A/N – so this is the end, the last chapter of Back On The Streets. Hoped you liked it!!

x0

Vintage88

Chapter10

Scipio sat in Ida's kitchen, playing with his oatmeal with a spoon. He had been back, living with everyone for a week… or had it been more? He really had lost track of the days since the night Gabriella had been shot… been killed.

He had told everyone what had happened and they had been supportive, telling him nothing was his fault. Yet he couldn't felt guilty about, well, everything. Plus he still felt guilty about worrying everyone. It was strange to think that the day when he had gone back to being the Thief Lord had only lasted a day.

It seemed like the longest day of his life.

Hornet sat across from Scipio, her enormous brown eyes watching him carefully. Prosper was doing the same as he tried to eat his oatmeal as quietly as possible. The three of them were the only ones in the kitchen.

"Hey Scipio?" Hornet asked timidly, "Can I tell you something?"

After Scipio had admitted to what had happened with him and the sisters, everyone had been careful not to mention it again unless Scipio wanted to bring it up. But after a week, Hornet couldn't help but tell him.

Scipio nodded, brushing his chaotic hair out of his eyes. "Sure," he responded flatly.

Hornet hesitated. "I… I think I met Gabriella. The day you ran off I caught her trying to steal my wallet."

Scipio lifted his head ever so slightly. "Did she have blonde hair?"

"Yeah," Hornet nodded, "and she wore a bright red coat."

For a brief moment, Scipio smiled and the whole room seemed to light up. "She's pretty isn't she?" He didn't mean to ask; it had just sort of slipped out. Nonetheless, Hornet nodded.

"Really pretty."

"Even with short hair she was…." Scipio turned to Prosper, "I think you'd like her Prop… Prosper?"

Prosper was frowning at his oatmeal. Before long, a tiny smile crept along his lips. "I think I would like her," he admitted, "because I certainly liked her sister."

"Jaymie?" Scipio whispered, "You met her?"

"I'm pretty sure. We… we talked when I gave her some change. She was singing in the market."

Scipio sat up in his chair. He hadn't gone outside since he had returned back to Ida's because he didn't think there was a reason, but now he had suddenly found one. "Is she still there?" he asked hopefully, "Have you seen Jaymie singing since I've been back."

Prosper and Hornet exchanged glances. "She came back yesterday," Prosper said, "but Ida didn't want me to tell you until… well until things had sort of calmed down."

"Do you think I can see her?" Scipio asked, "I need to see if she's okay. I'll be back, you can trust me, I just… I need to see."

Prosper bit his bottom lip and he glanced at Hornet. Hornet's brown eyes sparkled as she said, "Do you swear you'll return?"

Scipio nodded.

"Be back soon and we won't tell Ida. She'll be asleep for a little longer."

Hornet and Prosper smiled at Scipio, who grinned back, and once again the whole room seemed to light up.

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There she was, standing in the market singing her heart out. After what had happened, Scipio was surprised to see how… clean Jaymie looked. Her hair looked washed, her eyes only had faint circles below them, plus she was wearing a bright blue sweater that looked new.

The hat lay out in front of her, and Scipio jingled the change in his pocket to make sure he had some. Hesitating, he began walking towards her and he knew she had spotted him.

Bending down slightly, he put all the change he had in the hat, and to his disappointment she stopped singing. Scipio snapped back up.

"No, I didn't mean…" he stuttered, "you can keep…. I mean I want you to keep singing."

To his relief, Jaymie smiled, almost as if she was being visited by a memory. "Hey," she spoke softly.

A lopsided grin smacked Scipio in the face. "Hey," he said after a moment, glad they were on speaking terms. He paused before saying awkwardly, "You look great. Not that you didn't look great before, just…" He stopped, embarrassed and feeling his face flushing. Jaymie just smiled sweetly at him.

"I… I've found a new home." Jaymie began, "The cop who came to me let me live with him and his wife. They're names are Dylan and Yvonne, and they have a three year old girl who they let me take care of, so it's like I have a stepsister –" she froze. At the word "sister" they both thought about Gabriella. For a moment Scipio felt his throat tighten.

"Dylan helped me burry her," Jaymie whispered as she dropped her eyes. Scipio nodded, relieved. He didn't want to picture Gabriella left in a dumpster or thrown into one of Venice's canals.

"Jaymie," he began, "I'm really sorry. Whatever I did, I didn't mean –"

"Don't," she stopped him, "you did nothing. I shouldn't have blamed you for anything because nothing was your fault. If anything you helped Gabriella live a few extra hours." Jaymie paused. "You did nothing wrong. Everything had to do with my mom and her boyfriends… and me."

She looked back up at Scipio, her grey eyes looking sad but hopeful. "Most of it has to do with me and… and I miss her so much Scipio. But I'm hoping that Dylan and Yvonne's baby girl will be like a second chance, I'll get to treat her like a real sister."

"Jaymie?" Scipio took a step forwards, "I really miss her too." Jaymie's face lit up, as if she were relieved that she had someone who understood what was going on with her, and with that she hugged him. He hugged back, and they both knew that the hug symbolized that things were going to be okay. Okay between them and everything else.

They pulled away. "They caught them," Jaymie suddenly said, her face flashing with excitement, "I told the Dylan what Marco looked like and where he usually hung out and they were finally able to catch the Bloodhounds."

"You're kidding me!" Scipio exclaimed, glad that they were going to be able to get through this together without some gang stalking after them, "Everyone will be so relieved when I tell them."

Jaymie gave him a look. "You found a home?" she asked.

"Uh… yeah. It's kind of a long story which I'll probably tell you sooner or later, but they're my friends who turned into my family." He grinned, "I heard you met one of them? Does Prosper ring any bells?"

Jaymie's face lit up. "Aww, my little friend. Believe it or not he gave some really good advice," she laughed, a beautiful laugh that seemed to drown out all the other sounds of the marketplace.

God, Scipio thought as he just realized it, Jaymie is just as gorgeous as her sister. He knew it was probably time to go back to Ida's, but he didn't want to leave her just like that.

"Do you want to meet them?" he asked hopefully, "I mean, I want you to meet them. If you like Prosper then you'll love his younger brother Bo. And then there's Hornet who's really smart and spunky and –"

"Scipio!" Jaymie laughed again, "I don't need an explanation on everyone, but yes. I'd love to meet them."

"Really?"

"Really."

Picking up her hat with one hand, Jaymie slipped her other hand into Scipio's hand. Together they began to walk forwards, both realizing how beautiful their lives were turning out to be.

The End

A/N: SO THAT'S THE END!!! I hope you all liked it. I know, the last line is sort of random but I don't think it's that bad :D R&R

x0

Vintage88