A/N: I started this story back in 2002, got through Chapter 6, and left it alone for a little over 5 years. I'm re-discovering my love of Newsies and have always wanted to finish this story, so I have updated all the old chapters (better language, better continuity) and will be posting an updated chapter each week (if not sooner). I've finished Chapter 7 (my first new chapter in 5 years!) and am working on Chapter 8. To say it's taking a slight deviation from the original plan would be an understatement. I've missed being part of the Newsie-verse…and I'm glad to be back. :)

Disclaimer (applies to all chapters): I don't own Newsies or anything you recognize (I watched a lot of Buffy in my youth and I fear it's seeped into all aspects of my life). I have created several OCs for this story and while there's a possibility that the newsie names appear elsewhere on this site, I intend no infringement or theft—the newsies in this story are of my own creation and mind.

Fighting Dutch

Chapter One – King of New York

"Spot?"

"Yeah?"

"Umm, we'se gots a problem."

"We'se, or youse?"

"We'se."

""Well den, why dontcha explain dis problem to me."

"OK. Ya see Bunny from Queens was heah earliah, an' she says dat she was overhearin' Piper tellin' Fuel dat Queens's gonna try an' get a piece a Brooklyn for demselves."

"Bunny says she was hearin' tings like dat? Bring 'ah heah."

"Shuah, Spot. I'll bring 'ah ta dinnah."

"Good. Thanks for dat info, Dizzy." Spot concluded, signaling the end of the conversation with a curt nod of his head. Dizzy nodded in return and left Spot alone on the bunkhouse roof.

Spot sighed, staring out at the setting sun in the horizon. Even though it was the beginning of April the sun was still setting at the same time it had been doing since the end of February. It had become almost routine for Spot to come out onto the rooftop every night to watch the sunset, and always alone. For it was only while his eyes filled with the mystical reds, golds, and purples that he could contemplate life. The city sounds of the street below would disappear, and Spot would gaze at the horizon until the sun had fallen to the moon and night overtook the busy streets of Brooklyn, bringing Spot out of his contemplation and signaling him back into his life as the leader of the Brooklyn newsies.

It had been three years since the strike that had proven the power of the working class kids and Spot was no longer a boy, but a handsome young man of nineteen. He was the oldest member of the Brooklyn newsies, and had been their leader for four years, one of the longest running leaderships in the history of the Brooklyn newsies. Normally, newsies would go out into the adult world and get real jobs and start families around the time they turned eighteen, but Spot wasn't ready for all that. He wanted to find steady work and settle down and start a family, but 1903 wasn't looking to be the best time to find steady work for a young man with no formal education. Moreover, Spot had already decided from being an orphan that he was not going to bring any children into the world that he couldn't provide for. Yet regardless of both of these reasons, the primary factor in why Spot remained the newsies' leader was the lack of anyone else qualified to do the job.

Jack had gotten out of the newsies business over a year ago. He married Sarah and since then had gotten a job building the new automobiles Mr. Ford invented. The last Spot heard of them they were expecting their first child in two or three months. Spot smiled, knowing that Jack Kelly would be a great father to any kid. And it wasn't just Jack who was ineligible for Spots job. Mush, Race, and Blink ran the Manhattan newsies for the most part, but they were getting up in age as well. Blitz, Pepper, Vince, and Charlie, the male members of Spot's inner circle, were also getting ready to leave the newsie life and were slowly beginning to fade into the adult world by procuring other odd jobs outside of the paper. Vince had even managed to land a job as a secretary for one of the big shot journalists at the Times. He sold every morning, but was always at work by eight o'clock in his suit and tie. Spot was surrounded by few newsies over the age of 14 and countless younger faces. There was no way that he was going to leave Brooklyn to go the hell by some newcomer with a slingshot; it was the only real home he ever remembered having.

Nevertheless, Spot was on the lookout for a qualified successor. Dizzy was the perfect candidate, except, she was a girl. The other newsies would likely view that as a weakness and would either leave Brooklyn or try to overthrow her. Unfortunately, Brooklyn was considered too rough by most female newsies, and thus the city only had six to boast of. Spot knew that placing Dizzy in charge with such a minority following was not the wisest decision.

As the sun fell further behind the horizon, Spot began to think about what Dizzy had said. Bunny was a very reliable source, as well as a fair friend. If Queens really was looking for a fight, Brooklyn would give them one to remember. The Brooklyn newsies were more than capable of overthrowing Queens. They were strong, quick, the most skilled fighters in New York, and their leader had no weaknesses.

Except one: her. She was his world, and Spot knew that if anyone used her to get to him he would be finished. This is why no one, their friends included, knew about their relationship. Spot hated not being able to put his arm around her or hold her hand in public, and he felt horrible flirting with other girls to maintain his womanizer reputation. And yet she understood their situation and accepted everything as necessary. Besides, she knew that Spot would never do anything with anyone else. She weakened him in a way that no other woman could ever compare, and he loved her with every fiber of his being. He would talk with her about the situation with Queens tonight.

The sun set on the horizon and Spot sighed. He got up and headed back down to the street, back down to the real world, back to where he was the proud and cocky king of Brooklyn.

A chorus of "Hey Spot!"s and "Where ya been?"s hit his ears as he entered Dub's, the local diner. He nodded his head with authority in response and sent a friendly smirk in the direction of his fellow newsies. He walked towards the back of the diner where his inner circle sat at their unofficially official table. Dizzy, Bunny, Blitz, Dutchess, Charlie, Vince, and Pepper were already there.

"Heya Spot, where ya been?" Pepper asked, moving over so that Spot could sit comfortably between himself and Dizzy.

"Noweah dat consoins any of youse," Spot replied, smiling devilishly. The hap-dash group laughed loudly.

"Deflowahed another young maiden in distress, eh Spot?" Dutchess joked, wriggling her eyebrows.

"Wut can I'se say? Dey all loves me."

"I'll believe it when I sees youse wit da same goil mowah den twice," Dizzy commented.

"Yeah, yeah, whatevah. Me's business is none 'o youse consoin. Now, I believe I've been neglecting our guest. How ya bin, Bunny?" Spot asked, turning his eyes to the only non-Brooklyn newsie at the table.

"I'se been bettah. Queens's getting' to be too full 'a crooks and joiks for my likes. It ain't like it used to be," Bunny stated, sorrow slightly evident in her tone.

"Aww, dat's too bad. Dey ain't hurtin' youse, right?" Vince questioned.

"No, no, nuttin' like dat. Just a bunch a punks whose tink dat deys da kings of New Yoirk."

"Ain' at always da way," Charlie sympathized, as they began to eat.

After dinner, Spot and Bunny snuck off, backed by several knowing looks and jokes. They walked around Brooklyn for a bit, their meeting cloaked by the dark streets of the city. They discussed life briefly, but mostly stuck to the problem at hand: Queens. Bunny told Spot everything that she had overheard, and none of it was good. After listening to everything Bunny had said, Spot extended the invitation to stay at the Brooklyn lodging house, which Bunny graciously accepted.

Once they had returned and Spot had made sure Bunny was safe and sound in the bunkroom, he quietly slipped outside again. He needed to see her.

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