AUTHOR'S NOTE: I am back with chapter 2. Its longer and less depressing and I hope you like it. I am very grateful for the reviews and for everyone of you who has read this story. I am writing fan-fiction for the first time so any feedback, good or bad, is welcome.

I apologise if these chapters are a little short but I have split the story as per the progression of their relationship and I am not really trying to have chapters of an even length.

NO ONE HAS EVER BEEN SO NICE TO ME BEFORE

The tears that made their way down her cheeks, burnt against her cold skin and the new ones that welled up every second, blurred her vision. She knew the girl from the shop was surprised and a little spooked seeing her and she did not want to make the situation any worse than it was.

She looked up again and could make out the outline of the girl in the dark, through her sea of tears. She seemed to be frozen in place. She finally felt the taller girl move closer and reach out to touch her arm. And then she heard that voice again "Hey. Would you like to come in, out of the cold? Its okay. Don't be afraid."

She didn't know if it was the girl's gentle tone or the kindness that she so seldom was at the receiving end of, but she suddenly didn't feel that alone anymore. She used the back of her hands to wipe away the tears and looked up again into those brown eyes, that had looked so comforting before.

"I'm sorry," she said. "I didn't mean to scare you. This was the only place with a light on the street and I thought…" she trailed off. The brunette looked at her and noticed her shivering, her arms folded around her midriff trying to fight off the cold.

"Its okay. I wasn't scared. Just surprised. But I am scared that a girl might freeze to death outside my coffee shop." As the brunette said this, a small smile played on her lips, that made her eyes shine and revealed a hint of a dimple in her right cheek.

The shorter girl looked up mesmerised, not by the brunette's beauty, which was captivating enough, but by the stranger who was offering her help, when she had so little faith in humanity left.

Tears were threatening to spill over again. This caught the taller's girls attention and she said "Emily."

"Huh?" was the reply.

"Emily," the brunette repeated. "Its my name. Now will you come in or am I to freeze to death here with you?" She took the surprised stranger by her hand and led her into the coffee shop, shutting the door behind her.

As soon as she was in, Emily let go of the other girl's hand and walked over to the counter to make a fresh batch of coffee for the shivering girl. Emily thought she could definitely use something warm inside her too, after the past few minutes out in the cold.

Once done, she looked around to find the other girl still standing by the closed door looking down at her feet. Emily's eyes followed the girl's, to see she was barefoot and her feet looked hurt. More importantly, she noticed a thin trail of blood, that had made its way down her leg, from somewhere below that overcoat. The dried blood made Emily wonder who this girl was and what kind of trauma had she been through.

"Won't you come sit down? Here," she said, pulling out a stool at the counter, "Have a seat." The shorter girl made her way to the seat offered and sat down, still not really looking up at Emily.

Emily looked at the girl more carefully. She looked about the same age as her. She was blonde with brilliant blue eyes, the bluest Emily had ever seen and if you looked through the tear stains and the sadness on her face, Emily could tell she was quite stunning.

Emily was certain the girl had not grown up on the streets. She was running from something. Someone? Judging from the blood she had seen, that something or someone had hurt her.

Her train of thoughts were broken by a low voice. "Thank you," the girl almost whispered.

"You don't need to thank me." Emily replied.

"Yes I do," the girl responded, her eyes looking down at her hands on the counter. "Thank you for this."

Emily had so many questions but this didn't seem the right time. She didn't want to push the girl for answers; just make her feel warm, feel better. The coffee was ready. She poured out a cup for the girl and slid it gently across the counter top. "Here have this. It should help with the cold. Let me see what we have in the back, for you to eat." She walked away to the room behind the counter and you could hear the sound of plates clattering and doors being opened and closed.

Emily had not wanted to leave the blonde alone but was also wondering if the girl would be more comfortable away from her own inquisitive prying eyes. She mused if bringing a stranger in, so late at night, was such a good idea but those thoughts were quickly squashed by a need to protect the vulnerable looking scared girl, who had undoubtedly been through a lot that night.

