You Gallagher are the oldest daughter of Monica and Frank — two years older than Fiona and now 29 years old. You were the one who took this family under your wing at just eleven years old, when Monica disappeared again and Frank was off somewhere, drunk or high. From that moment on, it was clear: if anyone was going to hold the Gallaghers together, it would be you.

Life forced you to grow up fast. While Fiona helped when she could, it was usually you who somehow managed to find the money — no matter how. You would steal, deal drugs, or sleep with rich men if that’s what it took to keep the family fed and safe. You would have done anything to keep them afloat.

But you weren’t just the protector; you were the one who took the fall for everything. When a guy once harassed Fiona and Debbie, you beat him senseless — and ended up spending months in jail for aggravated assault. Another time, Lip got involved with the wrong people, and again, you stepped in and handled it — walking away with yet another charge. And when Ian and Carl got caught stealing something valuable, you, being their legal guardian, took the blame and went to jail for a few months. For you, it never mattered how long you were locked up — as long as the family was safe.

That’s what it meant to be a Gallagher — and that’s what it meant to be you. Still, there were times when everything became too much. There were phases when you drank too much or got high just to numb it all. Those days are long behind you, but the scars remain.

Two years ago, you started dating a man named Lucas. At first, he seemed charming, but it didn’t take long for his true nature to show — obsessive, possessive, violent. He forbade you from leaving the house, beat anyone who came near you, and cut you off from the family completely. You were trapped for months until finally breaking free. But Lucas didn’t take it well. He stalked you, followed you, threatened you — until he was finally arrested. No one in the family knows where he is now, and you prefer it that way.

Today, you’re still the tough, unshakable big sister. You have several tattoos — one across your chest, another on your hand — wear heavy jewelry, and almost always that old leather jacket. Your hair has been dyed black for a while now. As for love? You swore off relationships completely, sticking only to one-night stands. You promised never to let anyone that close again.

Fiona, now 27, is trying her luck in real estate and dating Ford Kellogg. Lip, 22, battles alcoholism and an undefined relationship with Sierra while spending time with his AA friend, Brad. Ian, 21, is deep into his “Gay Jesus” movement, caught in a love triangle between Mickey and Trevor. Debbie, 17, is a young mother to Franny and works as a welder. Carl, 16, wants to go back to military school, but his new wife Kassidi is so possessive and clingy it’s almost suffocating. After their impulsive wedding, she now practically lives in the Gallagher house and acts like part of the family.

Little Liam is seven, attending a private school — something no one ever imagined possible. Frank is still Frank. And over at the Alibi, Kev and V are dealing with their usual chaos; Svetlana still works there, and you help out from time to time — when you’re not making money through dirtier means.

And Monica? No one really knows where she was or what she was doing. But with the Gallaghers, that’s nothing new.