The familiar, distinctive opening riff of "Jumpin' Jack Flash" roused Alyssa from sleep.

She smiled drowsily as she opened her eyes to see Keith sitting at the end of her bed, a butterscotch-coloured acoustic in his hands as he played.

"That's a nice alarm clock," she murmured.
"Morning."

"Hello. It's well after morning," he replied, smiling slightly as he continued playing.

Alyssa ran a hand through her hair.
"Where's Theo?"

"Already up. Away to the shop with Patti."
Keith finished the tune with a flourish and a grin.

"Breakfasts waiting for you. Then we've got some news."

"Breakfast at-" Alyssa glanced at the clock that hung on the wall over the record player "-nearly two?"

"Well, lunch then. Whatever the fuck you want to call it, it's on the table waiting for you."
Keith waved a hand as he stood up, pulling back her covers.

Alyssa yelped at the sudden absence of warmth and he tossed her dressing gown to her, a rather mischievous glint in his eyes.

She shivered and slipped it on as she got up, putting on a pair of slippers as she followed Keith to his guitar room, where he dropped off the guitar, before going downstairs to the kitchen.

Breakfast was mounds of steaming, freshly-made, fluffy pancakes with a wide assortment of toppings.

"Are there any more?" Alyssa asked timidly, licking chocolate spread off her fingers.

"Give me five minutes and there will be," Keith said, standing with a grin, mug of tea in hand as he crossed to the empty bowl on the drainer and started making more pancake mix.

Alexandra came into the kitchen, humming as she filled the kettle.
"Tea Alyssa? What're you cooking Dad?"

"Please," Alyssa replied.

"Pancakes. Do you want some?" Keith kissed her head as he cracked eggs into the bowl, presenting an incredibly domestic image in contrast to his hell-raising rockstar persona.

"Sure. You make excellent pancakes."
Alexandra flicked the kettles switch and set two mugs on the counter.

She passed Alyssa a mug of tea after a minute, which she drank along with her second plate of pancakes.

Ronnie appeared as they were washing up, yawning and still in pyjamas, his hair dishevelled.

"I'm up before you? This has to be a first," said Keith with a grin.

"Shut up," Ronnie muttered, lifting a mug off the drainer before making coffee.

Krissy came in, buttoning her shirt as she kissed her husband's cheek in greeting.
"Pancakes?" she said questioningly.

"All gone, sorry Krissy. Ingredients are still here if you want to make your own though."

Krissy nodded with a smile.

"Why did you two sleep in so long?" Keith asked mischievously.

"None of your business."
A smirk played on Ronnie's lips as he took a sip of coffee.

Alyssa sat quietly, sipping her tea.

Charlie came in with Shirley and the dogs, followed by Jasmine, who was in a dressing gown, her hair wrapped up in a fluffy towel.

"Is Mick back yet?" Jasmine asked.

"Yeah, he just pulled up," Charlie replied as he sat down.

The dogs did their rounds of the kitchen, sniffing and greeting everyone in it.

"Oh, a storm is threat'ning my very life today. If I don't get some shelter oh yeah, I'm gonna fade away."

Mick's distinctive voice singing the instantly recognisable "Gimme Shelter" floated down the hall, announcing his return.

"War, children, it's just a shot away. It's just a shot away. War, children, it's just a shot away."

Keith sang the next verse from his seat at the table, his lower, rougher voice catching Alyssa's attention, as she'd never heard him sing before.

Mick entered the kitchen, humming as he kissed Jasmine before greeting everyone else with a "Morning everyone."

"Very nice Keith," he said as he crossed to the kettle. "We should duet that sometime."

"Mm, yeah," Keith said with a nod as he lit a cigarette, retrieving an ashtray from the end of the table.

Alyssa looked around, verifying all four of the Stones were all there.
Wondering what they were going to tell her and hoping it was nothing bad.
She played with her dressing-gown belt, mentally analysing her words and actions over the last few days, trying to think of anything she'd done wrong.

"Relax," Charlie said gently, evidently noticing her unease. "You're not in trouble."

"I'm not?" Alyssa asked quietly.

"No. We just want to discuss something with you."

Mick sat down with a steaming mug, sipping in silence for a moment before speaking again.

"Everyone is leaving Evercreek between today and tomorrow, and we need to know who you'd feel most comfortable going home with."

"Patti," Alyssa said instantly.

Mick glanced at Keith, who nodded.

"Alright, you're coming back to Redlands with us then."

"You're staying in England?" Mick asked Keith.

"Yeah. Might head to the States for a few days for a visit, but yeah, for now at least we're staying in England. We've got things to sort out here," the guitarist replied, flicking ash off the end of his cigarette.

Mick nodded, running a hand through his hair.

"So we didn't need this conference then," Ronnie muttered, standing up with his mug of coffee in hand.

"Did someone get too much satisfaction last night, Ron?"

Ronnie flipped Keith off, who laughed as he watched him leave the kitchen.

Jasmine left a few minutes later, presumably to dress.

Keith took a slow drag from his cigarette, gaze fixed on the window as smoke escaped in wisps from between his parted lips.
Skye rested her head across his knees and he stroked her gently, though his gaze didn't leave the window.

Charlie was tapping his fingers on the table, drumming a rhythmic beat.

The door opened and Patti came in, followed by Theodora.

"Oh, you're awake," Theodora said with a grin as she set a shopping bag on the table.

"I was awoken by the guitar riff of "Jack Flash" and made pancakes, so it was a nice way to wake up. Much better than getting shouted and cursed at."

Patti's eyes softened and she opened her mouth to speak but Keith rose, beckoned her silently and the two of them left the kitchen.

Theodora petted the dogs, refilling their water bowls before starting to put the shopping away.

Alyssa immediately went to help her, afraid of getting told off if she didn't.

"Thanks, though you don't have to. Pasta goes in there." Theodora gestured to the appropriate place while putting bottles of milk into the fridge.

Patti returned with more shopping bags. "Leave that, it's going with us," she said, leaving them on an empty chair.
"Go pack whatever you're bringing. I see no point in staying here any longer. "

An hour later, Alyssa was sitting between her sisters in the back of the car, a bag of boiled sweets in her lap as Alexandra tried to find black ones, powdery sugar dusting her fingertips.

Soft blues music came from the radio, a breeze from the slightly open passenger window ruffled her hair.

Theodora popped a sweet into her mouth, tucking away a strand of hair that had escaped her ponytail.

"Did you call her?" Patti asked Keith.

"I did. She's there, was going to pick up something in town, but should be there when we arrive," he replied, indicating and changing lane as he spoke.

Alyssa rested her head back against the seat, half-listening to the radio as she chewed thoughtfully on a sweet.

"Who are they talking about?" she murmured quietly to Theodora.

"Anita. She looks after Redlands when we're not there," replied Theo.

Alyssa had more questions, but decided not to ask them, instead she helped herself to another sweet and sat watching out of the window while listening to the radio for the remainder of the journey.

A/N
Holy shit, it's been a looong time.
I had no inspiration to continue this story. But here's my obligatory December 18th chapter.

Happy Birthday Keith Richards and Happy Wedding Anniversary to Keith and Patti.