He whirled around and stared at me. I stared right back, as if I was daring him to make a move. "You seem awful hurried there Spot," I chuckled softly. "Almost as if your life depended on it!" The King didn't see the humor. Instead he just stood there, gapping. Finally he got up the nerve to speak. "How long was youse standin' dere, Shadow?" he asked. "In Tibby's, Isa mean."

I leaned up against the dark alley wall. "Long enough. I was already there when you walked in, actually."

"Really?"

"I had some business to take care of with Jack."

Spot nodded but stayed where he was. "Ya brother thinks very highly 'o' ya," he admitted. "He says youse tougher den nails an' smart as a whip. Called youse da Guardian Angel 'o' Manhattan." I snorted. "He has that right! I protect his boys the best I can, give them a place to stay when the bulls are around and make sure the older ones don't get into any trouble."

That one phrase seemed to click with Spot. I could see him putting together all the pieces in his head, figuring things out. "Dat's why youse was in Brooklyn with ya brother. Youse was makin' sure things didn't go south. Ya da lady who owns da store dat settles as da second headquarters, youse been behind everything from housing den meetings ta makin' sure Brooklyn joined up for da strike."

"Not exactly. I'm not in charge of the strike, that's all the newsies, but I've been around. Like you said, I'm Manhattan's Guardian Angel. I was in Brooklyn to keep my brother safe. I was there the next day to convince you to help us, plain as day," I told him. Spot got quiet after that, but only for a minute. Then he spoke again.

"Youse been avoiding me Shadow," he confronted at last. "Why?"

I had been dreading this question for the past day and a half. How was I going to answer it? By telling him the truth? But then again, there was no other way. I took a deep breath. "Spot, when Jack described me as Manhattan's Guardian Angel, what else did he say?" Spot had to pause and think on that one. Finally, he replied "Dat youse would do anything ta protect ya boys." I nodded, fully expecting this. "Exactly." Then an unbidden image came to mind and I turned away to hide my tears.

"When Jack was almost killed by the Delancy's his first week out selling, I was the one at his side helping fight them off. When Granite retired from being a newsie I was the one who secured Jack's position as leader and made sure no one could take it away until he could fight well enough to handle it on his own. When I opened my shop I turned it into a safe house for any newsies who needed help. Even when the strike started I was the one he went to when he needed support. That's why I was in Brooklyn with him two days ago; protecting him from anything that could have gone wrong. I've always made sure my borough has never had to owe anything from anyone, and when you suddenly decided to save all those kids in the fight yesterday- well, if we ever made it out of that one you would've told us we owed you our lives."

Conlon tried to objected, but I cut him off before he could say anything. "Don't try and deny it Conlon, I know how you people in Brooklyn think! The only way to make sure you wouldn't pull the 'saving lives' card was to save yours. I did it because I had to, not because I wanted to." That comment shut the King up for a reasonable amount of time. For a while we just stood there, not saying a word. Then he had the courage to say something. "Youse mean dat youse saved me so dat Manhattan wouldn't owe nothin'? Dat's why youse been avoiding me? Because ya thought dat if ya kept youse distance Isa wouldn't try an' pay ya back without hearing how it really went down?"

I pivoted on the balls of my feet a bit to face Spot again. "You understand. Good." But that didn't go over too well with Spot. He simply just blew up in my face when I said that. "Dat's all youse have ta said ta me? Dat Isa understands? Because Isa don't think I do! Youse killed someone ta protect youse boy, Isa get dat part, but me? Didn't it ever occur ta youse dat maybe if Isa was dead I couldn't collect da debt?"

I froze, feeling all the blood drained from my face. He was right; I could've done that too, but I hadn't. Why I hadn't yet figured out. But I could do that later- right now I had to give answer to Spot. "That may be true, but like I said, I'm the 'Guardian Angel'. You were in Manhattan, I had no choice."

"Youse had all da choices in da world, Shadow!" Conlon retorted. "Youse could have let me die, but ya didn't! Da reason may not occur ta youse, but it's as plain 'o' day ta everyone else!" I saw what angle he was playing at, and I utterly refused to make it out as he was. "I hate you, Spot Conlon! I always have and I always will!" I screamed at him, my storm gray eyes flaring up with lightning streaking out of them. "So get you're head on straight and stay out of my way, or you'll be facing the barrel of a gun!"

