Alyssa sat with Theodora, listening to various records and relaxing.

Theodora, lying stretched out on her stomach, looked nothing like a rockstar's daughter in her navy tracksuit bottoms and a hot pink t-shirt.
She simply looked like any other fifteen year old girl.

There was a knock on the door and, when Theodora called, "Come in," her mother looked into the room.

"Everything alright? You got clothes I see Alyssa."

"Everything's fine, thank you Mrs Richards," said Alyssa with a shy smile.

Patti smiled.
"Hansen actually," she corrected gently, pushing a stray strand of blonde hair out of her eyes.
"But call me Patti."

"Mum kept her maiden name when she married," Theodora explained.

Alyssa nodded in understanding.

"How're the ribs?" Patti asked.

"Painkillers are still working."

"Good. Just let someone know if you need more okay?"

"I will," Alyssa replied, though privately thinking that they didn't need to waste their painkillers on her. She didn't deserve them.

"You know where the bathroom is if you want to shower or bath and Theo will lend you pyjamas tonight and clothes tomorrow, won't you?"

"Of course Mum," answered Theodora.

Patti smiled at her daughter, then at Alyssa.

"Is Dad still in his study?" Theodora asked.

"Yeah. He's playing guitar in there. Ronnie and Krissy are dog walking with Shirley."

"What's Alex up to?"

"Her and Sally are watching something downstairs, taking advantage of the fact the television is free."

"Why? Where are Calvin and Austin?"

"Outside kicking a ball around," Patti answered, resting her hip against the door frame as she turned her gaze onto Alyssa.

"What's your father's name?"

"Joshua," said Alyssa quietly.
"Joshua O' Connor."

"Alright, thanks," said Patti.

Alyssa didn't ask why she wanted to know.
She figured it was probably something to do with the Stones adopting her.

Theodora turned to flip the record they were listening to over and Patti smirked slightly.
"Alice Cooper I'm guessing Theo?"

"Of course," Theodora replied with a grin.

Patti shook her head with a smile as she turned to leave the room.

"Shopping trip tomorrow morning Alyssa," she said over her shoulder.

"Okay," Alyssa agreed reluctantly, not really liking the idea of someone spending their money to buy her things.

"I'm taking you shopping, buying you clothes and things and you're going to fucking like it, okay?"

Alyssa was slightly shocked to hear Patti curse, then realised she was married to Keith, who had cursed several times since she'd met him.

She nodded and Patti smiled.

"I'll be in the living room if you want me," she said, closing the door behind herself.

"I like your mum," Alyssa said to Theodora.

Theodora smiled.
"Good. I can tell she likes you too."

She flipped onto her back, humming along to "Bed of Nails."

"Where do you get your records?"

"Usually directly from the artists if dad's friends with them, like Alice. Some I buy. And the Stones I get from them, obviously."

"Your father is friends with Alice Cooper?!"

Theodora nodded, humming again.
"Yeah he is. Alice, or Vincent as Dad calls him, drops by here whenever he can and sends out tickets when he's playing nearby."

"Vincent?"

"His real name is Vincent something Furnier. Nobody usually calls him that except his wife, but Dad and Mick both do it to annoy him. They get on very well, like kids who went to school together."

Alyssa smiled.
"I like the idea of rockstars being friends with other rockstars," she said.

"Yeah, most of the bands who formed around the same time are all fairly good friends. Ronnie and Angus Young go out for drinks occasionally," said Theodora.

"AC/DC's Angus Young?"

"Yeah. Him, Ronnie and Charlie are all pretty close."

"Have you met him?" asked Alyssa.

"Yeah. I've met all the current members of AC/DC. Saw them live twice last year," Theodora replied, running a hand through her hair.

"Do Angus and Keith get on?"

"Sometimes."
Theodora adjusted the volume on the record player as the door opened.

"Alyssa, our charming lead singer would like to see you," said Charlie, looking irritated.
"He's in the attic."

"Okay."
She went out to the landing to find the attic ladder already down and climbed it to emerge in the room beyond.

