(This is very irksome. I put off posting the last chapter for weeks and weeks, waiting for the mad rush of updates to slow down so my story wouldn't be pushed straight to the bottom of the page, but lo and behold, I finally post and it is 18th the very next day. You people have more time on your hands than I do, trust me it's not a good thing. Or maybe....... Hell it works for us, never mind. Go enjoy, just a few chapters from the big climax.)

It was a sunny afternoon and it almost seemed nice out. Christmas decorations were going up in shop windows and along the street. There were throngs of people shopping. Pips wove through the crowd, feeling safe in the faceless mass.

In the mess and confusion it was impossible to find anyone, unless you ran right into them, "Ow!"

In a shower of packages Pips and another girl were sent sprawling on the pavement, "Oh, ma'am, I am so sorry, that was very clumsy of me."

"Don't worry about it," Pips stood up and brushed herself off, "OhmyGod! Lucy?"

The girl looked up from where she was trying to gather her boxes and Pips knew she was right. This was the same girl that had worked for her family all of their lives then moved with her to her husband's home after the wedding.

She waited anxiously until recognition sparked in the girl's eyes, "Miss Sophie? My goodness, what happened to you? What are you doing in New York? Don't you know that he's here looking for you? It isn't safe for you to be just wandering around out here, he'll find you. You must hide quickly."

Pips just laughed and hugged her friend. "Oh Lucy, don't worry. I'm a newsie now, I'm supposed to be wandering around. Besides, I've been hiding all week and I needed to get out. He wouldn't even know me if he saw me, you almost didn't and we've known each other forever. It's good to see you again."

The girl responded to a second hug awkwardly because there were still boxes in her arms. She pulled away, handed them to Pips and picked up the last few, "Where were you headed Miss Sophie? I have shopping to finish, but maybe I could keep you company for a while."

"I'm going to Brooklyn."

"Oh, well then we could chat for a little bit longer before I must head back. We're staying on the Upper Eastside in a very nice hotel. There's room service and everything. I've hardly had to lift a finger since we came. Just a bit of shopping and mending to keep me occupied. It's been like a dream. Especially with the master gone most of the day."

"Gone? Where had he been going?"

"Well, out looking for you I suppose. He doesn't seem to trust anyone else to do it. You wouldn't believe how many poor young girls have been brought to him by gentlemen claiming it was you. They're all looking for a reward by tricking him, it's shameful. It's lucky I found you before anyone else did. I don't think he means any good in looking for you. What with your father sick and you being the only thing between him and a fortune, I don't think he means any good at all."

"But Lucy, there is no fortune. That's why my father wanted me married so quickly, to get money."

"Oh, well then. I suggest you go back to wherever you've been staying and continue to hide. We'll be leaving New York in two weeks and you'll be safe."

"Thank you Lucy, I have one quick errand to run then I'll disappear a little while longer."

"I have to leave you here, but it was lovely seeing you again ma'am. I hope we can meet sometime soon under better circumstances. Good bye."

"Good bye Lucy." The girl took her packages back and turned down another bustling street. Pips watched her friend until she disappeared for sight, then continued to make her way through the crowd.

* * *

Pips stood outside the rundown Brooklyn Lodging house feeling a little unsure of herself. She had decided a long time ago that she wouldn't make a big deal about coming to see Spot, but now she had no real excuse for being there. Brooklyn's reputation kept coming to mind and this time she didn't have any friends to support her. Pips took a deep breath, jammed her shaking hands into her pockets and walked through the door.

The room seemed so different without the poker tables and the screen of smoke, it was actually clean, as clean as a house of boys could get at least. There were a few ragged couches on the far side of the room clustered around a fire place. One table was set up and there were a handful of boys near the fire. They hadn't seen Pips yet and she was frantically trying to make a decision before they did.

