Night, Momma," he whispered in her ear, before running from the room.

She smiled a little, cradling James to her chest. As upset as it had made her, maybe it was for the best that Molly left. After feeding James and placing him back in his cradle she walked upstairs to check on Sam and Andy. She sat on the edge of Andy's bed and brushed the hair off his forehead. He shifted in his sleep and burrowed under his blankets, much like a rabbit diving into a hole. The reaction made her smile. She leaned down and kissed his forehead. "Sleep well, my little man."

She got up and went to check on Sam. Despite all his protests to go to bed, she found him asleep so soundly that he probably wouldn't have woken up even if a herd of elephants rampaged through the room. Out of habit she stopped at the door to the girls' room, only to find their bed empty. Sighing deeply she once again found herself alone with her thoughts. The house was unusually quiet and bothersome with just her, and the three boys. She missed everyone terribly. With the boys asleep it was entirely too quiet.

She paced the length of the house. Now she was entirely too restless to sleep. She headed to the kitchen and grabbed a rag. Might as well make this pent up energy useful.

Molly had left a mess in the kitchen after dinner, but Rae didn't care. She need something to do to keep her mind occupied. She cleaned the dishes and the counters, put away leftover food, dumped out the old water. Then she swept and dusted and scrubbed...

Andy walked into the kitchen rubbing his eyes. "Momma...can't you hear James crying?"

Rae snapped out of her cleaning haze and then she did hear him crying. "Oh dear..." she murmured. "Thank you, Andy." And she ran down the hall.

She could hardly believe that a couple of hours had passed and James was hungry again. She fed him and put him back in his cradle. Tired, but knowing that she needed to keep her mind and hands busy, she walked back to the kitchen. Andy had sat down in one of the chairs and was asleep with his head on the table.

She smiled a little and shook his shoulder. "Wake up Andy." He moaned and swatted at her hand. "Come on Andy, you need to go back to bed."

Grumbling he stood and stumbled toward the stairs.

"Goodnight sweetheart," she called out softly after him.

"Night Momma," he mumbled

She went back to cleaning again.

* * *

Spot and Sippi opened the door to leave the next morning and found an exhausted Molly and very sleepy Kendra, tightly clutching her kitty, standing on the doorstep.

"What are you doing here?" Spot demanded, very curious indeed.

"I decided to leave," Molly answered simply.

"How come?"

"I was tired of taking care of your children while your wife locked herself in her room."

Spot sighed a little. "I understand."

She turned to Sippi. "I left in such a hurry that I forgot my last letter from Blank...so I have no idea where he and North live..."

He sighed. "C'mon. We'll take you there on our way to Duch's."

Molly shifted the bags in her hands and took Kendra's free hand. "Let's go sweetie...you can get some sleep once we get to Uncle Blank's..."

Kendra just whimpered a little bit and buried her head in Molly's leg.

Sippi scooped the girl up into his arms. "You can catch a nap on my shoulder, short stuff." She nodded sleepily and her head plopped hard onto his shoulder- and she was out like a light.

Spot took the squirming kitten. "How was Rae when you left?" he asked Molly as they walked.

"Frustrating."

"What happened?"

"She just wouldn't do anything... She wouldn't eat, sleep... she wouldn't move! So we exchanged words and I decided that it was time she stopped relying so much on me... After all, she needs to do something to keep her busy so she doesn't worry herself sick."

"I'm sorry Molly."

"It's okay... I think this was best for her." she said. "And me."

He sighed deeply. "It is."

"Where are you two heading?"

"To find Duchess," he stated simply.

"So you definitely think she has them??"

"It's the only thing we have to go on right now, Molly."

"I know that," she said quietly.

Sippi opened to door into a small tenement building and headed up the stairs to the third floor. Molly followed quietly. Sippi knocked on the door of the flat at the back of the building. A moment later a half-asleep Blank opened the door.

"What're you doin' here?" he mumbled, rubbing his eyes.

"Kendra and I need a place to stay...just for a while..." Molly replied.

"Molly?" He peered around Sippi's shoulder. "Why are you in Brooklyn in the first place?"

She looked at Spot. "Rae and I had a little disagreement."

"About?"

"It's a long story...can we talk about it after Kendra and I get some sleep? It ain't exactly easy to sleep on the train."

