A/N: Here, next chapter, and this time I do have an excuse! I've just finished my torturous exam period, so I have had no time to write. I actually had most of this written a while back (before the last chapter!) but I didn't have a connection, so I had to write that…anyways, it's done now. I think there's going to be one more chapter and an epilogue, but nothing's certain. Whatever. Enjoy!

Eleri

Three weeks passed. Katie went to Freddy's house twice more to finish their project, but both times she felt uncomfortable. Because of what they used to have, what they didn't have and what she'd hoped – and still did hope, in a weird kind of way – that they could have had.

School passed too. She sat with the band at lunch, but rarely spoke. Summer cornered her in the library after school one day and demanded that she join the band again. Katie pointed out that she no longer had a guitar and made a quick getaway before Summer could answer her. Apart from that, and the visits to Freddy's, she didn't really speak to anyone. She was still having trouble getting used to her father being around – and sober – again.

But all in all it was going all right at home. Maybe Mr. Brown wasn't as active as he had once been, and Katie couldn't help but notice his occasional lapses, as the few bottles of beer left in the fridge diminished in quantity.

Things were going all right until the Saturday four weeks after he returned from hospital. Katie got home from work with her little brother to find their father spread out on the sofa with a half empty bottle of vodka next to him. She called her mother immediately, then after checking her father's pulse, an ambulance, all the while yelling at Greg to get out of the room.

Her mother arrived about thirty seconds before the ambulance, and the whole family left a few minutes later. At the hospital, the doctors rushed around and after an hour's wait, Katie's mom sent her and her brother home. It wasn't until they were nearly at the apartment that Katie realised she didn't have a key. Besides, she really didn't want to take her little brother back into that place until she'd had a chance to clean it up. Nor did she want to be alone, and she knew she would be as soon as Greg fell asleep. So she took a turn away from their building.

It was miserable and raining now. Katie swore under her breath, she'd forgotten to grab raincoats when they left the house earlier, and as it had been raining all day she should have thought of it. But she had been on automatic from the moment she stepped through the door, or at least that was the way it seemed. She was thinking now though. Bitter thoughts.

She had known something like this was going to happen. Hadn't she predicted it when she went to see her father? She wasn't surprised really, just disappointed. She could remember his words, so often, telling her he had changed and things would be alright now. But they wouldn't, she knew that. Things would always be bad. The only reason she and Greg were still in school was because her mother's parents insisted on paying. They held that the children shouldn't suffer for their parents' sins. But the children were suffering anyway, and they just didn't realise that. As if keeping them at an exclusive school, surrounded by wealth and plenty when they were struggling to keep their home from falling apart could stop them suffering.

Was that why she was running from home now? She had no idea where to go. They had no family in town, and she didn't know where Zack lived, and she hadn't spoken to the others in so long… She shot a glance down at her little brother, who was grasping her hand and trotting to keep up with her. He looked tired, and she knew it was unfair on him to walk for much longer. Looking up she realized that they had already come along way, and that they were now in Freddy's neighborhood. Greg whimpered, and she decided to so the last thing she wanted to do – visit Freddy.

She quickly located his house and pulled Greg up the driveway. There was only one light on, and she found herself hoping desperately that he was in and not his parents. She paused at the door to try and brush away some of the tears that had been flowing freely down her cheeks, then rang the bell. They waited on the steps for what seemed like hours, then a light went on in the hallway behind the door, there was the click of a key turning in the lock and the door opened.

The last person Freddy had expected to see on his doorstep at quarter to eleven in the pouring rain was Katie. For a second he just stood in shock, then, seeing her little brother half hiding behind her, he stood aside and motioned for her to enter. She stepped inside, and Greg followed her, and they both stood in the hallway, dripping cold water into little puddles forming at their feet.

Katie bit her lip, then looked up at him. "I'm sorry, I didn't know where else to go…"

He shrugged. "It's okay. Look, you guys are soaking. I'll go get you some towels and a change of clothes – you're about the same height as my mum, right?" She said nothing, still staring at her feet, and he continued. "Why don't you go into the kitchen and make some hot chocolate. You know where the stuff is."

