"Hey baby, yeah sorry I'm running a little late," Allie spoke down her phone, forcing some paperwork into her bag that hung loosely off her left shoulder. It had been a long day at work, made longer by the hour later she stayed to finish a report. It wasn't overly unusual for the blonde to leave work late, she was dedicated and loved her job but sometimes, knowing her girlfriend was waiting at home, there was nothing she wanted to do more than finish up, get home and enjoy spending the rest of the evening together. It's exactly what they should have been doing round about now. "Is there anything you want me to pick up on my way back?... Okay, yeah sure. I can't wait to see you either, I won't be long, see you soon,"

Hanging up the phone, Allie drove the short distance to the shops to pick up some supplies for the evening. A bottle of wine was top of her own personal shopping list. It usually was when a day off was on the horizon. It had been a long, busy week and a glass or two of white was the perfect remedy. She paid for her small bag of groceries, tucking her purse inside her bag whilst attempting to fish out the car keys when leaving the store. It was only a thirty second walk back to the car, the blonde walked a short distance along the path, allowing a few vehicles to pass before attempting to cross but her attention was jolted elsewhere when she tripped over someone, almost seeing the concrete at a much closer distance. What a bloody place to rest your legs, she thought, composing herself.

"Shit. I'm so sorry," Allie cursed, apologising once then twice. "I didn't see you sat down there,"

"It's alright, no harm done," the young girl spoke quietly, barely enough for the blonde to hear as she rearranged her dark grey hoody over her head. Allie frowned, straight away sensing something wasn't right. She looked no more than sixteen, maybe seventeen at a push. It was getting late and this wasn't really a place to just hangout. Especially for a young girl on her own. "You can stop staring and keep walking you know,"

"Are you ok? Have you got somewhere to go tonight?"

"Yeah, of course I have,"

"You just hanging about here then?"

"Waiting on a friend, she'll be here in five minutes,"

"Do you always meet your friends in dark lanes?"

"What is this, twenty questions?" The young girl snapped back, screwing her face towards the concerned older woman. She'd been sat here for way over an hour and no one had so much as even looked in her direction, never mind actually show her some concern.

"No. That was only four," Allie smiled, despite the lack of one in the opposite direction. She had attitude, typical of a teenager really. The blonde had seen it and dealt with it all before so it didn't even phase her. "You remind me of myself a little bit,"

"You?"

"Yeah, once upon a time believe it or not. What's your name?"

"Debbie," she answered after a brief pause of silence, pulling down her hood to see the older woman properly. "You?"

"Allie. Listen Debbie, this isn't really the place for you to hang around is it?"

"I'm a big girl, I can look after myself,"

"Even so," Allie smiled at her stubbornness. "You never know who's out on the streets and it's getting pretty cold tonight. Your Mum and Dad will be worried sick about you,"

"My Dad's in prison,"

"Oh," the blonde stuttered, clearly not expecting a revelation of that kind. She was unsure how to respond to the sudden outburst and eventually signalled to the young girl, asking if it was ok to take a seat on the same step. Debbie simply nodded and after a few moments, Allie spoke again. "Ok, so your Mum will be worried sick,"

"We always have stupid fights," Debbie sighed.

"I think that can be a normal Mother and Daughter thing,"

"Did you fight a lot with your Mum?"

"I didn't really know my Mum growing up," Allie admitted, Debbie listening more intently than before. "She wasn't much of a Mum. I'm sure yours is a lot different though,"

"Yeah,"

"If it was just a stupid fight, there's no need for all this is there?"

"Maybe not, I didn't really think about it, I just left and now I'm here,"

"I thought as much. So how long have you been away from home?"

"I don't know," the dark haired girl answered, pulling the phone from her pocket. "My phone died an hour ago. I think it was maybe around lunchtime,"

"Ok. Have you eaten anything?"

"A bit, not much,"

"Right," Allie puffed her cheeks, pulling herself back to her feet. "Come on,"

"Where?"

"That's my car over there," she nodded towards the shiny new silver sports car. She'd only had it a month but it was pretty much her pride and joy, she loved cars and as soon as she set eyes on this particular one, she just had to have it. She was never the flash type but allowed herself a few special purchases, here and there. "I'll drive you back to your Mum's,"

"I don't even know you," Debbie's wary eyes narrowed a little.

"I know but I hope you trust me enough to let me get you back home safe. I'll stop off at any takeaway place you like on the way, get you some food, even let you charge your phone,"

"I'm alright but thanks,"

"It wasn't a request, come on,"

"Why are you being so nice to me?"

"I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I just went home and left you out here,"

"I'm not your problem,"

"You aren't a problem," the blonde responded honestly. With her job, she never saw any troubled kid as a problem. She'd met some that were a lot more hard work than the young girl who had only ran away from home hours before but they were never a problem to her. She was good at her job, she took pride in it and when her work paid off it was always rewarding.

Debbie went with her gut instinct and accepted a lift from the blonde, picking herself up from the step, she made herself comfortable in the passenger seat of Allie's car, securing the seatbelt as the older woman appeared behind the wheel.

