Disclaimer: I don't own anything! It's been a while & now that my first year of college is over & I've had a day or two of summer off, I've thought about revising this story; just to make it a little more mature. Well there's going to be a lot of stuff you won't get (I don't even understand it O.o) Anyway, some people have been asking me about Alex's race. Well she's Black. So…yeah. Uh, and don't ask me why I gave her a southern accent.

Chapter 1: "Harassment?"

The activity at the BenBow Inn was serene, far from normalcy since it had been rebuilt six years earlier. The dining area was relatively quiet, save for the occasional laugh or polite spawned conversation from the patrons and the clink of silverware. With business slow for the evening, Jim Hawkins attempted to persuade his mother to take a well needed break.

"You've been on your feet all day. Just take a load off."

"Jim I've been running this place since before you were born. As I recall we bought this place when I was pregnant with you."

"Even more reason for you to stay off your feet. When's the last time you took a vacation?"

"Is this your way of saying I'm old?" Her son chuckled, hands raised in self defense.

"I made no such inference. But I'll take over, it's not like we're busy." Drawing a chair for his mother she collapsed in it with a sigh, staring after the twenty-one year old as he grabbed a dish pan and collected the plates and cups of the former guests. She beamed at the prospect of having her son back home. Sarah had missed him terribly while he had been away at the Interstellar Academy and had needed his help to keep the inn running. Although she had had help from B.E.N. it hadn't been the same.

The peaceful atmosphere within the BenBow darkened and churned instantaneously as the front door was roughly shoved open; the sight of Alexandria Michaels sandwiched between two robotic cops' dawned silence and curiosity. "Mr. Michaels?" One mechanical voice implored. A man standing by the fire place with his wife closed his weary eyes, suppressing his anger and disbelief and approached the three figures in the doorway.

"What can I do fer ya gentlemen?" He questioned with an amiable smile, clasping his hands together.

"Your daughter was once again apprehended while vandalizing private property."

"You say private, I say unnecessarily sanctioned off to the public." The dog humanoid muttered, her silver eyes fixed on her worn boots. Ignoring her comment the cop on her right added,

"Violating law 904, section-"

"I'm sure he gets it by now at least."

"I suggest you learn some manners young lady." The robot to her left cautioned, his mechanized grip tightening on her shoulder. "Unless you'd prefer to add 'harassing an officer' to your list?"

"They call it 'harassment' now these days? Mmm, I'll show you some harassing like you'll never believe." She looked up at the officer with eyes hinting to a sexual nature, arching her back ever so slightly to place her cleavage on display.

"Young lady-"

"Now, now officers." Her father interrupted. "Please 'scuse her. I assure ya she understands the charges. I promise it won't happen again."

"See to it. If it does we will not we won't be obligated to return her into your custody."

"Indeed." The cop on the right agreed. "Her next stop will be the county jail and arraignment. We've placed beyond enough leniency on her. She's lucky every cell in the precinct is beyond capacious."

"Understood." The robot who demonstrated a bit of an attitude, the one that had gripped her shoulder moments before, tipped his cap to a brunette haired man nestling a dish pan at his side. Jim cocked his head in equal acknowledgement. Once the cops had vacated she muttered,

"Ya oil-sucking, cog-run pieces of junkyard shi-"

"Alex." The tone in her father's voice was sardonic but hushed while the other patrons returned to their former indulgences, tossing aside the previous incident, publicly at least. "Them bots have shown up here so many times I know 'em by name."

"Ain't like it's hard to remember. They're just numbers." Emboldened by the attention she flashed her father a smirk before turning on her heels and heading for the door.

"And where the hell do you think you're going?" She didn't miss a beat.

"Out." His calloused hand gripped her elbow, whipping her around to face him.

"Oh no, you can get your narrow arse upstairs." Silver eyes narrowed and absentmindedly she bared her teeth in awaited confrontation. "Now!" Tugging her across the span of the dining area she managed to uphold what miserable shred of her dignity she had left. Just as the pair ascended the staircase her eyes caught the intrepid glance of the man the cops had motioned to. She'd moved in no more than two months ago but had yet to see this guy before. He was kind of cute, if you liked the Good Samaritan type; the type that was easy to fall for her tricks but would hand out money just to be nice. Staring however had its consequences- she nearly missed a step. His wife quietly crossed the threshold after them, mouthing an apology to Mrs. Hawkins.

~8~

"Do ya or don't ya understand how bad of a situation you're in? One more slip-up and they're hauling your ass outta here."

"Tanner, dear, don't you think you re being a little too hard on her?" His wife asked, lightly touching his arm.

"She's gotta learn that all these stunts she's been pullin' lately are gonna catch up wit' her. She's eighteen for star's sake. She'll learn, she'll have ta. Girls like her don't last too long, not in da real world." He roughly shrugged Lindsey's hand from his forearm.

"And what? You think your some hot shot? You couldn't have lasted a day without me." Alex smirked, pushing herself from the wall with her foot.

"What are ya blubbering on about?"

"Who's the only one bringin' in any cash? You haven't had a job in four years. Face it, without me you'd be nothing. And neither would your uppity whore." His fist collided with her face; a blow that could well have knocked her out sent bright lights dancing before her eyes.

"Look you ungrateful little chit- I've worked myself to the bone to provide for you. And this is the thanks I get? You quittin' school, coming home at all hours of the night, drunk; got 'em damned bots showin' up at our door."

"Yeah, well, like father like daughter." Despite that the blow made her vision double she straightened her spine, throwing him a smoldering gaze.

"You just remember somethin'- you're worth whatever you can do on your back." Storming from the room Alex slammed the door with enough force to shake the walls. Cursing beneath her breath deterred the rest of her senses as she stomped down the stairs and upon turning the corner she collided into someone. "Watch where the fuck-" She blinked hard realizing that a slightly flustered Jim stood before her with a teetering pile of dishes. "Sorry."

"No harm done uh..."

"Alex. I wager you're Mrs. Hawkins boy?"

"Yeah. Call me Jim." He smirked and in consequence two dimples embedded in his cheeks. He was even cuter up close but with her luck there was probably someone in his picture. "You alright?" She crossed her arms over her chest.

"It ain't as big a deal as they make it out to be. They act as though I'm the only one raising hell, those bots just won't get off my- Eh, never mind."

"What? No I meant your lip." Gingerly pressing her fingers to her mouth Alex assessed that her bottom lip was split but judging that the cut wasn't so deep that she'd need stitches, she waved away his concern.

"It's fine. No worries." Jim didn't buy her apathetic monotone however. Setting the plates on a nearby table he patted his hands on the tattered apron at his waist.

"You sure know how to take a hit."

"I get into scrapes all the time." With little concern for her personal space, Jim took her chin in his hand, his thumb lightly pressed to her lip to inspect.

"Your father did this, didn't he?"

"Ya know what boy scout-" She swatted his hand away. "You're one nosey ass dude. People have been killed over lesser things." With that she turned on her heels and headed out the front door, leaving Jim to stare dumbfounded after her. What the hell was that supposed to mean?

"'Those cops just won't get off my back.' Now where have I heard that before?" Sarah smiled, lightly clutching her son's shoulder. "Face it; she's just as stubborn as you are."

"Were-past tense." His face darkened at what Alex hadn't said. Was she afraid or just loyal? "Maybe I should have a talk with this Mr. Michaels-"

"Jim, it's not your place. Let them settle it." He nodded absentmindedly glancing out the window as Alex slipped into the hazy distance, her thick black tail wagging languidly behind her. "Could you bring those in here?" His mother called from the kitchen; he hadn't noticed the empty space at his side.

"Sure." He replied gathering the dishes.