―

Debbie held up the laptop, trying to get a bar, Hannah lifting her for a height advantage.

"You got anything?" Hannah asked the girl with a small grunt, as there was a consistent knock at the front door, Fiona answering it.

Debbie shook her head, "I've only got one bar."

The door slammed shut, "Where's my damn toaster? Huh? Who borrows a toaster?" Kevin cried as he walked to the kitchen in nothing but his dressing gown, seeing Carl trying to melt his Superman action figure to his Iron-Man action figure, "Yo, yo, yo, Destructo, that's my toaster."

"I'm trying to make Melted Man." Carl said, his focus on his project.

"Yeah, well, use a blowtorch like a normal kid," Kevin said, lifting the boy out of the chair and sitting down in the now vacant seat, determined to have his toast, "Fi, some flower delivery guy was looking for your address." He told her, holding out the beautiful bouquet to the girl.

"They're from him. Toss them." Fiona sat, nodding her head over to where Steve was standing, chucking the flowers in the trash.

"No, they're not," Steve shook his head, "Nope."

"Yes. Four bars. Thank you, Beaver327." Debbie grinned as Hannah put her down and sat at the counter.

"When the fuck did you get here?" Hannah asked, looking Steve up and down as there was a knock on the back door, "And why?" She chuckled, opening the door to see a smiling Elodie.

"Thought you might wanna walk to school together." Elodie smiled.

"Sure. Keep your coat on, it's fucking freezing in here," Hannah nodded, letting the girl into the chaotic house, "Want some cereal with watered down milk?"

Elodie smirked, reaching into her back, "Mom made you a bagel this morning." She said, holding th tupperware box out to Hannah.

The girl took it with a raised eyebrow, "She doesn't know-?"

"No," Elodie quickly shook her head, "I just told her we were walking together. She loves you and she loves to cook. Win-win."

"Tell Sally thanks." Hannah grinned, opening the box and beginning to devour her breakfast

"Back for more abuse," Lip commented as he entered the kitchen, raiding the fridge, "You're like a boomerang."

Seeing Elodie's confused face, Hannah explained, "That's Steve."

"Left your Dad in Canada Steve?"

"That Steve." Hannah nodded.

"Thanks," Steve said to them dryly, "Yeah, no, I lost a bet to Ian on the game. Need to see what tickets he wants."

"And we live in the 1700s where telephones haven't been invented yet," Fiona rolled her eyes, "So of course you couldn't just call."

"Not when I knew you were dying to see me." Steve shrugged, as Fiona unsuccessfully tried to turn the stove on.

"Shit." The eldest muttered.

"Fuck, Fi, it's so cold." Hannah muttered, grabbing her coat and tugging it on over her blazer, making Fiona go over and look at the papers stuck to the pin board.

"Yo, got my tickets?" Ian asked as he came into the kitchen.

"Yeah, what game? Philly on the 12th or Edmonton on the 27th?"

Elodie and Hannah shared a look.

"Sports." Elodie rolled her eyes.

"Uh, The Oilers. Yeah, definitely." Ian nodded.

"A good choice. The Flyers are fags." Kevin yelled from his spot, making Lip and Hannah share a glance, before seeing that Ian hadn't reacted to the comment, only brushed it off.

"Goddamn it. The gas bill's late," Fiona sighed, taking the overdue bill off of the board, "No wonder it's freezing in here." She said, as Steve swiped the card from the flowers in the trash.

"'Fiona, thanks for a night I'II never forget. Tony'." He read.

"Give me that." Fiona snapped, taking the card out of his hand.

"Who the fuck's Tony?" Steve asked, obviously upset.

Hannah rolled her eyes, "Cry baby."

"You hooked up with Tony?" Kevin raised an eyebrow, "How charitable of you." He mocked.

"Wait, Tony the cop? That Tony?" Steve scoffed.

"Yeah. And we had a nice time, okay?" Fiona rolled her eyes.

"Really?" Steve chuckled.

"Tony's sweet," Fiona shrugged, "And he has a real job."

"And he got me off a few thieving charges." Hannah added, sharing a high five with Elodie - who was now more comfortable with the idea of her best friend stealing to survive.

Kevin faked a mocking snore, "Sorry, I fell asleep when you were talking about him. How long was I out?"

"Lip, phone." Fiona told the boy - who nodded, chucking it at her, the girl catching it with ease.

