Harleigh sat on the windowsill, a cigarette in one hand, a blood covered cloth in the other. Her lip was split open, both eyes blackened. Her neck was riddled with bruises, her bare chest red and raw. She didn't even flinch as Chase pressed a cloth to the bleeding scratches on her chest. She stared vacantly out into the darkness, her eyes tracing the building in front of her.

"It's almost Christmas," she noted as she watched snowflakes fall from the sky. "I think I need to go home."
"Home as in Chicago or home as in your apartment?" Chase asked hesitantly. He had helped Harleigh get her apartment when she first moved to Minnesota, he helped her score enough cash to keep up on her rent, even though most nights she stayed with him. She was one of her best 'bunnies' as he referred to his girls. She was more than just an easy escort, she was beautiful and fierce and didn't mind going down and getting dirty if it meant a good payout. She was obedient when she was high and good company when she wasn't. If he was being honest with himself, he was actually falling in love with the fiery red head with the Chicago spark.
"Home as in Chicago," she said with a sad smile. "My baby brother reached out yesterday, begged me to keep the family from adopting him. I pulled some strings and they'll let me take him home for Christmas as long as I bring him back on the 27th," she said softly. "They live an hour south of here, I could pick him up on my way home."
"How'd you pull that one off? I thought you moved here to get away from Chicago and the child protective services?" he asked, pressing another cloth to her face. She winced.
"I turn eighteen in two weeks," she shrugged. "After that I'm no use to the system anyway. It's the holidays, they aren't going to do anything about me now."
"You're sure?" he asked. He never kept any of his girls against their will. If they wanted to leave, they were free to leave.
"I have some unfinished business back home," she nodded. "I'll be back after Christmas to either get back to work or pack up, I haven't decided yet."
"Think you'll come back for good?" he asked her, his fingers tracing the bones in her cheek.
"I don't know," she said truthfully. "I miss my family, but it's not like any of them give a rat's ass about me, we'll see how Christmas goes and go from there I guess."
"I'll miss you, Leigha," he murmured. He kissed the top of her head. "When are you leaving?"
"As soon as I cake enough makeup on to not scare my brother's foster folks," she chuckled. "Mind if I take the car? I'll bring it back when I drop Cody off."
"Sure, yeah," he nodded, handing her the keys. "I've got a couple more clients lined up for tonight, the other bunnies need to pull their weight, holiday or not," he added. "I'll see you around, Leigha, don't total my car."
"Hunk of junk just better make it to Chicago," she chuckled. "Goodbye, Chase, thanks again for everything."

She waved as he left the room, giving her some space to get cleaned up. She grabbed her bag and quickly covered the worse of the bruises. She knew as long as she wore sunglasses when she picked Cody up, she'd be fine. After changing into something more appropriate, she left through the back door, not needing to catch the attention of any of the various men Chase was entertaining in the living room. She slipped into the car and smiled as it purred to life. She had helped fix it up when she first met Chase, her father's mechanic skills coming in handy.

She knew she'd have to wait until morning to pick up Cody, but she didn't care. She'd make it home in time for Christmas, one way or another.


"She's not going to miss Christmas," Skip said as he tossed a load of wet clothes into the drier. The Gallagher's had been letting him stay there on and off since Harleigh disappeared. His house didn't have electricity or water anymore and he couldn't afford to find a place of his own. "Christmas is her thing, she loves this stupid, commercial holiday."
"No one's heard from her in months, Skipper, she's gone," Frank muttered from the table. "Give it up already."
"Frank," Lip growled, throwing him a glare.
"If she doesn't come home tomorrow, I'll believe that," Skip said softly. He looked up with wounded eyes. "But I know my sister. She wouldn't miss Christmas. When we were kids, shit she couldn't have bene more than seven or eight, she stole Monty's stash and sold it so she had money to get me and the guys gifts. She even stole a Christmas tree, just to make sure it felt like a real Christmas. She spent all night cooking just so we could celebrate the right way," he said, his eyes glossing over. "Harleigh always said that as long as there was family, she'd always come home for Christmas. She's never missed a Christmas with us, not even when she was staying with Liz in New York."
"She's a junkie run-away, kid, get over it," Frank grumbled.
"She's not a junkie," Skip growled, his hands balling into fists.
"Tell that to the guy who sold her some dope a few weeks back," he snorted. "Saw her myself."
"You saw her?" Lip growled, rising to his feet. "You saw her and didn't think to tell anyone?"
"What? Tell you what exactly? That I saw her on a corner looking like Monica did when she was young and strung out?" he growled, his eyes set on Lip's clutched fists.
"I knew she'd start using again," Skip nodded hesitantly. "At least I know that as of a few weeks ago, she was alive."
"What the fuck man, you're just going to accept that like it isn't anything?" Lip growled.
"Harleigh'll be home, you'll see," he said, his eyes staring vacantly ahead. His hands shook. He needed air. In that moment, the kitchen felt incredibly small, the walls seeming to close in around him. He felt trapped, like a bear waiting to break free of its cage.

Without another word, he bolted. He ran out of the back door, ignoring Lip as he called after him. He didn't know what he was going to do, but he knew he had to do something.


