May 1902

Amelia sat on the docks, staring off at Manhattan, lost in her thoughts. Mikey sat a few yards away, whittling something. Spot was gone.

"I don't think she wants to see you," they heard behind them.

"Please, just let us through, I need to talk to her," Amelia heard Penny's voice.

Amelia sighed.

"You hard of hearing?" said another Brooklyn newsie.

"Want me to get rid of them?" Mikey asked Amelia.

"No," Amelia sighed again, standing up. She turned and walked down the docks where Specs and Penny were standing up against Ice and Flint. "It's okay, boys."

The newsies nodded. "We won't be far away." They said as they walked away.

Amelia just shook her head and rolled her eyes.

Specs raised his eyebrows at her. "Two months ago, all of Brooklyn hated your guts, now they're treating you like the prized jewel of the borough."

"Believe me, it wasn't easy," said Amelia.

"Oh, I'm sure it was very hard for Spot to threaten them should anything happen to you," said Specs.

"They're more my family than you ever were," said Amelia. "It's nice to know someone has my back."

"Amelia, it's not like that," said Penny. Amelia could tell she'd been crying. "You're one of my best friends, the last thing I want to do is hurt you. Please believe me, the papers have it all wrong."

"So you're not living in an apartment paid for by my parents?" Amelia raised her eyebrows.

Penny swallowed. Specs sighed. "Amelia—"

"And you're not attending the Annual Black and White ball with my parents?"

"Please, Amelia—" Penny begged.

"And Henry is not working in my father's head offices?"

"Amelia…" said Penny.

"Just let her get it out of her system," Specs muttered to her.

"And this wedding I hear is in the works? And that I'm the black sheep of the family?"

"Are you done?" Specs asked.

Amelia glared at him. "Maybe." She turned and walked toward the end of the dock and sat on a crate.

"Look, Amelia, it all happened before we even realized it," said Penny, walking up behind her. "After we got kicked out, Specs went to see your mother. When we got to your house, your parents were there, Specs barely said anything, and your father just started talking."

"I know I've never liked your father, but the money alone that comes with the job…" Specs paused, waiting for Amelia to interrupt, but he was met with her stony silence. "I can't afford to pass it up. We all gotta grow up some time. I want nothing more than to take care of Penny and give her everything she wants, and if I have to swallow my pride and accept a job and some money from your pop, then I will."

"What about the quote from Papa?" Amelia asked softly. "About how the only daughter he has is the one he found in Penny."

Penny swallowed and looked up at Specs. Specs just nodded. "He said that."

Amelia closed her eyes and turned away.

Penny stepped forward. "Amelia, you have to believe me, I didn't mean for any of this to happen. The last thing I'd ever want to do is hurt you."

"Just leave," said Amelia.

Penny bit her lip as fresh tears streamed down her cheeks.

"Amelia, please," she said softly, her voice cracking.

"Flint," said Amelia.

Flint, who'd been sitting off to the side stood up and took a few steps forward.

"No need to sic your dogs on us," said Specs. "We'll leave." He put his arm around Penny and led her away.

Amelia sat, staring down at the river.

Mikey walked over. "Everything okay?"

Amelia looked at him. "Yes, everything is wonderful, Mikey. My life is exactly how I always dreamed it would be. Thank you for asking."

Mikey put his hands up in defense and walked away.

Amelia sat, stewing in her anger and rage. Quotes from the article stuck in her mind. Her anger soon boiled over and she let out a scream. She stood up and threw the crate she'd been sitting on in the river. She threw the next crate in the river. A discarded slingshot got thrown in as well.

Flint, Ice, Slugger, and Mikey stood watching her. The nearby dockworkers stopped working to watch the crazy girl screaming and throwing things into the river. Soon she began grabbing crates and ropes and lunch pails belonging to the dockworkers.

"Whoa, whoa, easy, Amelia," Mikey said, rushing over to her.

"Hey!" yelled a foreman. "You better be going in to get that!"

"Control your woman!" yelled another worker.

"Sorry," Mikey called to them, trying to get his arms around Amelia, but she hit, slapped, and scratched herself away from him. "Flint! A little help?"

Flint, a good foot taller than both of them, walked over and wrapped his arms around Amelia, pinning her arms to her side.

"Flint! Let go of me!" Amelia screamed.

"Nope." Flint picked her up easier than picking up a rag doll and carried her away.

"Let go of me! Put me down!" She kicked and screamed.

"Not until you calm down!" said Mikey.

"This outta cool you off," said Flint. He walked to the end of the dock and tossed Amelia into the river.

As Amelia went under, the dockworkers cheered and laughed.

"Oh, now you poked the bear," said Ice, cracking up.

Amelia resurfaced, kicking and flapping her arms. "Flint, I'm gonna kill you!" she shrieked. She swam to the dock and began to climb up the ladder. She marched straight for Flint and hit him in the gut. It was like punching a wall. She didn't care. She hit and punched his gut and kicked his shins, but Flint stood and took it.

Spot walked onto the dock. He noticed several crates and rope floating in the river next to the dock. His newsies were gathered in a crowd around Amelia, who was laying into Flint's stomach.

"Clearly I missed something," Spot said.

"You don't know the half of it," said Mikey.

"Why's she punching Flint…and why is she all wet?"

"I'm gonna let her explain that one," said Mikey. "But it was completely necessary, I promise you that."

