―

Hannah grinned down at her phone as she entered the house through the back door, replying to the message she had just received.

"Who's that?" Debbie asked, getting breakfast out with a smirk.

Hannah flushed red, "Shut up."

"Hell Survivors Paintball Field is five miles outside Ann Arbor." Carl said as he and Lip came downstairs - the latter with Liam in his arms.

"What's this about?" Hannah wondered, getting a pop tart out of the cupboard.

"Getting a paintball gun for Michigan." Carl grinned.

"We're not going to Michigan." Lip told them.

"We're not?" Carl asked as he and Debbie sat down at the table.

"No." Hannah said softly with a light shake of her head.

"Fiona said we were." Debbie frowned. 

"Yeah, ah, that's when Jimmy was here. You seen him around lately?" Lip asked, putting Liam in his highchair, "Exactly." He said when he got no answer.

"Did Fiona and Jimmy break up?" Debbie wondered.

"Dunno." Hannah shrugged, breaking off a piece of pop tart and handing to to Lip.

"Fiona barks at us every time I bring it up." Lip told them as he took a bite into his snack.

Debbie's face fell, "But I picked a fight with Becky because I thought I was never gonna see her again."

"See who again?" Fiona asked as she came downstairs, dressed for work - minus a shirt.

"That a new look for work?" Lip smirked.

"If I was working the corner, yeah, but since I'm doing data entry, I better put this on," Fiona rolled her eyes, getting a shirt from the dryer, "Big day today, Lip."

"Yeah, whatever."

"No, it's not a whatever," Fiona denied, "The first Gallagher kid getting his diploma? It's a big deal."

"Who'd you buy it from?" Carl smirked.

"He's getting it fair and square, setting a good example," Fiona told the younger boy, "Pay attention."

"You have to go to some stupid ceremony?" Carl asked.

"No, picking up my diploma at Guidance office and getting the hell out of there." Lip smirked.

"No ceremony in the fall. He'll walk with everyone in the spring," Fiona said, taking the last pop tart from the box in Hannah's hand, making the redhead let out a yell of protest, "Eat a proper breakfast."

"No, he won't." Lip said.

"Yes, he will... and we'll all be there to yell 'Lip!' and embarrass him." Fiona said, leaving the room as Ian came downstairs in his ROTC uniform.

"Morning." The redhead greeted the,

"Wow, Ian, looking sharp." Debbie said.

Ian smiled, taking the last of Hannah's pop tart from her hand, "Thanks."

"I hate this family." Hannah muttered, rolling her eyes as she collected her bag for school.

Lip raised an eyebrow at his brother, "What, you got ROTC on the last day before Christmas break?"

"Yeah, they're having some sort of winter ceremony," Ian nodded, going to leave the house, "Later."

"Finish your breakfast, you guys. No more talk of Michigan." Lip instructed his younger siblings, chasing after Ian.

"Have a good half day, you guys." Hannah told the three of them, kissing each of their heads.

"You going to meet with Adam?" Carl asked with a smirk and a teasing voice.

"Shut it, Asswipe." Hannah flicked the boy's ear, before rushing out through the backdoor.

―

Hannah hummed lightly to herself as she put away her textbooks into her locker when she felt a pair of hands on her waist. Tensing, she thrust her elbow back, landing a harsh blow to the person's stomach.

"Oh, Jeez."

The redhead's eyes widened at the familiar voice, quickly turning around to see Adam bent over, clutching his stomach, "Oh my God," Her hands came up to her mouth, "I am so sorry."

"It's okay," The boy shook his head, standing up straight with a slight wince, "At least now I know never to do that again."

Hannah cringed, "Instincts from the Southside."

"Yeah, I gathered," Adam chuckled, making the girl do the same as they looked at each other with a small smile, "Hi."

"Hi." Hannah grinned back at him.

"Oh my God, is this what I'm gonna have to deal with for the rest of my life." Elodie groaned, leaning dramatically against the row of lockers.

Hannah rolled her eyes, "This coming from the girl who spent an hour talking about her latest date on Taylor Swift night last week."

"Yeah, but it's different," Elodie said, "You just had to hear it, I actually have to see it."

Adam rolled his eyes at his twin before raising an eyebrow at Hannah, "Was that noise your stomach?"

"Everyone keeps stealing my pop tarts." Hannah frowned.

Adam let out a small laugh, taking the girl's hand, "Let's go get you something from the vending machine." He said, lightly tugging on her hand and leading her down the hall.

"Yeah, I'll come too, I guess." Elodie rolled her eyes and closing Hannah's locker, although she couldn't help but grin as she watched her brother and best friend walk down the hall.

"Hey, you too." Hannah called back to the brunette, holding out her other hand, which Elodie took as they walked to get the redhead something to eat.

―

"You're awful at this." Hannah chuckled as Adam missed his target again.

"There's a reason I do music instead of PE." The boy chuckled.

