Alyssa was awoken by Theodora getting out of bed.
"What time is it?" she asked sleepily.

"Damn, I was trying not to wake you. It's nearly ten," answered Theodora, stepping into a pair of slippers and lifting a dressing gown.

Alyssa ran a hand through her hair as she got out of bed.

Theodora tossed her a dressing gown.
"Don't bother getting dressed. Nobody cares how much time you spend in your pjs here. You can shower and dress before you go shopping, which probably won't be until two or three."

Alyssa slipped the dressing gown around her shoulders.

"How're your ribs?" Theodora asked.

"A little sore. Nothing too bad and definitely better than they were yesterday," answered Alyssa with a smile.

Theodora smiled back, leaving the room with her.

They met Patti on the landing, tying the belt of a leopard-print dressing gown.

"Morning Mum," said Theodora, wrapping her arms around her in a hug.

Patti returned the hug, kissed her daughters forehead, then turned to Alyssa, opening her arms.

Alyssa hesitated. Theodora nudged her.

"Go give Mum a hug. That's all she wants."

"She doesn't have to hug me Theo." Patti said gently. "Hugs are a choice."

Alyssa stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Patti's waist. Deciding she liked and trusted her enough to hug her.

Patti gently returned the hug.
"How are your ribs?" she asked.

"Okay," Alyssa replied. She hadn't moved out of Patti's arms yet, finding she liked the hug.

Finally, Patti released her.
"You didn't mind the long hug?" she asked.

Alyssa shook her head, following Patti and Theodora to the kitchen.

Shirley was sitting reading a magazine, a steaming mug in front of her.
Buddy sat beside her, his head on her knee and she occasionally scratched his ears between sips of tea or turning a page.

She glanced up with a smile.
"Morning."

"Morning," Alyssa replied, watching as Theodora put bread into the toaster.

"Is anyone else up Shirley?" asked Patti, feeling the kettle before flicking the switch.

"Mick's boys, Ronnie and Charlie, who's showering," answered Shirley.

Theodora glanced at Alyssa. "Toast and tea okay for breakfast? Or I'll do some eggs and-" she glanced into the fridge "-sausages if you like."

"Toasts fine," said Alyssa.

Patti set a steaming mug in front of her, along with the milk.
"You don't take sugar do you?"

She shook her head, thanked Patti and put milk into her tea.

Theodora set two slices of toast in front of her after a moment.

As she was eating, Charlie came into the kitchen, kissing Shirley's head as he sat down beside her.

He smiled at Alyssa, then glanced at Patti. "Is there tea made?"

"Kettle's just boiled."

Patti put sausages into a frying pan.
"Keep an eye on them, I'm going to wake your dad," she told Theodora, who raised an eyebrow.
"He won't like that."

"He won't mind getting up early for once. Besides, it's me waking him."

Alyssa glanced curiously at Theodora as Patti left the kitchen.

"Dad usually sleeps until about midday and hates being woken. He sleeps with a pistol under his pillow when on tour if Mum isn't there, which she hasn't been for a while now."

"Does he have a pistol under his pillow here?"

Theodora shook her head. "Mum won't let him sleep with one. He used to before they started living together."

She turned the sausages, then put more bread into the toaster.

"Butter on the table. Jam, marmalade stuff like that in that cupboard," she said, indicating the cupboard and returning her attention to the sausages again.

"Can I have jam?" Alyssa asked quietly.

Charlie looked up.
"You can eat whatever you like, whenever you like in this house. Eat when you're hungry, regardless of what anyone else is doing. Dinner is the only meal where we sit together and even then, Keith's rarely there."

Austin came into the kitchen in his boxers.

Alyssa averted her eyes, fixing them on the slice of toast she was putting jam onto.

"Put some clothes on," said Shirley.

"Why?" Austin asked as he rinsed a mug sitting on the draining board.

"Because I said so."

"You're not my mother," muttered Austin, spooning coffee into his mug.

Shirley rolled her eyes.
"You need a serious lesson in respect, Austin Basil Jagger."

Austin muttered something under his breath as he finished making his coffee and left the kitchen again.

"Prat," Theodora muttered softly as she took the sausages out of the frying pan.

"Who's a prat?"

Keith came into the kitchen in a pair of pyjama bottoms.

"Austin. Morning Dad," replied Theodora, reaching up to kiss his cheek.

He ruffled her hair, returning the kiss. "Morning Theo."

She smiled, nodding at the sausages.
"I made you breakfast while Mum was waking you."

Keith smiled, sitting down as Patti came back into the kitchen. She laid a t-shirt over his shoulder, kissing the top of his head. He pulled the t-shirt on as his daughter set a plate in front of him.

"Thanks Theo. Alyssa, have you eaten?"

She nodded, watching as he upended a bottle of brown sauce over his sausages.

He glanced at Theodora. "You couldn't have done mash and onions too love?" he asked, a sparkle in his eyes. "Especially considering you woke me at this ungodly hour."

"Mum woke you actually," Theodora pointed out. "And no, nobody eats mash for breakfast."

"Toast then," Keith said with a grin.

Patti put bread into the toaster as she made two mugs of tea.

Alyssa finished her breakfast.

"Shall I teach you how to use our shower?" Theodora asked as she drained her mug of tea.

"Alright."
Alyssa stood, leaving her empty mug in the sink before following her to the bathroom.

After a shower, she sat in the kitchen listening to "Dead Flowers" playing on the record player in the living room, waiting for Patti and Keith to shower.

Patti appeared first, announced by the click of heels on the wooden hall floor. Keith appeared shortly after, his dark hair still wet.

"Are we ready?" Patti asked.

Alyssa nodded, slipping on her battered runners and standing up, following them out.

"D'you want to drive love?" Keith asked, keys dangling from his fingers.

"As long as you don't smoke," Patti said teasingly, taking the keys and getting in.

"Custody office or shopping first?"

"Custody office. It'll take longer," replied Patti. "Plus the shops are open late tonight anyway."

They got in, Keith shifting his seat back and propping his feet on the dashboard as he pulled a tape out of the glove compartment and put it into the player.

"No, it's not the Winos," he said with a slight smile as his wife glanced over. "It's the Stones. "Beggars Banquet."

Patti rolled her eyes as they pulled out of Evercreek's drive. "Do I really have to listen to Mick on tape as well as in person?"

"Just listen to my guitar."

Alyssa settled back in her seat as the music started, humming quietly.

Keith rolled the window down slightly. "Do you mind if I smoke Alyssa?"

She shook her head, Patti glaring playfully at him.

Keith lit a cigarette and they drove in silence apart from the tape in the player, finally pulling up into a parking space in front of a building Alyssa assumed was the custody office.

A/N So, not the most exciting of chapters. Blame writer's block.
"It's a bitch."

Also, I'm going to see the Stones in person!
May 17th, Croke Park, Dublin!!