"Are you kidding? Rooster, you're not serious?"

Daniel shook Lily's arm away.

"You called me Rooster. I'm still obviously the con man in your eyes." He replied scathingly.

"No, really, Daniel, it was just a slip of the tongue."

"Oh really? After what I've done for you!"

"Don't make a scene, please." Lily begged and Warbucks looked over.

"Hey!"

Lily turned away, banging her fist against the elevator button panel.

"Lily! Stop it!" Daniel forced her arm back, "LILY!"

"It's no use, Daniel. Why can't I get this right?"

She began to cry, prompting Danny Junior to recognise his mother's distress and do the same.

"I'm sorry, Lily, I shouldn't have said…heck."

Warbucks was standing next to them.

"Lily, come on," Daniel put his arm around her, "let's go."

"But you were right. We can't hide from them. It's not fair."

"Then that's what we'll do."

Daniel strolled up to the counter where Grace and Annie were standing and tapped on the bell.

"Can you call a cab for my wife, please?" He asked pointedly. Grace's eyes widened when she saw his face and pushed Annie back instinctively.

"Of course sir, let me just serve this lady." The concierge responded, handing a form to Grace.

"No, it's alright. We'll wait."

"As you wish." The concierge whipped out a fresh form and handed it to Daniel, "a cab for you, sir."

"That's right."

Grace continued to stare nervously at the floor all the time Daniel was filling out the form and when he had finished she took a swift glance at him before looking away. Yes, it was him. The man who had kidnapped Annie!

"What are you doing?" Lily demanded, following Grace's gaze.

"I…"

"Lily, don't." Lily felt Daniel's hand on her arm.

"No, Daniel, I won't have this. We've done our time, there's no need to hide anymore."

"I wasn't looking at you," gabbled Grace, "my husband is over there by the elevator."

She gestured vaguely, doing her best to conceal Annie behind her back.

"Oh, we know." Lily replied, "I don't really care what you think about us, but I won't have you making us into villains."

She propped Danny onto her other hip.

"You see, we've made a family. Family means taking care of each other. Do you think that we would still commit a crime in front of our child?"

"No."

"We have no interest in your affairs. Therefore please, should we meet again, don't act like you are intimidated by us. Daniel is earning a decent wage; we have a child to support. Things are different now."

"I understand." Grace relaxed her grip on Annie's hand and to her surprise, the little girl, now a teenager in a smart and modern dress and coat, stepped in front of her.

"Gee, I'll say things have changed. You sure don't look like the Mudges I saw a few years ago." She still had the same optimistic tone to her voice.

"And you don't look like the same scrawny little girl we met at the Mansion." Lily smiled reassuringly, "we can go if you want us to."

"I'm okay with it if Mom is." She indicated Grace, "what do you say, Mom?"

"I don't think your Father will like it?" Grace admitted, "do you feel comfortable with these people, Annie? After what they did?"

"I guess they were desperate. I sure was desperate enough to run away from the orphanage and Miss Hannigan." She paused, "hey, it's you too, isn't it?" She turned to Daniel.

Lily chuckled, looking up at Daniel.

"Desperation makes us do bad things." Annie continued, "I get it. Which is why I want to say, I forgive you."

"You forgive us?" Lily stared at her.

"Yea, as you say, you paid for the crime, why should we hold that against you?"

Grace put her hands on Annie's shoulders.

"I think that's enough for one day, Annie. Your father will be getting worried."

"I guess." She held out her own hand, removing the pearly white glove on it, "I hope everything comes right for you, Ma'am."

Grace picked up her bag and ushered Annie toward the elevator. As they approached, Annie stopped and turned around.

"You know, I don't even know your names, just that you're Miss Hannigan's brother and his girlfriend."

"I'm Lily," replied Lily honestly, trying to ignore Daniel's stunned look, "this is Daniel."

"It's swell to meet you, properly. Gee, your baby sure is sweet."

"This is Danny Junior." Lily explained.

"I'd like a brother or sister. I always wanted one, even when I was at the orphanage. I used to see the kids running around the sidewalks outside and I'd think, I just want to belong."

"I know what that's like." Lily nodded and just for a moment, Annie recognised why she had seemed so offish when she had been introduced as her Mother. She had the natural maternal instinct, it was true, but she had a tougher personality than originally thought.

"Come along, Annie." Grace beckoned her to the elevator.

"I guess I've gotta go. Did you hear, I'm gonna be performing in Times Square for the 4th July parade! I'm doing a dance!"

"Sounds wonderful," Lily agreed, "we'll try and come."

"Please do." The doors closed on the girl and her new Mother, the former secretary to Warbucks and the Mansion.

"Well, that was something, wasn't it?" Lily nudged Daniel who had been staring awestruck at the row of elevators for the past five minutes.

"I need a brandy." Daniel announced and strode to the bar, stealing a drink in a beaker from an abandoned glass on the counter.

"I can't believe that kid. She forgave us?" He shook his head vigorously.

"It's true."

Lily placed Danny Junior on the counter and kissed Daniel.

"I'm proud of you, Daniel Hannigan."

"Thanks, Lil. You're one dame I wouldn't wanna mess with. I thought you were gonna clout her."

"No, Daniel. We have a son to show the right way to be."

"You're right. I can't believe that kid, though."

"You can't believe that kid because of what we tried to do?"

"No, I can't believe that she thinks we're worth forgiving."

"Gee, Daniel, it helps to get some approval." She checked the fine mantel clock, "we'd best get on back to the orphanage before Aggie thinks we've abandoned her again."

"Who says we won't?" Daniel winked at her.

"What are you talking about?"

"Well, I've had our stuff brought here, so, Mrs Hannigan. We can go anywhere you like. Name your destination."

"I choose…New York City."

"Really, Lil?"

"Yes, Daniel. I meant what I said to Uncle Roger. I can't imagine being anywhere but New York City."

"You don't want the house in Connecticut with a porch and running water?"

Lily laughed.

"No Daniel. This is where I belong. With you, and our little baby boy. Our Danny Junior."

"Alright, Lil. Let's go home."

"Back to Hudson Street?" Lily kissed Danny Junior's head, looking at Daniel expectantly.

"Back to Hudson Street."

They linked arms and wandered out onto the street, just another family amongst thousands, making their mark on New York.