"Youse can't get away from me, Shadow," Spot answered quietly. "Did it ever occur ta youse dat maybe you savin' my life weren't just a spur 'o' da moment thing? Did ya even consider it ta be fate?" He took a step towards me, and I took a step back- straight into the brick wall of the alley. I glanced up in the sky; storm clouds circling around me head like a whirlpool. It looks like the storm from last night was at it again. I faced Spot, who had me cornered. "Conlon, what in the name in Joseph Pulitzer are you doing?" I demanded to know. I could feel my knees shaking, heart pounding inside my chest, the whole nine yards. I hadn't really been scared of much as a kid- this here frightened me even more then the thought of my brother back in the Refuge did.

Spot kept on advancing. "Isa had ova 24 hours ta think things ova, Shadow," he whispered quietly into my ear. "Dere ain't no such thing as coincidences, youse said it youseself. It wasn't by any chance you happened ta just be dere at da exact moment a man came at me with a club. I think it's something more, an' youse know it too." I shook my head, refusing to believe it. "Spot, it wasn't fate, it was merely just an accident-""And youse just happened ta show up ta save me when it occurred?" Conlon laughed his deep blue eyes boring directly into mine. I had made it my mission never to look Spot in the eyes unless I had to, and now he was giving me no other choice. Dear Reader, those eyes are the most awful thing about him; they stare deep into your soul and extract everything that connects you to your humanity. I hate those even more then I did his ego.

My whole body was trembling; Spot was far too close to me for my taste. I had been stupid enough to leave my revolver at home too. How horrible could this situation get? "Who-what are you going to do with me?" my voice quaked in fear. Spot smirked (I hate that too) and leaned in close, his face barely touching mine. "What Isa has been meanin' ta do ever since I laid eyes on you." Then he kissed me. Hard.

I had seen him kissing women millions of times, even heard about the experience afterwards so much that my mind couldn't take much more of it. I had seen those lips move across some show girl's mouth so many times I could never keep count- but I'd never in all my life imagined them on my own. They were soft, smooth as butter, might even say beautiful, but all I felt was dread. For a split second I just sort of stood then, dumfounded, and then I started to try and pull away. At first it was just a brief tug, but pretty soon I was fighting the King off, sending a kick into his chest and towering over him like I had done with Jack but this time for real. The unshed tears were flowing down my face; or I think they were, it could have been the rain pouring down upon us too.

"Go home Spot," I said, in tone as cold and cruel as ice. "After this strike is over, I never want to see your lousy butt all the way up here in Manhattan again." Then I turned tail and ran through the storm back home, leaving the newsie sitting in a dark alley alone with nothing but rain and thunder to hear him out.

$N$

I walked into my store with a dead look on my face. Sarah was now up from her slumber now and finishing up her book from the night before. When I walked in as white as a sheet she quickly got up and ushered me into a countertop chair, a worried expression written all across her face. "What happened?" she chattered impatiently, hurrying to get a glass of water. "Did something go wrong? Has there been another raid in the Center? Elizabeth, are you alright?"

I was still shaking when I responded blankly "He kissed me." Then it sunk in and I grew angrier and more humiliated by the minute. "He kissed me! The stupid son of a freaking jack kissed me!" I shoved my water off the counter and hurled a punch at the wall in fury, making a fist-sized hole and drawing blood from my knuckles. "Who kissed you?" Sarah asked gently, trying to calm me down.

"The King of Brooklyn, that's who!" I screamed, the humiliation part of the experience floating to the surface and subsiding the anger while bringing on tears. I down on the floor and up against the wall and cried. Sarah sat down beside me and held me close. "C'mon Elizabeth, you're OK," she comforted. Under normal circumstances I would have been further more upset at the fact she was coddling me, but at this point I was desperate and needed all the sympathy I could get. "Elizabeth you'll be fine, he was just being a jerk trying to get at you I know, you'll be over it in two days anyways, just breath and relax."

