―

Hannah let out a shriek as Adam hoisted her further up his back, "Make me drop my beer and I'll murder you." She told him, clutching the drink that was in paper bag in her hands.

"Oh, I believe that." The boy chuckled, his sister shaking her head next to him as they walked down Hannah's street.

"Did you get that letter about the textbooks?" Elodie wondered, glancing up at Hannah.

The redhead nodded with a frown, "Yep. How I'm gonna pay for them I have no idea. And you guys even dare do it yourselves." She held her finger up before Elodie could offer.

"I thought your scholarship came with the textbooks and stuff." Adam said.

"Not these ones apparently." Hannah rolled her eyes as they approached the Gallagher house, all three of them freezing once they saw who was stood in front of the gate, talking to Fiona.

"Holy shit." Elodie muttered.

It was then that they were noticed.

"Oh, hey guys." Steve smiled, sending them a wave.

Hannah eyed the man carefully, glancing between him and Fiona, "You're back." She noted as Adam gently lowered her from his back.

Steve nodded, "I'm back."

Hannah glanced over at her sister, raising an eyebrow, gaining a small nod in return. She let out a hum, "Okay then." She muttered, taking the last swig of her beer as she, Adam and Elodie passed Steve.

"Still a borderline alcoholic, Hannah?" Steve asked after her with a smile.

Hannah glanced back at the man as they entered the house, "Still an asshole, Steven?"

―

Hannah let out a small sigh as she descended the stairs into the kitchen, going ot grab some beers for herself and the twins, stopping when she saw the woman sat at the table, "Grammy."

The older woman looked over to her, "Hannah," She smiled, opening her arms for the girl to hug her - which she did tightly, "How are you, Sugar?"

"I'm good thanks," Hannah nodded, pulling away from the embrace and going over to the fridge, "What happened to prison? Run out of good pussy?"

Peggy let out a laugh, "Something like that. You been up to trouble this Summer? There's only one right answer."

"'Course I have." Hannah shrugged, turning back to the woman after grabbing three beers.

"Atta girl," Peggy smiled, Hannah kissing her cheek before she went back upstairs, "I knew there was a reason for you being my favourite Gallagher."

"Please," Hannah called back down the stairs, "I'm everyone's favourite Gallagher."

―

"Married?" Hannah and Veronica cried from where they were sat on the counter, eating chicken as they watched Fiona do laundry.

Fiona nodded, "Yeah, to some teenager from Brazil."

"She cute?" Veronica wondered as Debbie came down the stairs.

Fiona nodded again, frowning, "Very."

"Who's cute?" Debbie asked.

"Chicken in the bucket." Fiona told her, gesturing to the bucket that Hannah was holding out to the girl, who eagerly took a wing.

"Steve's back, married to some South American teenager." Veronica informed Debbie.

The girl's eyebrows shot up, "Really?"

Veronica nodded, before turning back to Fiona, "So, what did Aaron do?"

"Took off, left me there." Fiona sighed.

"Can't blame him." Hannah and Veronica chorused, making them high-five.

"How's Ethel doing?" Fiona asked Veronica as Carl and Ian joined them for chicken.

"She's in shock, I think. Poor thing," Veronica frowned, "Husband murdered in prison."

Hannah hummed, cocking her head to the side, "Predator husband."

"Mm. Who got murdered?" Ian asked through a mouthful of chicken.

"Ethel's husband, Clyde." Debbie told him.

"Mm."

"Cool." Carl grinned.

"Kev thinks the state might send her back to that cult now that her sclerotic husband is dead." Veronica said with a slight frown.

"Grammy still here?" Ian asked.

"Mm-mm," Debby shook her head, "Left with Frank."

"Somewhere in Chicago a priest is being mugged." Veronica hummed, Hannah chuckling as Lip entered through the back door

"Lip, there's chicken," Fiona told the boy, who took a wing, holding his middle finger up at Ian, shoving it in his brother's face as he walked by. Fiona let out a loud sigh, "Still?" She huffed as Ian went upstairs.

"What's that all about?" Veronica asked.

Fiona frowned, "Karen, I think."

"It's always about fucking Karen." Hannah rolled her as she and Debbie left the kitchen with their chicken.

The youngest sister let out a groan, exclaiming, "Will this summer ever end?"

―

"I know that I was invited, but why the fuck do I have to go?" Hannah asked as she and the twins were walking down the street to the Jackson house, "Karen and I have never gotten along."

"Because it's the right thing to do." Elodie reminded her.

"So?"

Elodie sighed, "There'll be free food and booze."

"Fair point." Hannah nodded as they reached the gate of the house.

"Is that Lip?" Adam asked, gesturing across the road, the two girls following his gaze.

Hannah frowned, "You guys go inside. I'll see you in a second," She told the pair, before crossing the street, standing in front of her brother - who was sat on the curb, halfway through the cans of beer by his side - looking at him with her hands on her hip, "Go home, Lip. It's no good sitting here and torturing yourself."

Lip didn't answer, he only continued to stare ahead at the house. Hannah sighed, sitting next to him on the curb and taking the can of beer from his hands as Lip rested his head on the girl's shoulder.

―

Hannah and Elodie stood with Fiona, Kevin and Veronica, the five of them staring at, and judging, Tony's latest girlfriend.

"I'm telling you, you can't turn a whore into a housewife," Veronica laughed, making the others do so, too, Elodie choking on her wine. Veronica's eyes then went wide as she looked over at the front door, "Wow. She's gorgeous." She commented, heads turning to see Steve walking in with his new wife.

Hannah rolled her eyes, glaring in the couple's direction, "Looks like a hooker." She muttered, Fiona elbowing her lightly in the side.

"You really did him in the bathroom?" Kevin asked with a chuckle, Elodie once again choking on her drink.

"What?!"

"No, I didn't," Fiona glared at Kevin, then at her best friend, "Oh, thanks, V."

Kevin glanced at his wife, "You said she did him in the bathroom."

"I said she almost did." Veronica corrected him.

"Why'd you have to tell him anything?" Fiona asked.

"She's my wife, she has to tell me." Kevin shrugged.

"Hey, I don't have to tell you shit." Veronica scoffed, her husband only letting out a snicker.

―

Peggy eyed Hannah as she came downstairs into the kitchen, the dress she wore to the Jackson's folded and tucked neatly under her arm.

"That's a pretty piece." The woman commented.

Hannah glanced over at her grandmother, grabbing herself an apple for breakfast, "Hey. I see they didn't arrest you for yesterday. Less pussy for, I guess," She shrugged, Peggy chuckling, "And thanks. It's Ellie's. I'm gonna go return it now."

Peggy nodded with a small hum, "Ah, yes. The rich girl."

Hannah chuckled leaning against the counter, "That's her."

"Her brother seems very fond of you." Peggy said, making Hannah's movements falter as she got herself some coffee, before she managed to correct her posture.

"Well, he's a very good friend."

"Yes," Peggy nodded, "A friend. He was talking to me about your school and how they're making you buy new textbooks, even though you have a scholarship."

Hannah nodded with a sigh, "Yeah, it sucks. Gonna have to work some extra shifts to get them."

"No you won't," Peggy shook her head, making Hannah raise an eyebrow, "Here." The older woman said, picking up a stack of large, hardback textbooks from the chair and placing them onto the table with a loud thud.

"Grammy?" Hannah wondered, walking forwards and gently running her fingers over the textbooks.

"I've missed a lot of your life and I need to start making up for that," Peggy said, "You shouldn't have to worry about books for school."

Hannah smiled, hugging the woman, "Thanks, Grammy."

"No worries, Sugar. Like I said, you're my favourite."