"What exactly does 'hooked up' mean?" Steve asked, still agitated.

"Last time I checked, penis goes into vagina." Kevin commented.

"Wow." Steve shook his head.

"Who put a stick up your behind this morning?" Elodie chuckled.

"Not my sister." Hannah laughed.

Fiona gave the redhead a look, before turning her attention to Debbie - whose hand was in the donut bag that Steve had brought over, "No. Okay? We're gonna have oatmeal this morning. Go get the hotplate." She nudged her sister, holding the phone up to her ear.

"Jesus, you sure didn't waste any time, did you?" Steve snarked, making Fiona give him a pointed look, throwing his donuts in the trash.

―

Everyone was still scattered around the Gallagher kitchen, bundled in their coats.

"I think I can see my breath." Ian shivered.

Fiona hung up the phone, addressing the family, "We need $587 or they won't turn the gas back on." She shrugged.

"I'm taking the PSATs for some Polish kid over on Ridgedale," Lip said, carrying Liam past the two adults, "He's to give me a hundred bucks."

"I saw online that we could get an extra $200 a month from the state if we say Carl's retarded." Debbie told them as the boy made a weird noise, stretching in his chair.

Hannah looked at Elodie with a laugh, "Wouldn't be hard to prove."

"I get paid Friday." Ian told Fiona.

"I get paid on Thursday." Hannah added.

"I'll figure out the rest," Fiona nodded, before looking up at the clock, letting out a sigh, "School. Let's go. Everyone out." She said, everyone scrambling to finish getting ready.

"I can loan you the money unless you wanna get it from Tony the cop." Steve rolled his eyes.

"You're still here?" Fiona asked.

"Pay me back or not. Doesn't matter." Steve shrugged.

"You're gonna be late. Go. Everyone out. You too. Out." Fiona directed that last part at her ex.

Hannah turned to Elodie as they exited the house out of the back door, "Ready to run?"

"Always," Elodie laughed, "You not taking a coat?"

"The only way I have of staying warm is a ratty, holey coat and a Canada scarf," Hannah chuckled, "What do you think will draw more attention? That or no coat?"

"Fair enough."

Hannah checked her watch, "Crap, we really need to start running now."

"First to bank buys the other lunch?" Elodie proposed.

"You're fucking on." Hannah smiled, starting to run.

"We didn't say go!" Elodie yelled with a laugh, chasing after the redhead - who only laughed.

―

Hannah crossed her arms, looking at her older brother's beat up face as Fiona went to go and grab Veronica, Frank sitting on the counter with a beer.

"Who did it?" The redhead demanded.

"Doesn't matter." He shrugged.

"Fucking hell, Lip, look at you," The girl sighed, "You want me to shove a tampon up your other nostril?"

"That's not where the blood's coming from."

"Right now," Hannah threatened, "Either you tell me or I'll get it out of Karen."

Lip let out a sigh, wincing in pain, "I may have mouthed off to Mickey Milkovich and his goons."

"You fucking idiot," Hannah shook her head, "Why?"

"Mandy said Ian messed with her."

Hannah glanced over at Frank, who was too indulged with his beer to listen to their conversation, "You mean, like, messed, messed with her?"

"That's what she's telling people." Lip nodded.

"Well we know that's a lie." Hannah said.

"The Milkoviches don't." Lip sighed, as Veronica barged through the front door, Fiona following.

Hannah shook her head, grabbing her denim jacket and opening the back door, "Fuck this shit." She muttered, slamming the door behind her, making her way down the street.

―

Hannah stalked down the alleyway that she followed Mandy to once she had split from her friends, fists clenched, nostrils flaring.

"Hey, Mandy!" She shouted, making the girl turn around.

"Hannah," Mandy nodded as the younger girl advanced towards her, "You got something to sell me?"

Hannah only responded with a glare and a harsh punch to the girl's face, a sickening crack echoing through the alley.

"What the fuck?!" Mandy cried, cradling her nose, wide eyed.

"That's it, I'm done," Hannah told her with a harsh shove, "No more freebies, no more discounts. You and your fucking family are dirt beneath my shoe." She spat.

Mandy glared, slapping the girl, sending her head flying to the side, "What are you on about?"

Hannah chuckled, "That's how we're gonna do this?" She asked, before grabbing the older girl's shoulders, throwing her into the alley wall, sending Mandy to the ground, "Why the fuck did you tell your brothers that Ian messed with you."