"Maybe we should wait here until we're dry. I don't want to make a mess – "

"Katie, my parents are away for the weekend, no one's going to care if you make a mess. I'll clean it up later. Besides, Greg's shivering." She looked quickly at her brother, then nodded. Freddy copied her movement, then turned to go up the stairs and they went through the door to the kitchen.

Two minutes later, Freddy hurried back down the stairs with two big fluffy towels over one arm and two changes of clothes over the other. As soon as he was in the kitchen he handed the towels to Katie and Greg, then he hung the clothes over the back of a chair. Katie looked at them for a few seconds, then turned her eyes to him.

"Freddy, that's – "

" – my School of Rock outfit from the Battle of the Bands. I know. It's the only thing I could find that might fit Greg. He's tall, but not that tall…" He grinned, and she gave him a watery smile back.

"I can't believe you actually kept that."

"How could I not. I'd bet everything you still have yours."

"Well…" She rolled her eyes. "Okay, I guess I do." Greg shivered and they both looked at him. "Giggs, why don't you go get changed." She said to him, and Freddy had to grin at the sisterly use of his nickname. The younger boy nodded, then looked at Freddy.

"Bathroom's out that door on the left."

"Thanks." Greg muttered, then disappeared.

"Sometimes it's hard to believe he's eight. He seems so much younger…" Freddy remarked as they watched him leave. Then he stood up and went to the stove where the hot chocolate was warming. He poured it into three mugs and set two on the table, holding the other one himself. Katie took a long sip and gave a small sigh.

"What happened Katie?"

She looked up at him and seemed to be steeling herself to answer just as Greg entered again. Freddy's clothes were definitely a couple of sizes too big, and the two teenagers couldn't help but grin at the sight of him.

Greg pulled a face at his sister. "It's not funny."

"You're right dude, it isn't" Freddy told him, shooting a reprimanding glare at Katie. She raised her eyebrows in mock innocence, then had to duck her head away to keep from laughing again. "Here, have some hot chocolate."

"I'm hungry."

"are you?"

"Yeah. There's no food in the house anymore. And mom took the only packet of cookies when the ambulance came – "

Katie stood up hurriedly. "I'll go change." She muttered, then left the room.

"She's just angry 'cause she can't do anything about dad drinking." Greg informed Freddy as he passed him a packet of cookies from one of the cupboards.

"It's okay kid. So, do you want some dinner?"

"Yeah."

"Katie too?"

"She's hungry but she won't say. But she doesn't eat meat. She's a veggit…vegitar… vegetable… thingy." He pulled a face.

"Yeah, a real vegetable." Freddy laughed and found a couple of packets of pasta.

When Katie walked back into the room she was greeted by the smell of mushrooms and cooking, and she felt her stomach rumble a little. She hadn't realized she was so hungry. Freddy turned to look at her as she entered, and she smiled – until she saw the look on her face and remembered what she was wearing.

"It is not funny Freddy. I cannot wear this thing." Somehow Freddy had managed to find the most horrible-looking pink flowery blouse in his mother's wardrobe. The faded jeans were okay but that blouse… "I am no wearing this!"

"Aw, come on Katie, it looks fine."

"No it doesn't." Greg said without looking up, and they both glared at him.

"Fine, I'll go get you something else. But you'll have to make do with one of my shirts."

"Anything is better than this." Katie frowned, then looked towards the pan of pasta. "You should probably turn the heat down before that boils over and goes everywhere.."

"You want a shirt, you can deal with that. After all, you're a girl, you can cook."

"Freddy – " She began but he was already out of the room. She shook her head in exasperation, then went to the stove.

An hour later, they had all eaten, and Freddy had made up a bed for Greg in one of the spare rooms, and he and Katie where sitting on the couch watching Friends reruns. Katie wasn't really watching though. Instead she was fiddling with the sleeve of the shirt. Freddy wasn't watching either, he was too busy watching Katie. He was about to ask her about her dad when her mobile rang, and she jumped up to get it from her coat pocket.

"Hello…Zack?!" She glanced up at Freddy and he felt his heart sink.

"Katie, I just heard about your dad."

"You – how?"

