Another blanket, another cup of coffee. It seamed to be her routine after finishing a case. She watched as they carted the body bag off, and she watched as the various newsies were huddled around the place. She took a sip of her coffee and glanced over to where Pink was snuggled into Blink's shoulder, obviously bothered by the sight of a dead body. Pink had been the one to find Midnight, fainted next to a bloody body with a knife sticking out of its chest. It must have been tough for her. Usually, when Midnight fainted, she woke up quickly, before anyone could find her or see that she'd really fainted. Unfortunately, she hadn't this time.

That was the other thing that always seamed to happen to Midnight. She'd finish a big case, and the adrenaline would be too much, and she'd faint. It was quite the 'damsel-in-distress' thing to do, and it angered her. She was no distressed damsel. Now someone out there had seen her be weak.

Just one more reason to leave.

She was resolved then. Leave. It seamed to be her only option. She'd always wanted to, and now felt right. Midnight sighed, and put her foot forward to step off of the curb she was standing on when suddenly, from behind her, she heard a voice.

"Try to go easy on me," someone muttered with a smile.

Midnight closed her eyes and put her foot back on the curb. "Andrew," she whispered.

"Please, don't gloat too much. I don't think I could handle it," he said as she turned to look at him. Her face wasn't even half as warm and friendly as his was. He noticed this, and his smile began to droop. "Hey, what's the problem, Kid? You got rid of the bad guy. Why no smiles?"

"I knew him, Andrew. I worked for his family when I was little. I- I can't take this lightly."

He reached out to her, his fingers grazing her elbow. "I'm sorry. I didn't know. If there's anything I-"

Midnight turned to face him head-on. "I can't do this anymore." She was still holding her coffee.

"Can't do what?" Andrew drew back his hand.

"Everything, Andrew. Detective work, New York, cases, hiding, risking my life. You. Me. I can't do it. I'm done." Pinpricks of tears poked the corners of her eyes. She quickly blinked them away.

Andrew cleared his throat. "What are you going to do?" he asked.

"My mother has a brother in Pennsylvania. I think. I guess I'll head out that way, and hope I find someone."

"So. Is that it then? Are you going to stop by the office and pick up your pay?"

"I wasn't working for you this time. Keep the money." Midnight grinned. "The last time I stopped in it didn't go so well." Andrew snorted.

"Yeah, that was a fun one to explain to Miss Williams."

"Sorry about that."

They stood there for a beat or two, staring at their shoes before either said anything. It was Andrew who said anything. "So this is goodbye then?"

"I guess," Midnight told her, feeling a small lump growing in her throat.

Andrew reached out and put his arms around her. Midnight laid her head on his chest, enjoying his warmth. Things might have turned out differently between them under other circumstances. But there was no use worrying about it now. They would never be what they could have been.

"Happy Birthday, by the way," he muttered into her hair. Midnight's heart skipped a beat. She had completely forgotten, but yes, as a few minutes ago, she had turned eighteen. It was one more unhappy birthday, just like so many others.

Andrew kissed the top of her head before pulling away. "Alright then. Goodbye, Midnight."

"Goodbye, Andrew." She stood there and watched as he walked away. Midnight sighed, letting go of that part of her life.

She turned her head to look up at the lodging house, and suddenly had this peculiar sensation that she was being watched. She looked around, and standing there, staring point blank at her, was Skittery. In the instant that their eyes met, Midnight knew he had seen everything that had just unfolded between her and Andrew. Surprisingly enough, she felt an uneasy calm at the knowledge. She stood there, clutching her cold coffee cup, staring back at him, until Abigail came running down the sidewalk towards them. Skittery broke the stare, and Midnight turned towards the street again.

She set down her cup on the sidewalk and held the blanket closer around her, and started walking across the street, into the alley. She was gone before Skittery could turn back to look at her.

-End Part One-