Rummaging through the fridge, Emily found a container filled with the lasagna left over from the dinner she had shared a few hours back with Spencer, her best friend. She had made it specially for Spencer, who loved Emily's grandma's recipe. She thought it would be the perfect comfort food for the blonde.

She brought the lasagna and a plate back with her, to the front of the shop and found the blonde in exactly the same position she had left her. As Emily entered the room the blonde looked up and Emily once again found herself appraising the blonde's exquisite features. Then she spoke-

"I'll be on my way. I didn't mean to be a botheration." Her voice was soft, almost inaudible, like she was talking more to herself than Emily.

"It is not a botheration at all," Emily replied gently. "I have been here a lot later doing the inventory or cleaning up after, on days when this place was booked for a party. Believe me, its not a botheration."

The blonde still looked down and Emily was at a loss as to how to help her. Her coffee still stood there untouched. Emily looked at the blonde and tried again. "It would help if you drank that coffee though. The mug is complaining about the coffee getting cold, you know. I've been trying to ignore it, but his little mug voice is getting to me now. Won't you have some?" A small smiled played on her lips as she spoke and was rewarded when the corners of the blonde's mouth twitched upwards.

"I'm not a child," the blonde responded, finally looking up. Her eyes were looking brighter. Her face however still held that vacant, lost expression. "But I will drink the coffee, like the mug wants me to." She was playing along and it eased the atmosphere a little. She lifted the mug to her lips and although it wasn't as hot as the weather called for, it was a comfort all the same.

The steam making its way out of the mug, warmed her cheeks and the sight of a little colour returning to the pale girl's cheeks was quite a relief to Emily. She looked on, beaming at the blonde, her smile dazzling. And this time when the blonde looked up, she couldn't help but wonder if she had been sent an angel- a guardian angel.

This girl with the kind eyes, gentle ways and that beautiful smile had to be an angel.

She was awoken from her thoughts by the brunette's fingers on her hand. "Is something wrong? You didn't answer me. Its okay you don't need to tell me."

The blonde's face was suddenly filled with emotion for the first time. The vacant expression that had clouded her delicate features was now gone; replaced by surprise at first, then guilt at having missed what Emily had asked her and then a shy nervousness contemplating if she should inquire what it was.

Emily guessed that the blonde hadn't really heard her question and repeated her query. "I was just trying to imagine what your name was. But it would be so much easier if you told me what I should call you."

The blonde relaxed. She didn't know why Emily was so nice to her or why she felt okay being around her. She didn't even have to debate if it was a good idea to do so. The words were leaving her lips almost as soon as she heard the question.

"Alison."

Emily stood frozen in place. Was this some cruel joke one of her friends was playing on her? No one could be that heartless! Or could they? She knew the girl couldn't have known. How could she? This couldn't be a coincidence. She looked back at the blonde and realised she might have been staring at her dumbstruck, which in turn had frightened the blonde.

"Alison," she said softly. "Its a beautiful name. Its a name I will always hold dear. It belonged to my grandma. She passed away 8 months back. This coffee shop belonged to her. Its all I have left of Grandma Ali." Her voice cracked. She could see her sadness reflect in the other girl's eyes.

Emily did not want to depress the girl any further. "Alison," she continued. "I think I should feed my grandma's namesake the lasagna that Grandma Ali was famous for."

She popped the container with the lasagne into the microwave and set the plate and a fork from below the counter before Ali. When the microwave beeped she served a generous serving onto the plate and said "Eat up. Its delicious. Its made many a miserable day better for me." She smiled at Alison urging her to eat.

Alison looked up and said, "No one has ever been so nice to me before." It was said so honestly that Emily was taken aback. She wanted to ask the blonde about these 'not nice' people in her life but felt like that was too much for the blonde, in her current state.

She smiled again and simply held out the fork, that Alison shyly accepted.

I hope you liked it. Leave me a line, it will be greatly appreciated.