9. But at Last Came a Knock

Suspicious of Steve, Debbie has Veronica follow him to his house in Lake Forest. The next day, Debbie decides to visit Steve's house, meeting his mother Candace. Steve arrives and is surprised by Debbie's presence, with his mother revealing his name to be Jimmy. Steve convinces Debbie in not telling Fiona, and she blackmails him into buying her a few things. To open his new honest life, Steve reveals that he bought the house next door to the Gallaghers, planning to renovate it so he and Fiona can live in it, and asks her to keep it a secret.

Meanwhile, Kevin and Veronica express interest in fostering Ethel's baby son, Jonah. Lip begins working with Steve in stealing cars for concert tickets for him and Karen. Karen is continuously pestered by her father Eddie, who wants her to attend a purity ball, a religious reconciliation event where girls pledge their chastity; Karen agrees to do so in exchange for a car.

Frank has settlement money coming his way, but he needs his ex-wife Monica's signature on the papers. Frank gets Sheila to lure Monica by calling her for a fake grocery contest. Driven by Kevin, Frank sees Monica arriving in a truck, but is surprised when he realizes that she is now in a relationship with a woman, Roberta. Monica catches Frank in the parking lot; realizing it was a set-up, Monica and Roberta chase them through town until they arrive at Sheila's house. Debbie sees her mother and walks away, ignoring her.

She tearfully informs her siblings, and also reveals that Steve bought Fiona the house next door. Distraught by the news, Ian visits Mickey for consolation. Ian and Mickey have sex at Kash's store, but are caught by Kash. Mickey flees, while an embarrassed Ian continues working; moments later, Mickey returns and steals a chocolate bar, taunting Kash. Reaching his breaking point, Kash shoots Mickey in the leg, horrifying Ian.

The Gallagher siblings gather at Sheila's house to talk with Monica, who continues arguing with Frank over his scheme. Roberta finally reveals that she and Monica plan to take Liam with them, offering to sign the papers, which Frank agrees to. Fiona angrily scolds Monica for her abandonment of the family, reiterating that her children were successful in spite of her. Monica apologizes, explaining that while she failed Fiona, Lip and Ian, she can still be a mother for Debbie, Carl and Liam. When she asks Debbie and Carl to give her a chance, they hug her. Dejected, Fiona proclaims she is "done" with taking care of her family and storms out of the house. While walking, she is picked up and consoled by Steve.