I did as ordered and instantly the cries stopped. I turned to Sarah. "Why did he do it? He knows I hate him, I told him myself! Why didn't I stop him Sarah, why?" Here I was, acting like a child, but Sarah didn't seem to mind. "He probably does this to every girl who doesn't fall for him, he was just being a bigot. He'll probably forget it ever happened in a bit and you'll be back to normal!"

Just then Jack walked it, whistling merrily to himself. "Hey sis, we made da papes-"He then saw me and Sarah on the ground. His eyed widened in surprise. "What happened?" I looked up at him pitifully and Sarah answered for me "Spot tried to kiss her. Succeeded actually. She's having a hard time coping with it. I'm telling her he does it all the time, but Shadow's still shaken up." Jack bent down to take my hand in his then looked at Sarah sadly. "Problem is this ain't on regular case dis time. Spot's been all ova da city lookin' for Shadow, an' he finally cornered me at Tibby's dis mornin'. He's not da same Spot dat goes around hooking up with giorls all ova every night, dis is a newsie who's lovesick."

That sent a dry sob racking through me. So he wasn't just being Spot? He actually liked me? I was completely and utterly shocked, so much that instead of shedding tears my aching had turned into dry, hard sobs that racked throughout my whole body. Jack pulled me close like Sarah had done and patted me on the back, trying to get me to calm down. "Shadow, youse gonna be fine! Think about it, really do! Spot ain't playin' ya, he genuinely loves youse! Dat makes ya special!"

That didn't necessarily help out, and I bit my lip while glancing at Sarah. She got the message and said her good-byes, to which I sobered up enough to get to my feet and say farewell, but after she was gone I collapsed back into my brother's arms again. "I don't want to be special Jack!" I said, sniffling. "I want to be normal, like everyone else. How am I supposed to do that with the King of Brooklyn on my heels?" Jack pulled away to get a look at me. "Youse really don't like him do ya?" I glared at him, but didn't really mean it. "Jack, he's an arrogant fool with no sense of direction. Of course I don't like him, he's preyed on shallow women his whole career as king!"

"Which has been only about year."

"You know what I mean! Even if I did like him I wouldn't date him or anything anyways, he's too much of a player!"

Jack understood. He led me to the counter and we sat down, mulling over the situation we now found ourselves in. "I get dat youse hesitant sis. I would be too if Isa was youse. Ya right- if he's done it before what stops im' from doing it again?" I wagged my finger at him. "Precisely my point! Spot's a jerk and I want nothing to do with him!" Jack laughed. "Well, it looks like ya feeling better now." My twin then proceeded to hop onto a different topic. "So, about da strike. We made da papers Shadow! Denton, da reporter following us, he got da Sun ta print our story! Got it on da front page too!" I leapt to my feet and squealed, all anger and sadness gone. "Jack, you mean it? Our strike made the newspapers? You're serious?"

He grinned proudly. "Ya got dat right! We're famous sis, we made da papers! We're in it for a change, not selling it dat's for sure!" I myself allowed a small chuckle but immediately grew sober again. "But back on the topic at hand. What am I goin' to do about Conlon? I can't get away from him Jack, not in New York! He'll always find me here." Jack started to say something, but I cut him off. "And no, don't tell me to abandon my shop and ran away to Santa Fe! That's your dream, not mine." That shut him up for a few minutes and we sat there silently. Then my brother stood and helped me out of my chair. "It ain't what youse gonna do, it's what we're gonna do. Ya can't face Spot alone, not without people backing ya up. C'mon, let's go find da King. He's got some explainin' to do."

$N$

To say the least Spot was right where we'd thought he'd be, over by the Center's statue in its square ordering some birds around. I had refused to let him see me, much talk to me personally, so that provoked quite a challenge for Jack. But we came up with a solution (not one I liked, mind you, but good enough) even if it meant me wearing one of my shop's dresses.