"Your mom called to ask where you where. She said she'd called the house and no one answered. Where are you."

"Freddy's." She tried to make it sound as nonchalant as possible. "I should have called her. Damn it, why didn't I think of that?"

"Greg with you?" She told him yes, "I'll call her, save you talking to them. How is your dad, by the way."

"I dunno. Bad I guess. You remember what the doctor said last time."

"Yeah. Look, can I have a word with Freddy?"

Katie glanced at the other boy then nodded. "Sure." She motioned for him to come over then handed him the phone and mouthed 'Zack'.

The boys talked for a few minutes, but Katie didn't even try to listen. Eventually, Freddy hung up and put the phone on the table, then came to sit next to her again. He was quiet for a few minutes, then he turned to look at her.

"You're staying here tonight. It's too late and too wet for you to go home. You can sleep in the other guest room."

"Freddy – "

"Zack told me. Katie, there's no point in you going home now. There's no one there, and Greg's already asleep." He bit his lip and studied her face. "There's nothing you can do except wait, you know."

"I know but I don't want to be in the way – "

"You won't be." She nodded and turned her attention back to the TV screen.

They sat in silence for maybe ten minutes, Katie keeping her eyes fixed on the jokes and mishaps of Chandler, Joey and the others, and Freddy's gaze wavering between the TV and his friend. Finally, he couldn't stand it anymore.

"Katie, why didn't you tell me?"

She looked at him for a moment, frowning, and almost didn't say anything. She glanced away from him and chewed her lip before answering, "I was scared."

"You told Zack." He pointed out.

"I know. It was different. He was there just after I learnt."

"If I'd been there, would you have told me?"

She said nothing for a moment. "No."

"Why not?"

"Because of what you'd say. What you'd think. I don't know, it's silly.

"Why did you care?"

"I can't explain. I'm not even sure, it's just…" she broke off, shaking her head, and he saw tears appear in her eyes.

"Shit, Katie, I didn't mean to make you cry."

"I'm not…" she muttered as the tears began to trickle down her cheeks, and Freddy moved so that he was sitting next to her. He slipped an arm around her shoulder and she leaned in against him. His other arm quickly moved around her waist and he could feel her shaking against him.

"It's okay Katie. It's okay." He murmured softly into her hair. His heart was throbbing uncomfortably, and the scent of her hair seemed to be tickling his nose. If it had been under different circumstances, maybe he…no. She was upset. Her dad was in hospital for the second time, he might even die. She had only come to him for comfort, and maybe she would have been better going to Zack for that, like she did everything else. He chased the thought away angrily. Now was not the time for jealousy.

Katie pulled away slightly, looking vaguely embarrassed. "I'm sorry. Your shirt's wet."

"It's not a problem. Do you want me to get Zack?"

"What? No! Why would I…unless you want me to go. I'd understand." She sounded so scared and so lost that he forgot his jealousy and misgivings of moments ago and pulled her back to his chest.

"I'm sorry. Of course I don't want you to go, Katie. I just thought - "

"That I'd rather be with Zack now? It's you I came after." She pulled away again, still flushed red but this time in anger. "I didn't realize it would make you feel so awkward. Maybe I should leave, if that's how you feel."

"Katie, I – "

"You what? You're only comforting me because you feel sorry for me? I thought…I thought…" The last few words turned into a sob on her lips and Freddy pulled her close again, but this time kept one hand on her chin, so that she was looking up at him as tears poured down her cheeks.

"Katie, I never meant it like that. Yes I feel awkward, but only because – well, because I…like you. More than like you. I just thought it wasn't the right time to tell you, with everything…"

"No. No, I guess it isn't. But I'm glad you did." She paused, and wouldn't look at him. "Tell me again in a couple of weeks."

Freddy nodded and they slipped into a comfortable silence. He turned back to face the TV and didn't look at Katie again until he felt her head on his shoulder. Glancing down, he saw that she had fallen asleep and he smiled to himself. She looked beautiful like that. Reaching beside him, he picked up the remote and turned the TV off, then leaned his cheek on the top of her head. No point waking her now to take her upstairs, and it wasn't as if he minded having Katie asleep on his shoulder…