Soon, Amelia tired herself out and she wandered over and sat on the edge of the dock.

Flint walked away, passing Spot.

"We should change your name to Punching Bag," Spot smirked.

"If she's gonna be one of us, you better teach her how to punch," Flint smirked back.

Spot walked over and sat down next to Amelia. "Feel better?" Amelia didn't say anything. She was shaking from both cold and anger. "You know, you look cute when you're soaking wet." Amelia angrily wiped away tears. "You wanna punch me next?" he joked, nudging her arm.

"Penny and Henry came by," Amelia said.

Spot nodded. "That explains the tantrum. I see it went well."

"Would you stop making jokes?" Amelia yelled at him. She stood up and stormed off again.

Spot sighed and shook his head. He stood up and walked to his usual spot on the docks.

"Women," Ice said, shaking his head as Spot passed.

"You don't know the half of it."

Amelia sat on the roof of the lodging house as the sun set behind the river. Spot climbed the fire escape with a spare shirt and pants in hand. He sat down next to her and set the clothes next to Amelia.

"It's all I could scrounge up," said Spot. "Most of the boys are much bigger than you."

Amelia looked down at them, then around the roof. "I have no where to change."

Spot looked around. He stood up and grabbed her blanket. He moved a couple of the clotheslines and draped the blanket, giving her a sheet to change behind. "There ya go."

Amelia picked up the clothes and went behind the curtain.

Spot sat down again and rubbed the back of his neck. Normally he wouldn't care if what he said led to an Amelia tantrum. Usually he enjoyed getting under her skin, but this seemed to really bother her.

His mind wandered to her changing behind him. For all the time they'd been together, they'd never been intimate. Not that it hadn't been on Spot's mind.

They'd spent three nights together up on the roof, but Spot hadn't tried anything. The first night up on the roof, Pint slept between them, but the next night, Spot sent him back down to the bunkroom. The guys had given him looks after that second night on the roof with Amelia, and he just played it off like it was nothing – neither confirming nor denying. His boys knew better than to say anything to Amelia.

Soon, Amelia walked out from behind the makeshift curtain and hung her dress on a line. She walked over and sat next to Spot. She rolled up the pants so they wouldn't drag, and rolled up the sleeves on the shirt.

"You look cute in boys clothes," he smirked.

"Are you kidding me? I look good in anything," she smirked.

Spot felt a little bit of relief – if she was sassing him, then he was okay.

"So what happened? I promise I won't make any more jokes."

Amelia sighed and told him about her conversation with Specs and Penny, and her subsequent tantrum.

"Don't you dare laugh," she said, pointing at him, after she told him about Flint tossing her in the river.

"Okay," said Spot, trying, and failing, to hide his grin.

"It's not funny!" Amelia couldn't help but grin.

Spot laughed and Amelia playfully smacked his arm, but couldn't help laughing herself.

"I'm sorry," Spot grinned, putting his arm around her.

Amelia groaned and put her face in her hands, thinking back to her tantrum. "I acted like I was five. Completely immature and childish…"

"I wouldn't worry about it." Spot put his arm around her and kissed her temple.

"Now I gotta go to Manhattan and apologize to Penny and Henry."

"Can I please watch that?"

Amelia rolled her eyes. "You'd love that, wouldn't you?"

Spot chuckled, and as he thought more, his smile faded.

"So…I thought you were happy here?" Spot would be lying to himself if the whole thing didn't worry him a little bit.

"I am." She looked at him, confused for a moment, and then understanding. "Oh…well, I mean I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss the lifestyle. Sleeping until ten every morning, not working, food brought to me. I think what bothered me most was what Papa said."

Spot looked at her.

"I am happy, though." She took his hand. "I'm happy with you. I just…I don't like seeing someone else getting what I can't have."

"Nice to know you haven't changed that much." Spot winked.

"You're gonna make me smack you."

"Good. Means I'm making sense."

Amelia turned to him to make a smartass remark, but Spot cut her off with his lips on hers. Amelia put her hand on his cheek. Spot slid his arms around her waist, pulling her closer to him. Their kiss was slow and sweet.

"I'm only gonna say this once, so you better not forget it," said Amelia. "But there is nothing on this earth that could make me leave you, okay? We've been through hell, and we're still together. I'm with you until the day I die, no matter what happens."

Spot rested his forehead against hers. "You know I'd do anything to make you happy, right?" Spot whispered.

"I know," Amelia whispered back, dropping her hand from his cheek to his shoulder. "And I am happy. I really am."

"I just wish I could give you everything you wanted."

"Hey." She pulled back so she could look him in the eye. "You are everything I ever wanted. My whole life I've had money, clothes, luxury…I was only ever truly happy once I was with you. You should know that by now."

Spot smirked. "I do."

The sun sank below the horizon and a cool wind blew across the roof. Amelia shivered. "I need to find a real place to stay soon," said Amelia.

"My offer still stands."

Amelia looked over at him. "What offer?"

Spot took her hand. "Marry me."

Amelia smiled at him. "You know I will – you just name the time and place. But marriage doesn't magically get you a place to sleep."

"Fine, I'll get a job down at the docks, make some money, get us a place, and then marry me."

"Well, you got it all planned out, now don't you?"

Spot smirked. "You should know by now, I always have all the answers."