Jack strolled casually up to Spot and they chatted for a minute about the regular old things; the strike, how their stunt made the front page, that sort of thing while I was sitting with Les nearby. To hide my appearance Jack made me wear a large Southern Bell style hat (something I detested), but I went with it. You couldn't really argue with the person who was helping me out, even if it was my own family member. I had Les with me because no one, especially a newsie, takes notice to a woman and her child. I guess I looked old enough to pass for Les's mother (but I still looked rather young, still a teenager to all who could see under the hat), because not a single person gave me much thought. Les had been all for the idea of helping Jack out, even if he had no living notion on what it was, and he played the part extremely well, bouncing all over the place and acting as if I was supposed to be family. Meanwhile Jack was getting warmed up for the main event- confronting Spot about the events this morning.

The threat of rain was still constant, but it didn't look as bad as it did when I had ducked into the alley this morning. "Did youse look for Shadow go dis mornin'? Ya didn't find err, did ya?" Jack asked calmly. Spot shrugged. "She found me," was all he replied. Jack crossed his arms and frowned angrily. "Yeah, Isa heard." Spot looked at him startled. He narrowed his eyes carefully, scanning for anything that could give Jack's motives away. "How did youse hear it?" Jack rolled his eyes and smacked Spot clear across the face. "Spot, she's my sister! She told me everything!" He started to paced aggressively, and I knew he was mad. Jack never paced unless he was on offense, and right now things were about to get a bit ugly.

"Conlon, Isa can forgive youse for falling for Shadow, ya can't help dat, but den youse go an' act on it? Ya treated err like she was any other woman Spot, an' she ain't any other woman. She's my sister, someone who should be treated with respect, an' ta have youse go cornering err an' trying ta kiss her? I can't just let dat by Conlon, dat Isa can't do!"

Spot's blue eyes stared at Jack desperately. "Look Jackie boy, Isa sorry for doing what Isa did, it wasn't da smartest move on my part an' Isa regret it. Ya right, she ain't just any other giorl, but dat's why Isa like her so much! She's different Jack, youse gotta understand dat!" Jack stopped pacing and looked at Spot expectantly. "Alright, go on."

Spot took a deep breath and continued. "Jack, Isa love Shadow, I do, honestly! Who wouldn't? An' if Isa made ya mad for kissing err Isa sorry, I acted too fast. But Isa can't just move on Jack, even if she does hate me!" He hung his head and let his arms fall limply at his side. I watched the whole thing go down, and I about fell apart all over again. "She's my world now," Spot finished. "I've never felt dis way about anyone Jack! Isa sorry Isa had ta fall for youse sister 'o' all people, but dat can't be helped."

I watched from underneath the brim of my hat as Jack nodded solemnly. "Ya know what Spot?" he finally told him, putting a hand on the King's shoulder affirming, "Dat's all Isa needed ta hear. Just by dat youse proved dat ya would take good care 'o' Elizabeth an' dat's all Isa ask for." He drew back and pulled himself up on the statue's base. "Isa can give youse permission ta see her Spot, but Isa can't say da same thing for Shadow. She's still shaken up ya know. She's not happy either, was calling for blood earlier. How youse gonna manage dis?" Spot shrugged again and stared out into the distance. "She'll come around."

I was biting my lip nervously by then. Here Jack was, giving his permission for Spot to date me and I hadn't even given my consent! I couldn't blame him though; anyone could see Spot really, truly loved me. If Jack thought Spot would treat me right, then I wouldn't judge. But anyways, I wasn't ready to accept the fact just yet. I needed time to think. I whistled for Les to come and we made our way back to his home to drop him off. Then I went home to change out of my dress and take a cold shower. By the time I got back downstairs it was raining again, and Jack was sitting in my living room, having apparently let himself in after growing tired of meeting me in the store. I wrung my blonde hair out and sat down on the couch facing opposite of my sibling; he looked almost happy. "Did youse hear all 'o' dat?" he asked, referring to his conversation with Spot almost an hour before.