"How much farther?" Cody asked for the millionth time. They'd been on the road for six hours, only stopping long enough to get gas. The icy roads were slowing them down. Harleigh looked at the GPS on the phone next to her and sighed.
"Four, maybe five hours," she said, glancing back at her younger brother. "We should make it there right before midnight."
"Okay," he nodded. "Hey, what happened to your face?"
"It's a long story," she chuckled. "So, are you excited for Christmas?"
"Not really," he said softly. "Not like we're going to do any of the stuff normal families do."
"Hey now, don't be a Debbie downer back there!" Harleigh scolded. "I'll have you know that we will definitely have a normal Christmas! I even have a tree!"
"Really?" Cody's eyes lit up. Harleigh had done a little shopping before picking Cody up late that morning. She had a little something for all of her brothers as well as the Gallagher's. She felt like she owed them for everything they did for her before the state split up her family for what felt like the millionth time.
"Of course!" Harleigh laughed. "Don't you know, Christmas is my favorite holiday!"
"Mine too," Cody smiled. He glanced at her arm, noticing the track lines that ran up her veins. "What're those?"
"Nothing," she said, her tone tensing. "Nothing you need to worry about."
"Are you sure you're okay? Why were you in Minnesota anyway?" he asked.
"I'm fine, buddy," she said with a smile. "When you told me your foster folks moved you eight hours away, I jumped on the closest train and followed after you. You didn't think I'd let them take you away from all of your family, did you?"
"TJ and Jake are in jail," he blurted out. "So's Monty."
"I figured," she nodded slowly. "They're always in and out. Have you heard from Tess lately?"
"No, the Smith's won't let me see her, said she was nothing but trouble, that's why they moved," he said slowly, his eyes tearing over. "They said you didn't want me either."
"Well they lied to you," Harleigh said, her tone grim. "I'll always fight for you, you hear me? As soon as I turn eighteen, I'm going to fight tooth and nail to get you back."
"You promise?"
"On everything I love," she said, reaching back to grip his knee.
"Skip's been trying to find you, said he was real scared something bad happened to you," Cody said softly. "I didn't tell him that I knew where you were."
"Good kid," she smiled. "Skip means well but he would have made it a bigger deal than it has to be," she added.
"He said Lip and Fiona and Ian are worried too. Said Lip's been looking for you ever day since you disappeared," he added. "Are you and Lip a thing?"
"Naw," Harleigh laughed. "Lip's a great friend, but he's tapped more girls than I dare to count, I'm not into fucking my friends."

For a moment, Harleigh forgot that Cody was only ten. Then again, at ten, he'd seen and done more than most kids have in their entire lives. It felt good to talk to family for a change. His news made her wonder how her sudden reappearance would play out, however. She wasn't sure if they'd be welcomed or not.


"That's weird," Lip murmured as he stared down at his phone.
"What is?" Ian asked, throwing him a confused look.
"I just got a text from an unknown number, it says 'Thanks for always having my back, see you soon'," he read.
"Harleigh?" Ian asked, getting up to sit besides Lip. Lip tried to call the number but it instantly went to voicemail.
"Maybe," he mused. He leaned back, letting himself get his hopes up, even though he knew he shouldn't. He knew exactly where Skip had been coming from earlier, after all this time, it made him think back to how it was with Monica growing up. You'd hope and hope and eventually, you'd give up. But Harleigh wasn't Monica, no matter what Frank or anyone said. Harleigh wasn't just some junkie on the street. Harleigh was special. He knew she'd come home.

Harleigh pulled up in front of the Gallagher's house, her hands trembling as she helped Cody out of the backseat. The sidewalk was icy, but the sight of the house filled her heart with warmth. She wrapped an arm around Cody's shoulders before making her way up the front steps.

After a moment of hesitation, she knocked. A few moments later, she was greeted by the welcomed sight of a dear friend.

"Hey stranger," she said brightly as she threw her arms around Lip's neck, burying her face into his collar. "I've missed you so much!"

Lip couldn't believe his eyes. Harleigh looked like shit, but she was still her fiery, red-headed self. Her eyes twinkled as she embraced him. He felt the bones in her arms as he wrapped his own around her, not sure what to say.

"Merry Christmas," she whispered into his ear. For a single moment, time seemed to stand still, as a spark flew through the pair like never before. Lip pulled back only slightly, his fingers tracing the bruises on her face. She didn't flinch, instead, she flashed the same smile she always did, the smile that made his heart skip in his chest, the smile that seemed to wash away his worries for just a moment.

Without thinking, Lip grabbed her face in both hands and pulled her close, his lips tenderly meeting hers for the first time. Harleigh felt her body relax, her lips following his lead, her hands pulling him close, his warmth reminding her of why she came back.

A cough from behind them reminded them that they weren't alone.

"It's cold," Cody said softly, rubbing his hands together.
"C'mon, come inside," Lip ushered, his hand lacing into Harleigh's. "Good to have you home."


A/N: So I've decided to cut Karen out of the story, for all intents and purposes. She's still there from time to time, but not as serious as she was in the actual show. Instead, we get to see a different side of things coming up. I noticed that Shameless never did a Christmas episode in earlier seasons (if at all, I'm just now reaching season 7!), so I figured this was a perfect scene to play around with!

Reviews make me happy and motivate me to keep going, so keep them coming! I'm not entirely sure how long I'm going to keep this story going, since I'm changing so much of the canon right now, but we'll see!