She wanted to leave, but then she'd have to go home and Blink would know that she had chickened out. Nothing in the world could make her do that. Her next option was going upstairs, but that wasn't much better. She knew that if Spot was in the house that's where he would be and she was honestly scared to find him. Her last choice was to go talk to the boys by the fire. Some of them looked familiar, but no one she knew well and no one she felt confident talking to.

Pips stood, frozen where she was, until one of the boys on the couch turned and smiled at her, "Hello little Pips."

She sighed with relief, "Dimitry." She walked quickly to the couch.

He stood up respectfully as she sat and she was reminded exactly how tall he was. He towered over everyone for a second then settled back down next to her, "Did you walk out here all alone?" When she nodded he asked, "Why?"

Pips stared at her hands for a second, her reason seemed so stupid now, "Is Luke here?"

It would be much easier to explain her reasons to her friend. He understood her and would support her like Blink hadn't. It struck Pips how strange that thought was but she didn't have time to dwell on it.

Dimitry stood up and gently pulled her to her feet, "Come with me."

"What's wrong, is he here?"

"Just come." He seemed very upset and kept giving her worried looks. She frowned, suddenly very concerned, and followed him into the bunkroom.

Dimitry led her to the bunk he shared with Luke and started looking for something. After a few minutes he pulled a crinkled envelope out from under his pillow. He handed it to her with a sigh, "I don't know what's in there, but he left it for you."

Pips sank onto Luke's bed staring a the envelope. Her name was written across the front in an elegant script 'Sophie Quinn'. She didn't even notice Dimitry leave as she broke the seal.

Dear Sophie, I couldn't leave without saying goodbye. Yesterday I received a letter from home. My father is alive. He has been searching for me ever since he got better. It has taken him this long to track me to New York and he sent a train ticket for home. I was afraid if I went to see you personally I wouldn't be able to leave. You have helped me get through this more than you could possibly imagine and I wish there was some way I could thank you. Don't be angry with me for leaving, I have to go back to my family. You still have someone here watching out for you, you just have to look a little closer to see it. Things will be much better once you both realize it. I promise you we will meet again, I will make sure of it. Good Bye and good luck. - Love Luke.

A few teardrops splashed onto the page, but Pips didn't wipe them away, it would smear the ink. She folded the letter back up and slipped it into the envelope. There was no reason for her to be crying like this, they had only known each other for a few weeks, but she couldn't help it. He had been so special to her. He always listened to her and understood what she was thinking.

Pips wiped her eyes and looked towards the door. She wasn't surprised to see Blink there, she had heard someone come in while she was reading.

He waited silently for a minute but when she didn't say anything he broke the silence, "Spot ain't heah."

"I know."

Again there was a moment of awkward silence and again he broke it, "C'mon, let's go."

She stuffed the letter into her pocket and stood up, "Why'd you come here?"

Blink shrugged uncomfortably as they left the room. When they go outside he still hadn't answered and Pips stopped, "Well?"

He grunted irritably, "I don't know. If ya got killed or kidnaped or sumpthin' Race woulda blamed me for lettin' ya go. I don't wanna git in a fight on accounta you."

"Good enough." she started walking, ignoring his grumbles behind her back.

They walked in silence all the way home except for a few brief comments on the bridge. There was a large patch of ice on the bridge, even with the water's edge far below. As they were crossing it Pips' feet slipped out from under her. She would have landed flat on her back in Blink hadn't caught her around the waist and supported her until she regained her balance.

She quickly smacked his arm away, face red with embarrassment, "What do you think you're doing? Get your hands off of me."

"What?!" He was completely taken aback and gaped as she stormed off, "Foine, next time I'll jist let ya fall on ya face."

Pips didn't look back as he followed, she was too ashamed of tripping in front of him to meet his eyes. She also felt bad for snapping.

On the way back she slipped five more times, but he never let her fall (Hence the title)

(Lookie look, I finished a chapter in a reasonable amount of time. I bet none of you thought I had it in me. At the next chapter you can all start reviewing again because you are obviously too lazy to e-mail me your opinions. It's going to be really cool and I think it's funny so you better review. Huzzah for plot development!)