I shrugged and resumed wringing out my hair. "Yeah, I heard the whole thing. What did you make of it?" Jack raised an eyebrow and looked at me. "What did youse?" I frowned; causing Jack's other eyebrow to rise. "I don't really know. I mean, sure, I now know that he isn't just playing me like I thought, but that gave you no right to allow him to date me!" Jack's eyebrows went down as he let his face fall in embarrassment. "Yeah, Isa sorry about dat. Isa guess Isa thought dat after ya heard what Conlon had ta say youse would soften up." I sighed and leaned back into the plush cushions. "I can forgive you for that Jack, I'm too tired to argue with you at this point anyways, but do you know what that's gonna be like for me? You were the only thing Keeping Spot anyways from me until a while ago, and now that the barrier's gone nothing but skin, teeth and bullets are going to keep him away now."

"Let me guess- youse own skin, teeth, an' bullets?" Jack questioned teasingly. I cracked a smile and tossed my now-reasonably dry hair into a pony-tail and began to braid it down. "Look, if Spot does anything Isa can easily revoke my permission," Jack reminded me. "We're a family; we take care 'o' each other." I smiled again and pulled jack into a hug. "That's all I ask for." Then I got up to get myself a glass of water. Jack followed me into the kitchen. "So, are ya gonna give im' a chance or what?"

Pouring the water into my cup and hopping up onto the table, letting my feet dangle below me, I took a long drink and thought for a moment. Then I set it down to look out the window and into the oncoming storm outside. "I don't know yet Jack. I need some time- give me a couple days and I'll have your answer." Jack shook his head angrily. "Shadow, da time for thinkin' is ova. Ya either gonna give im' a chance or ya ain't, simple as dat!"

"It's simple when you've already fallen in love with someone who loves you back!" I retorted, referring to his budding relationship with Sarah. "I can't even think straight right now, much less on the crazy topic of emotions, so if you could give me at least 24 hours I could give you an answer but as of now I'm a wreck!" I was off the table and up in my little brother's face now, gray eyes blazing with such intense fury that Jack backed off a bit, fear radiating off of him. He put his hands up in defeat. "Alright, I get it, ya think youse ain't in da right mind ta decide right now, I can understand dat, but Catherine, ya can't hide forever. One day youse gonna have ta face Spot!"

I growled in my throat as he said my old name but didn't bother to tell him off. Jack was right, I couldn't hide forever. Spot was going to get to me sooner or later- I would just have to put my skills to work, disappear for a while and wait for this to pass by. Hey, I wasn't called Shadow for nothing! But, on the other hand, leaving New York meant leaving behind my store (and quite possibly my whole life) behind, and I couldn't put my twin through another one of my disappearances again. He had barely made it through the last one intact. No, leaving the city behind wasn't going to solve anything; I had to push myself through this. But I still needed time to figure out how.

I looked at Jack with a lightly softer expression. "I'm sorry I got mad, it wasn't your fault," I began. "And I know as well as anyone that you wouldn't put me through anything you knew I couldn't handle. So give me a day and I can give you my answer." He met my eye with a much happier smile, that familiar mischievous glint back and brighter than ever. "Thanks for understandin' sis!" he smiled. "I appreciate it. So youse gonna wait another day?" I nodded. "Yeah, but I promise I'll give it not a day later. So we cool now?" Jack shrugged but I could tell he was alright. "Yeah, whatever. I should get goin', da boys are gonna notice Isa gone so much if I stay any longer. But before Isa leave, Race want me ta pass along dat dere's a party at Irving Hall tonight. Ya comin' or what?"

I shrugged but nodded nevertheless. I hadn't seen Medda in ages; it would be nice to visit the theatre I had loved to visit with Jack again. "Yeah sure, why not?" I reasoned. "Who all's coming?" I wished I hadn't already said yes, because Jack told me exactly what I didn't need to hear. "We invited all da boroughs in New York,' he said, smirking, "Including Brooklyn." I tried to hit him in the arm, but my little brother dodged the blow. I knew I couldn't stay mad at him; it was a good trick anyhow. It just wasn't to my advantage. I glared falsely in his direction as he closed the front door behind him. "See ya tonight Shadow!" he called back.

I stood staring at the door long after Jack had left. "See you tonight," I whispered quietly.

$N$

Nothing to say here but review! If someone would do that on every chapter that'd be fantastic & I'll write you a one-shot with your own character in it! Adios-

Miss Mad Hatter