, three seconds.
Carl and Debbie walked in.
Looking at the casket on the platform, Carl zoned out slightly. A clear look of sorrow slowly appeared on his young face.
Debbie didn't have much of a reaction; she was very calm.
Carl blinked, said nothing, and silently walked to Dexter's side, preparing to sit.
Dexter stopped him with a hand, pointing to the front row where Clayton and his brothers sat. He whispered, "Those three are your uncles. Go sit with them."
Finished, Dexter turned to Debbie. "Debbie, you too."
Carl hesitated a little, then obediently went with Debbie to sit in the row with Clayton and the others.
Then, naturally, seeing Jerry, who looked almost exactly like Frank, both Carl and Debbie's eyes widened in surprise.
Clayton and his brothers' hatred for their brother Frank was strangely—or perhaps interestingly—far greater than for anyone else. So, they were only somewhat familiar with Fiona and Lip from years ago; they didn't know Carl and Debbie at all.
But since Carl and Debbie sat in this row, they were obviously Gallaghers.
Clayton still greeted them.
Hearing this, Carl and Debbie snapped back a little. Then, logically, their focus landed on Jerry.
Just like that, somewhat strangely, they started chatting, and soon figured out who was who.
Just then.
Frank, having snorted a bit more coke outside, walked in swaying slightly. As he walked, he bumped into a chair, making quite a noise.
Hearing the sound, everyone turned to look.
Seeing him, the expressions on the faces of the Clayton brothers were priceless!
Especially Jerry, who reacted like he'd seen the plague. He almost bristled!
The Clayton brothers saw Frank, and Frank saw the Clayton brothers.
The next second.
Frank blinked, smiled, and sped up toward them, shouting, "Clayton! Wyatt! Jerry!! You guys came! How many years has it been..."
Seeing Frank approaching, Jerry genuinely couldn't handle it. He jumped up and yelled, "Jesus! Frank, don't fcking come over here! Stay away from me!"
Hearing this, Frank yelled back unhappily, speeding up even more. "Jerry, is that how you talk to your own brother? We're brothers..."
Jerry couldn't stand Frank one bit. Seeing Frank getting close, he used the "if you can't beat 'em, avoid 'em" tactic and backed away himself. "Fck off! I don't have a brother like you! Stay away from me!"
"Fck you! Jerry, you think I want a scumbag brother like you?" Frank cursed back. "You stay the hell away from me!"
Saying that, Frank arrived in front of Clayton, grinning cheekily. "Clayton, look at you, looking like a human..."
Clayton also detested Frank and didn't want any unnecessary contact with him. "Frank, we are at Mom's funeral. Please be quiet."
"Quiet?" Frank laughed loudly. "Haha! Everyone knows Peg Gallagher loved a ruckus..."
Frank spouted his twisted logic.
Dexter watched the show with a smile from not far away. Suddenly, a thought struck him. He turned to Kev and Veronica and whispered, "Kev, Veronica, don't you think that Clayton Gallagher looks like he was cast from the same mold as Ian?"
Veronica had actually noticed.
Kev, with his limited intelligence, only started observing in that direction after hearing it, looking confused.
Veronica, used to Kev's goofiness, ignored him and whispered back to Dexter, "I noticed it ages ago. Dexter, you think?"
Dexter smiled slyly. "With a resemblance that strong, it can't be a coincidence. Ian is probably Clayton's son."
Hearing this.
Kev finally caught on and exclaimed, "Holy fck! Ian isn't Frank's biological son?"