"Wow, you like The Arctic Monkeys?" Debbie gushed, spotting the cd case as they drove off.

"I love them," Allie grinned, chuckling slightly at the younger girl's surprise. "I managed to catch them live two years ago when they toured here, by far the best live band I've seen,"

"I'm totally jealous. I never managed to get tickets,"

"Maybe next time. Put it on if you like," she nodded towards the sound system and soon enough, music played in the background of their conversations. As it turned out, Debbie had only made it a ten minute drive away from home. Allie parked up and noticed that most of the lights of the house were on. She couldn't help but think about the poor girl's Mother and how frantic with worry she must be but knowing she was doing her good deed and bringing Debbie home safe was giving her satisfaction. She felt her mobile buzz from within her bag and ignored it, giving the young girl in the passenger seat her full attention. She looked worried, like she'd be in trouble. "Hey, she'll be pleased to see you. Whatever your stupid fight was about, it won't matter trust me,"

"You couldn't come with me, could you?" She asked, chewing her bottom lip. "She'll be less mad if you're there,"

"I think she's going to be nothing but relieved but, if you want me to come with you then sure,"

She'd barely made it out the car and along the path when the front door opened, the red haired woman rushing out to launch herself into the arms of her Daughter. Allie found herself smiling, watching them both from a short distance. Her good deed was definitely worth it.

"Debbie, oh god, where the hell have you been?" She cupped her Daughter's face, kissing her cheek before pulling her in close again, hugging her tightly. "I've been so, so worried,"

"I'm sorry Mum, I'm really sorry,"

"it's alright, it's okay,"

They embraced for a few more moments with Debbie eventually making her way inside, thanking the blonde for everything before doing so. Allie turned on her heel, reaching for the door of her car when she heard a voice behind her, turning her head, the older woman was striding over the pebbled pathway towards her.

"Hey, I just want to say thank you,"

"It's no problem. I didn't want to just walk on by, she seems like a good kid,"

"Yeah. Yeah she is. I could never thank you enough,"

"Don't worry about it," Allie smiled gently, seeing the relief all over the redhead's puffy tear stained face. She couldn't even begin to imagine what she'd been through the last few hours but she was happy knowing now it was better. "I'm just glad she's home safe. All is well in the World,"

"Yeah. Sorry. I don't even know your name, how rude of me,"

"It's Allie. Allie Novak,"

"Bea," she replied, extending her hand, the younger woman taking it with a warm yet brief shake. "It's nice to know there's still some nice, genuine people around,"

"You've got one in there," Allie nodded back towards the house. "I know it's none of my business but she said it was just a stupid fight, I don't think she meant to scare you like she did,"

"She's home, that's all I care about,"

"Talking of home, that's where I should be going," the blonde announced. She was pretty sure if she stood there all night, the redhead would have thanked her a hundred more times. That or apologise for keeping her from whatever plans she had for the evening. "I'll let you get back inside, I'm glad I could help tonight,"

Jumping back in the car, the cd still played on from where it was left when the young brunette vacated the passenger seat. Allie left it playing, singing along briefly like she always did. Within fifteen minutes, she was home at last. Almost three hours later than she thought she'd be when she left for work that morning. Entering the flat, she slipped off her jacket and tossed the car keys onto the table, immediately being met in the doorway by a concerned yet somewhat relieved looking girlfriend.

"Where the hell have you been, Al? I was trying to call you, I've been worried,"

"Shit. Sorry," she looked at her phone, six missed calls and two messages. She hadn't even felt or heard it go off all those times. "I totally lost all track of time,"

"You were only going to the shops, what happened?"

"I bumped into this young girl on the way out, she'd ran away from home. I couldn't bring myself to just leave her so I ended up taking her back to her Mum," she explained, continuing on through what else there was to tell. She felt a slight sense of guilt, knowing her girlfriend had cooked for them both. "Sorry. I know you had an evening planned just the two of us,"

"It's alright. You did what you had to do," the dark haired woman murmured, kissing the blonde's cheek briefly before trailing her lips down her neck. "Do I get you to myself now?"

"Hmmm, sure you do,"

"I can heat up the food for you if you like,"

"That'd be nice, I'm going to shower," the blonde announced, lightly kissing her girlfriend's lips. "There's wine in the bag, get yourself a glass and I'll be back in ten minutes,"

After a later than planned dinner, Allie found herself cuddled up on the sofa, watching a new dvd which has also been planned for this evening. As the movie played out, she felt her eyes get heavier and she slipped into a light sleep, only waking when the credits at the end of the film played across the screen.

"So, I think you saw about twenty minutes of that," the brunette chuckled, lightly stroking the sleepy blonde's cheek.

"I'm sorry," she yawned. "Late for dinner then I fall asleep on you, pretty sure I'm losing all kinds of girlfriend points tonight,"

"Not possible. Come on sleeping beauty, let's get you to bed,"

Allie barely made it through her before bed routine and, after climbing into bed, wrapping herself around the duvet and getting herself comfortable, she let her tired eyes rest and surrendered to a peaceful slumber.