In contrast to Keith's study, Mick's was immaculate.
A microphone stood at one end of the space, along with an acoustic guitar and several sets of maracas.

Mick was sitting writing something behind a pine desk and didn't seem to have noticed Alyssa.

She stood awkwardly, having been taught by her father not to draw attention to herself.

Finally, Mick laid his pen aside and looked up.
"Sorry Alyssa. You should have said something," he told her, his smile revealing very even teeth.

He nodded at a chair.
"Sit down, and stop looking at me as if I'm going to eat you."

Alyssa sat, fiddling with the belt loops of Theodora's jeans.
Mick rested his elbows on the desk, surveying her over his linked fingers.

"So," he said after a moment, "your name's Alyssa, you're fifteen with an abusive father, obsessed with our music and about to be officially adopted by us."

"That all sounds correct, Mr Jagger."

"Mick," he corrected.
"Though, if you're going to use my last name, it's "Sir Jagger," actually."

He pushed a piece of paper over to her.
"Sign that, using one of our last names. It doesn't matter which."

Alyssa thought for a second about which name to use.
She settled on Richards, simply because she liked the idea of having the same last name as Theodora.

Mick smiled as he tucked the paper into the pocket of his jeans.

"If Patti's taking you shopping, she can take Keith with her and get the adoption shit sorted tomorrow."

Alyssa nodded.
"That sounds good."

Mick stood up and they exited the attic together.

"D'you know where Keith is?"

"In his study according to Patti."

Alyssa bit her lip.

"What?" Mick asked.

"Why me? What made you adopt me?" she asked.

"We'd been watching you in the shop and Keith knew your ribs hurt. He actually thought they were probably cracked and argued with me until I agreed to go in so we could talk to you. So, thanks to Keith's stubbornness, you're going to become Alyssa Richards tomorrow."

"Can I go and thank him?"

"Yeah of course," said Mick.

He smiled and they parted ways, Alyssa going to Keith's study, knocking nervously on the door.

"Come in."

Keith was back on the sofa, a leather-bound book open on his lap.
Jack the terrier was curled up next to him.

He set the book aside with a smile as Alyssa came in.

"I want to thank you for persuading Mick to agree to adopt me."

Keith waved a hand.
"Don't mention it Alyssa."
He thought for a moment.
"I suppose I have to go and sign adoption papers or some other shit tomorrow?"

"I think so."

He rolled his eyes.
"Load of fucking bullshit. Are you going to become Alyssa Richards then?"

"Yes. I like the idea of sharing a last name with Theodora and Mick says you persuaded the rest of them to go in and talk to me so I think it fits. Do...do you mind?"

"No Alyssa, I certainly don't. I've known you for a few hours and feel like you're my daughter already. And I know the old lady feels the same way," he replied with a chuckle.

"Who?" Alyssa asked.

"Patti," he answered, smiling.

Then he stood up.
"I'm going to make tea, do you want to come with me?"

She shook her head.
"Thank you but I think I'll go back to Theodora and whatever record she's switched to now."

Keith smiled.
"Tell her to let you hear some Muddy Waters. One of the Stones biggest influences."

"I will," said Alyssa with a smile as she left the study.

She spent another hour or so listening to music with Theodora, then got changed into pyjamas.

"What time do you go to bed?" she asked Theodora, who shrugged.
"It varies. But I like lying in my pjs."

She yawned and stood up.
"Come on. I'll find you a toothbrush and stuff."

They washed, then got into bed. "D'you want more painkillers before you go to sleep?" Theodora asked.

"I'm okay, thanks."

"You'll fall off the bed. Come here. "

Alyssa slowly moved nearer to Theodora.

An arm was laid over her hips, pulling her closer. She tensed and Theodora's hand lightly stroked the skin above her pyjama bottoms.

"It's okay. Nobody here is going to hurt you."

"Keith's got a temper," Alyssa remarked.

"He does but he's also got enough decency not to raise his hand to a woman. So you don't need to be afraid of him."

Theodora slowly started to rub Alyssa's back, relaxing her body and sending her drifting off to sleep.