A/N: Happy New Year, everyone!

Writing gives me the most joy and this year I'm going to try my hardest to make time for more joy in my life.

(Reviews also bring me joy…just sayin'…)

Xx Kate

– "JB?"

The girl smirked – dark eyes met light.

"Mrs. Cooper."

The ten-year-old attempted to match the woman's superior tone.

Alice frowned, lowering the cigarette from her lips warily.

"What are you doing here, JB?"

She fought the urge to check her phone; suddenly realizing that FP's text message from earlier may not have been so benign. He was probably worried sick about his daughter, she reasoned, her mind reeling. What was a girl so young doing out so late? FP was in way over his head. He needed far more help than meager advice from afar, Alice realized.

The girl shrugged. "I could ask you the same question," she said, pointing to the white stick still dangling from Alice's manicured fingers.

"Don't be a smart ass, young lady," Alice chided, surprising not only JB, but also herself with her response.

JB grinned and let out a small giggle, "I think I was very wrong about you…"

Alice folded her arms over her chest, she refused to let a girl a quarter her age have the upper hand – but JB was a deadly combination of her parents, Alice could see already – both witty and dangerously smart.

"In what way?"

"You seemed like one of those bullshit fairytale princesses before…all perfect and sweet," JB shrugged, "But I think I kind of understand now why my dad is so infatuated by you. Under all that pink silk you're kind of a badass, aren't you?"

Alice watched JB's expression change from amusement to curiosity and she was suddenly reminded of herself at that age. She remembered how the thought of danger used to light her up as well. She also remembered how much trouble that same inquisitiveness had got her in, how much she had tried to steer her own children from that world. She felt the same instinct to protect FP's child, now.

"Think what you want about me, JB, but I'm just a mom and I think that you should…"

The girl rolled her eyes, "Not my mom," she interrupted, "so don't try."

"I know that I'm not your mother, JB. I'm not trying to be. But your father is a very good friend of mine…"

JB scoffed, "friend, huh?"

"Yes, friend, Alice confirmed, "and he's probably very worried about you right now. I'm sure he doesn't know that you're here…am I right?"

"No he doesn't… but he doesn't care…"

JB lowered her head and busied herself fiddling with the dark gloves she was wearing. Alice's heart broke for her.

Alice took a seat next to the girl, half expecting her to bolt – she didn't.

"He does care," Alice spoke gently, "he cares so much more than you know, JB."

The girl's dark eyes settled on Alice – startling her more than she cared to admit. They were so dark. So lost. She recognized herself in them.

"He doesn't," she insisted, "and don't pretend like you know him. Don't pretend you know me or my life or what it's like to have your world ripped to pieces, okay? You clearly don't." JB was crying now, her face remained stoic but tears streamed steadily down her face. Alice fought the urge to wipe them with the sleeves of her parka.

Alice was silent for a moment, just nodding. She held up the cigarette abruptly.

"Still have that light?" she asked, her voice cracking.

JB furrowed her eyebrows, Alice's response not at all what she'd expected. She nodded hesitantly and pulled a lighter from her pocket. She lit Alice's cigarette and the pair remained in a moment more of silence as Alice took a long drag.

"My mom took her own life when I was just a few years younger than you," Alice said finally.

JB's wet eyes shot up to meet Alice's own.

"And my dad was in and out of prison at the time…we lived on the Southside just like you, JB," Alice admitted.

JB couldn't hide her shock, "You did?" She turned her whole body towards the woman, tucking one leg under herself to get a better angle – for the second time that night, she saw Alice Cooper in a whole different light.

Alice nodded, tucking a stray hair behind her ears, angling herself toward JB as well. She felt suddenly very self-conscious. She didn't talk about her family very often, hadn't even told her own girls. Betty and Polly thought their grandparents had both died in a fire trying to save the family dog. Alice had painted them as heroes – they were far from them.

Alice nodded in response, "That's how I met your dad. We grew up together. Not many people know where I come from and what I've been through…but your dad does…"

"And now I do?" It came out as a timid question, revealing JB's youth and innocence.

"And now you do," Alice confirmed.

The dark haired girl smiled sadly, wiping her eyes with the back of her glove, "why'd you tell me all that?"

"Because I wanted you to know that you don't have to be alone in this. Like I said before, I'm not your mom…no one can ever replace her. But when I was your age going through what I was going through, I think things would have been very different if I'd had someone to talk to who understood me…"

JB shifted so that she was sitting back with her feet planted on the ground. She sniffed and fixed her eyes on her boots, "that's how it normally works for Malibu Barbie, isn't it?"

-"What?"

JB met Alice's eyes, "You give some perfect speech to the downtrodden, dark girl and suddenly it fixes everything and life's sparkles and rainbows, again?"

Alice couldn't help but let out a chuckle. It was exactly what a younger version of herself would have said.

"That's exactly right," Alice responded sarcastically.

JB stood up abruptly, turning to face Alice. "Well it's not going to happen, Blondie," she said, a faint smile playing at the corner of her lips even though she was scowling and attempting to appear tough as nails.

"Got it, Wednesday Adams," Alice replied, letting the small girl tower over her.

JB turned quickly on her heels as to avoid Alice witnessing her grin.

"Where are you going?"

JB gathered her composure and turned back around, "Come on, you're driving me home…aren't you?"