Christopher Scotts Contest: Christmas is just a few days away, and Spot still hasn't gotten the most important gift, his girlfriends. He has nothing to offer, but when he finds a little girl, his world and Caroline's get turned upside down.
A/U: Hey everyone, this is a story for a contest Christopher Scott is having! For all of you Manhattan's Queen readers, this does kind of have a few spoilers about Spot and Caroline. Also I am taking a break from Manahattens Queen to write this. Just thought it would be fun to get in the holiday spirit! But oh well, hope you enjoy this, I had fun writing this little Christmas love story(: thanks again everyone and hope you would review for me!(:
Prologue
Okay there are now only seven days of Christmas…and I still only have fifty cents. I looked down at my hand and recounted. Yep only fifty cents, papes just haven't been selling well. Caroline will never forgive me if I don't give her an amazing gift. I shoved the money back into my pocket and looked around. There was a little bit of snow on the ground but it was melting. People were rushing in and out of stores carrying bags and boxes full of gifts for the people they love.
Something I can't do this year.
I sighed, and stood up from my bench and shoved my hands in my pockets. I headed down the side walk and something caught my attention. A small girl, who looked no older than seven. She was wearing rags and her hair was a mess, with her face completely covered in dirt. But it wasn't what she was wearing that caught my attention, it was her eyes. They were gold.
I walked up behind her and found myself taking off my coat. As I rested it on her shoulders, she looked up at me.
"Would you like to buy a set of matches', sir?" she asked in a small voice. It was scratchy, like she had been screaming.
"Where are your parents?" I found myself asking.
"They…they are dead sir."
"Do you have anyone else?" she shook her head.
"When is the last time you have eaten?" she shrugged her shoulders then held up four fingers. Four days…Jesus Christ. "I know you may be afraid…"
"No I'm not!" she stood up but immediately fell back to the ground. She looked at the ground ashamed. "I'm not scared…" I looked around; no one was paying attention to her, or even looking her way.
"How would you like a warm place to stay for a little while?" I knelt down next to her in the snow. She looked up at me with tears in her eyes. Her lip was quivering and her entire body was shaking, but she nodded her head. I picked her up and began heading towards the Manhattan lodging house.
She nuzzled her head into my chest and I wrapped the coat more tightly around her. It was about a five minute walk to the lodging house from where I found her, but I knew the perfect person to take care of her.
I reached the lodging house in no time and burst through the doors. It was beyond warm in there, Kloppman must have light all of the fire places.
"Hello?" I yelled. "Anyone home?" I checked the front desk and Kloppman wasn't there. So I checked the second room. Once again empty, great. "HELLO!" I screamed again.
"Okay, okay, hold your horses Spot. I'm comin', I'm comin'!" I hear Racetrack yell from the top of the steps. He began stepping down most of them with his head to the ground looking at his feet. Once he looked up he stopped walking. "Spot, why do you have a small child in your arms?"
"Can you help me get up stairs, please? She needs to lay down." I adjusted her n my arms. She was now fast asleep but her breathing was shallow.
"Well, none of the fireplaces are lit up there, common, let's put her on the couch." We stepped into the great room, were I set her down on the brown couch. I brushed her hair back off of her head and placed my jacket like a blanket. "Care to explain this?" he asked.
I nodded my head towards the door. We walked out and headed upstairs. "Alright Spot, what is going on? It isn't like you to just bring in a random kid…"
"She isn't random…" I said looking down at the ground.
"Really? How so?"
"Race…I'm not sure why…but she looked like she needed someone." I took off my hat and ran my fingers threw my hair and Race lit his cigar.
"Spot, is it because she looks like…"
"No." I said coldly.
"Well, let's keep her around for a little while, but its Christmas we don't have that much room Spot."
"She can sleep in my room." I heard a sweet, soft voice say. We both turned to face Caroline, Manhattans leader and my girlfriend. She was leaning in the door way and her brown hair was in two long braids. I walked over to her and held her in my arms for a brief moment, she was shaking.
"Cold out?" Race asked.
"Yeah," I let her go and she looked over at her younger brother. "Just started snowing." She turned back to me. "How old is she? She looks so young…"
"I was assuming six or seven." Caroline bit her lip that was the age she was when she became a newsie… "Caroline, she hasn't eaten in four days..."
"What?" Her and Racetrack said in unison. I just nodded.
"She can stay as long as she likes." She said with a smile. She turned on her heels and left the room. Racetrack and I followed very closely behind. We stood in the doorway and watched as Caroline sat down on the couch and began stroking the girls head.
"Ya know Spot; she is going to be a great mom one day…" Race whispered from beside me.
"Yeah, I know Race, that's why I wanna marry her."
