A/N

Hi folks,

Many thanks for all the reviews, favs and follows. Now, for a little context. I've always been interested in what Alex would be like in her teenage years. It's a time when we're pretty vulnerable and working ourselves out. Alex is mostly portrayed as the strong one, so I wanted to explore her as the more vulnerable character, obviously still with the tough exterior. This is why I have made her younger than Piper in this AU fic. I also wanted to explore her protective side more, which is why I've incorporate Lucy into the story.

This is the first time I've written anything in a very long time, so keen on all feedback.

Cheers.

Chapter 2 – an escape

Alex slowly makes her way up the stairs towards Piper's apartment, pizza and beer in hand. The front door to the apartment is slightly ajar, so Alex makes her way inside, "Hello, pizza delivery."

"Hey, that was quick, thanks for picking this up, I know it's getting late."

"No problem, I'm not usually one for early nights." Piper leads Alex into the lounge room, which is pretty bare aside from boxes and a blanket on the floor. "Sorry, looks like I'll be sitting on this blanket until I get around to buying some furniture."

"Reckon you'll get sick of sitting on the floor pretty quick," Alex says as she smirks at Piper. Both girls make themselves comfortable on the blanket. Alex opens two beers and hands one to Piper, "Cheers."

"Cheers," Piper smiles back.

"So Piper, what's your story?"

"Well, I don't think I have much of a story at the moment. I just finished college and was desperate to get out of my parent's house before they try and force any more potential husbands onto me."

"Sounds interesting," Alex can't help but laugh at this.

"It's not funny," whines Piper. "That's all my mum cares about, making sure I marry into a wealthy and proper family, she's driving me nuts!"

"So you just up and moved?" Alex couldn't help but be curious about what led this college girl to living in her crappy apartment building.

"Yeah, pretty much. I want to try my hand at writing before it's too late, and I just wanted to get out on my own. My friend Polly helped me find this place. Oh, and I'm working a few shifts down at the local library. Do you read much?"

"Yeah, funnily enough I do. Aside from inebriation it's a pretty good escape for me."

"Well come down to the library during my shift sometime, I can cut you a special deal,"

"Sounds nice kid." The conversation was flowing so easily for Alex, which was a rare occurrence for her.

"So what about you Alex, what's your story?" Piper looked at Alex with her deep blue eyes while she sipped her beer. Alex thought about this question for a moment as she grabbed a slice of pizza.

"I don't really have a story either. I live a few doors down with my mum, her boyfriend and my little sister."

"What are you studying at college?" Piper asks looking completely innocent, looking like it didn't even occur to her that there were people out there that couldn't afford college.

"No college for me kid, need money for that stuff."

"Oh, I'm sorry, I just realised how rude that probably sounded," Piper genuinely did not want to offend her new friend.

"It's fine Piper." Alex didn't know what else to say, and the two girls just sat there looking at each other for what felt like forever. "I pick up some waitressing shifts down at Orange Café, and aside from that I just help look after my sister, Lucy. Guess I should probably have a plan huh."

Piper felt awkward after that statement and wasn't quite sure how to continue. Before she could say anything Alex's phone rang. "Hello Lucy, what's wrong this time? C'mon, it's nearly midnight why can't you just stay at Sarah's house? You're seriously gonna make me drive like 40 minutes to get you right now just coz you've decided you need to sleep at home?" It then suddenly hit Alex that her mum had the car. "Shit, look Luce you're gonna need to tough it out for the night. Mum's got her first night shift in ages, she has the car."

Piper looked on curiously, she swore she could hear a tiny voice shouting from the other end of Alex's phone. "Hey look, is that your sister? I'd be happy to drive you to get her, as repayment for picking up dinner." Alex looked at her, thinking hard about the offer. She didn't usually like accepting help like this, but she also knew what Lucy was like. She would flip out if someone didn't pick her up, and there was no way in hell she was going to ask Robbie for help.

"Look, ok calm yourself kid. I've worked something out, I'll be there as soon as I can." Alex ended the call, mostly frustrated at Lucy's moods, but also wanting to pick her up if she didn't want to stay at the sleep over. "Thanks Piper, I owe you one."

