A/N: Thanks for all the reviews, though they may not be many they do keep me to continue on with this story. Hope you like it.

Chapter 4

'What a waste of time,' Ororo said as she violently threw her bag of stolen junk. "If I had known that I couldn't get money for that crap I wouldn't have wasted my time for stealing it in the first place."

Ororo was so mad, but she was mad because she was disappointed in herself. She knew the rules of the streets—don't get greedy. And that's exactly what she did, took from another thief who had obviously worked hard for his loot. Not only that, her common sense had also eluded her. She didn't know how she was actually going to sell the scrap metal back to anyone. She was twelve for crying out loud. And all her would-be sellers let her know it.

They all thought it was the funniest thing in the world when this little girl walked in their shops with obviously stolen merchandise, and to put the icing on the cake, wanted money for it! She was seen as a joke, thief, bum, and con-artist trying to pull the wool over their eyes. Ororo decided she had had enough when one man actually called the police on her after he cursed her out for bringing in stolen parts. She was back at square one. Right in front of the little alley where she slept in a cardboard box that she called home.

Just then she remembered the little gold locket she had stolen a few days ago. She searched her pockets and was relieved to find it. "I almost forgot about you," she said aloud. "Now to the pawn shop," she said. And on her way she went, up the street and around the corner.

"Fifty dollars," the man across the counter said nonchalantly.

"Wha—fifty?! Fifty dollars?! Are you serious? That's got to be about two hundred, its solid gold with a real diamond pendant," Ororo practically screamed at the man.

"Sorry, fifty's all I can give you for this."

"You damn right you're sorry. Sorry out of your mind if you think I'm gonna accept that."

"Well look around sweet pea, you ain't got much of a choice. Now take the fifty dollars and get the hell outta my face. Or, take this piece of garbage back and get the hell outta my face. Either way, choose one while you get the hell outta my face," he barked at the little girl.

There were so many thoughts and feelings running through Ororo she didn't know what to do. Her heart was telling her to deck the man in the jaw and take her property back. While her mind told her to politely take the money and walk away. Always being a sensible girl, Ororo made a compromise to do both.

With a wide smile on her face she said, "Thank you sir for your offer. But you see, I don't give my business to those who don't want it. So I respectfully decline your offer. And if I may have my necklace back I will be much obliged to get the hell outta your face."

There, she thought, she had taken her property back politely without knocking the man across his head.

Amused, pissed, taken aback, and intrigued all at the same time, the man graciously gave the little girl her necklace back. Feeling guilty for being so mean he tried to raise the offer to one hundred dollars, but it was far too late.

"Thanks, but no thanks. I don't take scrapes," she said as she turned on her heels. She walked out empty handed, but she at least walked out with her pride and integrity. But pride and integrity didn't make Ororo money. Just as she was trying to figure out what her next move would be, she heard a series of slow applause.

Clap, clap, clap. "Very impressive chere. I personally would've broken dat homme's jaw, but dat's just Remy," said the oh-so familiar stranger.

"Stay back, I'm warning you. Look if you want your stuff back I can show you where it is, just don't make me hurt you," Ororo warned as she scrambled toward the wall behind her.

"Ha. Hurt Remy chere? Petite, you one funny lil' fille," Remy said as he slowly approached her. "Relax, Remy jus' wanna talk."

"Get back! Ok, fine, I'll show you then," she said.

With her eyes to the sky they began to turn a faint white color, then they went back to blue. 'Strange' Ororo thought. So she tried it again to no avail. "C'mon," she whispered desperately to herself. With all the energy she could muster up, she summoned a lightning bolt that struck no where near were Remy was. Weak and exhausted, she managed to mutter a "See, told ya' so," as she hit the ground.

Remy rushed to the little girl to see if she was ok. He could tell by her complexion and lack of energy that she was dehydrated, exhausted, and starving. He was just trying to talk to her, now he had to take care of her? Remy could barely take care of himself. He knew he needed some help.

"Remy, what the hell do you think you're doing? Who is this, and why is she with you," asked Mrs. Campbell.

"I found her on the street passed out. Remy couldn't let her stay there like dat."

"Well she can't stay here. Wait, you ain't one of them pedophiles are ya? Cause if you are I will report you ass so fast—

"NO! No. Hell no. Now Mrs. Campbell, listen. Remy know you and I have had a few problems. But she just a chile', a lil' fille with no home."

"I know that Remy but I can't help that. Rules are rules. How are you gonna explain to the other tenants that you got a little girl, obviously not related, shacking up with you? It just ain't normal."

"I know all that but—"

"I'm sorry Remy. No means no," she said as she turned her back to him to walk away.

"Remember what you told me Mrs. Campbell? That the streets don't love nobody. Well dis lil' fille proof of dat. Look what the streets did to her. Remy know dat you can't look him in the face, and turn away dis innocent chile'."

Slowly turning around, Mrs. Campbell was ashamed of herself. She knew Remy wouldn't harm her, but she knew it just didn't look right. She knew with the help of Remy she could save this child from the streets.

"Put that baby in bed and meet me in my office. If she gonna stay, we got to lay some rules down."

"T'ank you,"

"No, thank you Remy. Thank you."