"Really?" Hannah cocked her head, "I thought that was just because you're a loser."

Adam let out a gasp, taking a handful of popcorn from the bowl between them and throwing it at the girl across from him.

"Jokes on you," Hannah smiled, picking some up, "More for me," She said, standing up, "Beer?"

"Yes please." Adam smiled as Hannah leaned down, placing a light kiss on his lips before she walked into the kitchen.

"You guys seem happy." Ian noted from where he was sat at the counter.

Hannah blushed with a smile, "Yeah. We are."

"I'm happy for you guys." The older redhead said, making Hannah raise an eyebrow at the look on her brother's face.

"What's going on?" She asked him as she took the cap off of both the beers.

Ian chuckled, "Can't hide anything from you, can I?"

"Never." Hannah smiled.

"I'm enlisting."

Hannah's eyebrows shot up, "What?"

"In the army."

"Yeah, well I didn't think you meant in the morris dancer's society."

"It's what I need to do, Han." Ian told her.

Hannah sighed, rubbing her forehead before asking, "You got a fake ID?"

Ian nodded, "Getting one tomorrow. Before I go."

"You gonna be stupid and get caught for pretending to be Lip?"

"Not a chance."

Hannah nodded, swallowing thickly before looking at her older brother with a small smile, "You better call me when your gone."

Ian nodded with with a smile, "Every week."

―

"So, Frank's in hospital?" Elodie asked as she and Hannah put the banner back up.

"Yep." Hannah nodded.

"How you feeling about that?"

The redhead shrugged, "Was only a matter of time. It's them I'm worried about." She frowned, turning to look at where her younger three sibling were laughing with Adam, making her smile a little.

Elodie grinned at the look on her best friend's face as they stepped down from the chairs they were stood on, "I know I make jokes and stuff, but I'm really happy for both of you. Really."

Hannah blushed as they moved the chairs back to the dining table, "Thanks. That's, uh, that's something I wanted to talk to you about."

"What do you mean?"

"I need your help with something."

―

The sun had barely risen when Ian left the house, jumping when he saw Hannah leant against the front gate.

"Thought you could leave without saying goodbye?" She asked.

Ian grinned, pulling his younger sister into a warm bear hug, "Stay out of trouble, okay?"

"Only if you do too." Hannah told him with a smile, though her voice was firm.

"Of course," Ian nodded, kissing her forehead, "See ya, Han."

"See ya, Ian." The girl smiled softly as she watched her brother walk away from the house.

"Oh, and tell Adam that if he hurts you, I'll break him." Ian called back.

Hannah smirked slightly, "Trust me. He knows," She told her brother, before muttering to herself, "He'd never hurt me."

―

Hannah wiped her hands on her jeans as she came through the backdoor of the house.

"You two digging up another dead body?" Lip asked from the table.

Hannah chuckled, getting a beer from the fridge, "Yeah, Ellie wacked out some bitch in our Math class. Had it coming," She said, making Lip laugh as he looked back down at the paper in his hands, "What's that?" Hannah asked.

Lip handed it to her, "I got in."

A grin spread across Hannah's lips, "Oh my God! Lip!" She cried, pulling him into a hug.

"A full ride."

"I'm so fucking proud of you," Hannah muttered into his shoulder, "Told you you'd do it."

―

"What're you doing?" Adam asked with a fond smile as Hannah directed him where to stand in her backyard.

"Just stay here and shut up."

"Yes ma'am." Adam chuckled.

"Okay," Hannah let out a deep breath as she moved to the middle of the yard, "So, this is probably super cheesy and stupid and now I'm regretting this. Let's just go back inside, it's cold and it's snowing."

"Hey," Adam said softly, lightly grabbing her arms so she couldn't pass him back to her room, "Whatever this is, I'm sure I'll love it."

Hannah winced, "And you won't make fun of me?"

"Only a little." Adam promised.

"Okay, that I can deal with." Hannah chuckled to herself, walking back to where she was a moment ago. Crouching down, she picked up two cables that Adam had only just realised was there and she connected the two.

The backyard lit up and fairy lights that were strung around the garden twinkled in the dark, winter night, looking like stars among the fallen snow. By her feet there was a picnic blanket with two bowls and a cereal box placed on top of it.

"I thought we could have our first proper date." Hannah said, nervously playing with her fingers.

Adam didn't reply, only taking a few steps forwards and taking her face in his hands and kissing her passionately.

As they pulled away, Hannah asked, "I'm guessing you like it?"

"No, this is the worst thing anyone's ever done for me," Adam rolled his eyes, making them both laugh, "Of course I like it."

"Ellie helped me."

"Of course she did."

"There was also something I wanted to ask you." Hannah added quietly.

"Yeah?" Adam prompted her with a kind smile.

"Do you, uh, do you want to be my boyfriend?"

The boy couldn't help the grin that spread across his face, "Fuck yes."