"Don't be silly. I had sooo much coffee on the drive here from my parent's place, I'm not going to sleep anytime soon." Piper smiled warmly at Alex as they started to get up and leave the apartment.

Piper put the rest of the pizza and beers in the fridge as she went to grab her keys. She was pretty happy to have an excuse to hang out more with Alex. She wasn't sure what it was, but she just felt drawn to her. There was just something about Alex that was so mysterious, but so gentle at the same time. Piper led Alex to where her car was parked and jumped into the drivers seat. As she went to grab the hand break she practically grabbed the brunette's hand. "Sorry" they both mutter at the same time, both smiling at the contact.

"So, where to?" Piper was suddenly very curious to see what Alex's sister was like.

"Just take a right at the end of the road here, then keep driving straight for a loooong time."

"So your sister is at a friend's house?"

Alex exhaled loudly, "she's meant to be having a sleep over, but occasionally she cracks it and ends up calling me in the middle of the night to pick her up. I swear, between her and me, we're giving all Vauses a bad name." Piper watched as Alex laughed to herself.

Piper loved sleep overs as a kid, she couldn't imagine calling to be picked up. "So, why doesn't she want to stay?"

"I dunno. She can be pretty firey so she's either had a fight with her friend, or she's just feeling shitty. For such a pain in the ass, she can get pretty sensitive at times, decide she wants to sleep in her own bed. Or steal mine."

"Awwww, that's so cute. So you're a soft touch then?" Piper could see Alex rolling her eyes in the passenger seat.

"Hmmmmm, don't make those sort of assumptions Piper," Alex said smirking. "She knows that if she called mum she'd tell her to stay put. She's knows I'll cave to her eventually, otherwise she won't stop calling and texting me! She basically harasses me into picking her up."

"Sure sure, don't worry, I won't tell anyone how soft you are." Piper could not help poking fun in this situation, Alex obviously had a soft spot for her sister she didn't want to admit to. Piper put on the radio and the two sat in silence for a while, not an uncomfortable silence, it was just nice to be in the same space as someone and not feel the need to speak.

After about 35 minutes, Alex directed Piper off the main road to where her sister was. She was already sitting in the front yard with her backpack and a wicked frown on her face. The little girl looked just like Alex, just a miniature version. Lucy walked up to the car, got in and slammed the door shut, throwing her back pack across the seat. "Good to see you too," said Alex as she tried to decipher Lucy's face.

"Who are you?" Lucy didn't hesitate in asking Piper.

"Oh, um, I'm Piper, your new neighbour,"

"You'll get used to the attitude," Alex told Piper, smirking in the dark. "So, what happened this time?"

"I don't wanna talk about it,"

Alex left it at that, she was pretty sure she knew what happened, but she'd let Lucy tell her in her own time. Alex and Piper kept chatting on the way home, mostly about books. They eventually made their way back to the apartment building. As all three walked up the stairs Piper noticed Lucy grab onto Alex's hand, "so cute," she thought to herself, "they must be pretty close." They finally reached their floor.

"Thanks again Piper,"

"Anytime." Piper walked into her apartment smiling to herself.

Alex led Lucy into the apartment, the young girl sat herself down on the couch in a huff. Alex went into her bedroom to get ready for bed, changing into shorts and a t-shirt. Just as she was getting into bed, she saw Lucy poking her head around the bedroom door, "Can I sleep with you tonight?" Alex nodded as she got up and grabbed a t-shirt for Lucy to wear to bed. She closed the bedroom door and gave Lucy the shirt. The two sisters then squeezed into the small bed. Alex got in first, then held up the blanket for Lucy to slide in, the little girl immediately pressed her face into the pillow. Alex put her arm around her, "So you ready to talk about it?" she asked.

"Sarah's stupid friend kept calling us poor, and kept saying my sleeping bag was ugly. So I pushed her over."

Alex tried to stifle a laugh, Lucy was never afraid to stand up for herself, but at the end of the day she was just a sensitive little girl, Alex would do anything to make her feel better. "Well you don't need people like that, don't listen to her." Alex was used to this routine, two or three times each week Lucy would ask to sleep in Alex's room.

It wasn't long before the two sisters drifted off to sleep, Alex holding onto Lucy the whole time.