Mandy kicked her leg out, tripping Hannah up, the redhead landing on her ass, "Because he fucking did."

Hannah let out a laugh, reaching for her, the pair beginning to wrestle on the ground, "Like fuck he did," She rolled her eyes, sending her another punch to the face, standing up and looking down at her figure on the floor, "More like you tried to fuck him and he turned you down and since you're such a fucking slut, you're not used to that. So to hide your embarrassment, you're saying that he raped you."

Mandy pushed herself up so they were touching toe to toe, anger in her eyes, "Call me a slut again."

Hannah fearlessly met her gaze, "Slut."

Mandy punched her in the face.

"Oh, finally," Hannah chuckled, "You stopped being a pussy and threw a punch," She nodded, wiping her nose, "Aw, and look, there's even blood."

"There's more where that came from, bitch." Mandy spat.

"Bring it, whore."

―

Hannah winced as she made her way up the stairs to the Cuthbert's house, knocking on the door, praying that it was Elodie who answered.

"Oh my God, Hannah."

Never mind.

"Adam," Hannah nodded at him, "Is Elodie in?"

Adam stared at the girl, wide eyed, "N-No. Hannah, what happened to you?"

"Don't worry, just tell her I came by." Hannah rapidly shook her head, tears forming in her eyes feeling a weight on her chest as she began to turn away.

"Han," Adam lightly grabbed her elbow, seeing her wince, as he turned her back to him, "I can't let you go home like that. Let em help you." He begged, wiping away a stray tear, being wary of the bruise forming under her eye.

"Your parents aren't home, are they?" She sniffed.

The boy shook his head, "It's just me. Come on, you're safe. I promise."

―

Sat on Adam's bet, Hannah swallowed thickly as he placed a plaster over one of her many cuts, ice resting on her bruised knuckles.

Adam sighed, putting the first aid box on his bedside table before turning back to the girl - who refused to meet his gaze, "How did you get these injuries, Hannah?"

"You have a lot of knitted sweaters." Hannah said, her eyes trained on his open closet, avoiding the question.

"Hannah," Adam said in a firmer voice, placing his finger under her chin, getting the girl to look at him, "What happened?"

She only shook her head with tears in her eyes, "I can't tell you."

"Yes. You can." The boy stressed.

Hannah shook her head again, adjusting her hands underneath the icepacks, "You'll hate me."

Adam tucked a strand of her messy red hair behind her ear, "I could never hate you," He whispered, "You and Ellie have been really secretive lately. Why?"

Hannah only looked at him, feeling broken, "Once you know, everything will change."

He smiled at her, "Change can be good."

―

"Who's the old lady?" Hannah asked as she entered the Gallagher house, seeing Lip and Ian sitting either side of an old stranger, Debbie holding a camera in her hand.

"Fuck, Han, what happened to you?" Lip asked, as Debbie dragged her to sit on the armrest next to Ian.

"Well, Ian may not have attacked Mandy," Hannah shrugged with a smirk, "But I did."

Her siblings looked at her worriedly.

"Her brothers are gonna be after you too now." Ian told her with a frown.;

Hannah put a hand on his shoulder, "Bring it," She smiled, her split lip making it more difficult to do so, "So, who's the old bat?"

"Fake Aunt Ginger." Lip told her.

"So smile." Debbie said, before taking a photo of the four.

―

Lip, Ian and Hannah crouched by the window in the boys' room, watching Mickey ask Steve where Ian was, the man denying that he was home. The trio ducked away when the Milkovich brothers turned to the house, seeing them.

"Hey, Lip. How's your lip?!" Mickey cried, "Yeah, I saw you up there! Tell your shithead brother we're waiting for him! And tell you carrottop sister she's got hell coming for her, too!"

"Brilliant." Hannah muttered, plopping herself don on Carl's bed, Lip following as Ian leaned against Lip's bed.

"Sorry your faces got busted up." Ian apologised to his siblings.

"It's okay." Lip shrugged, lighting a cigarette.

"Defending the Gallagher honour and all." Hannah chuckled, lighting a cigarette of her own.

"I didn't do anything to Mandy." Ian told them.

"We know that, Ian." Hannah nodded with a small smile.

"But her brothers think you did." Lip added solemnly.

"I mean, she tried to rape me and I pushed her off, and now she's mad." Ian shook her head, reaching over and handing them both a can of beer and a much needed one for himself.

Lip shrugged, "You're probably the first guy in her life who hasn't tried to jump her."

"And we thought Lip was a slut." Hannah chuckled.

"She started screaming and crying." Ian recalled, taking a sip of his beer.

"Maybe you should throw it in her, you know?" Lip suggested with a gesture, "She'll call off her brothers off."

"Yeah. Yeah," Ian sarcastically nodded with a laugh, "And maybe, uh you should throw it in Kash, right?

"Why, is he asking about me?" Lip asked, deadpanned.

"Yeah. He's trying to go through all the Gallagher brothers." Ian chuckled.

"He's counting down the days until Carl hits puberty." Hannah smirked, taking a drag.

"Cool." Lip nodded.

"Heh." Ian laughed, before the siblings all had a frown on their faces.

"Eventually, you're gonna have to take the beatdown for this, you know," Lip told him with a frown, before looking at his younger sister, "You too. But we'll have your back. As always."

Hannah nodded, resting her head on his shoulder.

"Yeah. I know." Ian nodded, falling back on his bed with a grunt.

―

Hannah entered the boys' room with a groan, rubbing the back of her neck as Lip was getting changed.

"I am not sleeping on that couch if we have to borrow Ginger again," She chuckled, before seeing the look on Lip's face, "What?"

"Ian's gone," Lip breathed out, "And so is the bat."

"Shit." Hannah muttered, the pair turning to run downstairs.

―

Ian let out a gasp, almost jumping out of his skin when Lip and Hannah joined him crouched behind the bins across from the Milkovich house.

"Shit," He whispered, "Jesus."

"So, what's the plan?" Lip asked him.

"Hit Mickey over the head when he comes out of the house." Ian said, gripping the bat nervously, his knuckles turning white.

"What about the other brothers?" Hannah raised a bruised eyebrow.

"They'll probably beat me to death." Ian frowned.

Lip and Hannah shared a rock, both picking up a discarded brick from the ground.

"We'll fight them off while you run." Lip told him.

Ian shook his head, "This is my problem, all right, not yours."

"It'll be fun," Lip shrugged, "I owe them one, heh."

"And I just want to punch someone again." Hannah chuckled as the front door opened and Mandy left the house.

"Shit." Ian muttered, before handing Lip the bat and jogging after her.

Hannah and Lip sighed, standing up, ready to be backup.

"You really fucked her up." Lip commented, as they watched Mandy shout at their brother.

Hannah smirked, "Thanks."

"I'm gay." The heard Ian tell her.

"Well shit." Lip and Hannah muttered.

―

"I'm so proud of you, Debs." Hannah whispered as she tucked her younger sister in later that night.

"You are?"

"Yeah," Hannah nodded with a smile, "You were so brave when taking Ginger back. An your rice krispie things. So yummy."

"I'm glad you liked them." Debbie smiled.

"I'm sorry I couldn't be with you today," Hannah frowned, "Lip and I had some stuff to take care of."

"It's okay." Debbie shook her head.

Hannah kissed the girl's forehead, "I'll be back in here in a few hours, okay?"

"Okay," Debbie nodded as Hannah checked on Liam before she started to leave, turning the light off, "Love you."

"Love you, too," Hannah smiled softly at her, quietly closing the door, before walking into the boys' room, "Debs and Liam are out." She smiled, before stopping seeing Mandy sat with Ian on his bed.

The pair stared at each other.

"She's Ian's new beard," Lip told his sister, making her look at him, "And she's called off her brothers."

Hannah only looked at the girl, before smirking, "Nice face."

"And you," Mandy nodded back, "You've got one hell of a right hook."

"Your sweep kick was amazing." Hannah said as she fell down on Carl's bed, the four of them chuckling.

They all sat in silence for a while, Hannah throwing a tennis ball up and down into the air, Lip and Ian both reading a textbook and Mandy drawing on Ian's leg when there was a light knock on the door before Fiona came in, all dressed up.

"Hey, above the covers." She told Ian and Mandy, making the four stifle a laugh.

"You got it." Ian nodded.

"And keep your fists to yourselves." She added, pointing between the girls.

"Aye aye, Captain." Hannah saluted as Fiona left.

"You look nice." Lip called after her.

"Thank you."

The four all shared a look before they started laughing, going back to their separate activities, everything alright again.