He nodded and opened the door with a yawn. "C'mon in."

She slipped into the room and dropped their bags on the floor. "Where can we sleep?" she asked, taking Kendra from Sippi.

He thought for a long time. "Well... there is a chair and couch available. I'd offer the bed, but North is dead asleep."

"The couch is fine," she replied, heading that direction.

Blank yawned again. "All right." He glanced at Spot. "You staying too?"

"No. Sip and I have an errand to run."

He nodded. "All right. Should I be waiting to hear anything or... anything?"

Spot raked his fingers through his hair. "Someone took Robert and Lizzy...we're going to see if Duchess knows anything about it...if you don't hear back from us by tomorrow morning..."

"Contact Rae?"

Spot nodded.

"Will do."

"Thanks," Spot murmured, walking toward the stairs.

He nodded and closed the door quietly.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Sippi asked as they walked down the street. "I could go talk to her..."

"I'm sure," he said.

"Are you going to find Silk first?"

"Yes. She will be our first stop."

"What are you going to do if Duchess has them and refuses to give them up?"

"I'll fight her."

"Is that smart? Why not just go to the police?"

"I'm Spot Conlon... They'd throw me in jail for no good reason. They've wanted to catch me for so long... It wouldn't be wise to just strut in there."

"Would you stop and think for a minute! Do you remember what happened the last time you fought her? Think about what would happen to Rae if Duchess really did kill you!"

"I've been practicing, you know. Ever since she whalloped my hide the last time. I've got the old Conlon fight back."

"It's been five years, Spot. Between your accident and her 'whallopin' you the last time, I doubt you can fight as well as you used to."

"Well, we'll see," he said, just as stubborn as ever.

Sippi suddenly threw a punch at Spot's jaw. He tried to block it with his arm, but wasn't quite quick enough.

But, he did manage to hook a leg around Sippi's and yank him off his feet.

Sippi pulled Spot down and pinned him to the ground, with one massive hand on each of Spot's wrist. Spot struggled, but couldn't quite seem to gather the strength to get Sippi to budge.

"You gained weight," Spot grunted.

"Not anymore than you have," Sippi replied.

Finally, he shoved Sippi off. "I have a feeling there won't be a fight."

Sippi stood and helped his friend off the ground. "If there is...let me do the fighting....I don't want to have to drag your carcass back to Rae..."

"You won't have to."

"Good."

"How long do you think it will take for Silk to ... well, pop up?"

"Her birds are about like yours were...she knew that you were in town before I did. You usually come looking for her...so it will be soon."

"Mornin' Conlon," said a female's voice off to their left.

He shoved his hands in his pockets. "Mornin' Silk."

"Heard you were lookin' for me. Not that it's a surprise."

"I need to know where Duchess is."

She scratched her head. "I should have known that was coming."

"I don't have time for your wisecracks, Silk!"

"I"m not wisecrackin', Conlon. Just stating the facts, so calm down."

He ran his shaky hand through his hair. "Just tell me where she is."

"She's relocated in the empty shoemaker's wharehouse on the middle of 5th street."

He nodded. "Thanks."

She held out her hand. "Come on Conlon. You know the fee."

Sighing, he placed some money in her hand.

Silk smirked. "Pleasure doing business with you." And, in the blink of an eye, she had disappeared, blending into the crowds.

"You should've explained," Sippi said as they headed toward 5th Street.

"Why?"

"She probably would have cut you some slack,"

"I didn't have the time to do explaining. I don't want to waste a single minute.

Sippi nodded.

"Come on. Let's go. I'm sure she probably knows I'm lurking about too."

A short time later the reached the warehouse. Sippi rapped a 'code knock' on the door that all the street kids in the city knew.

Duchess herself opened the door a moment later. "What do you want Conlon?"

"I need to talk to you."

She hestitated a moment. "Come in."

He did, pulling 'Sippi in with him.

She leaned against the wall. "I think I know what you're here about."

"Do you? Then good. I won't have to waste time explaining. I want my children back."

"I don't have them. My boys took them without my knowledge, but I sent them to take those babies right back to you."

"When?"

"Late last night. They should be there now."

Spot frowned.

She shoved her hands in her pockets. "I had nothing to do with this Conlon."

"I need to contact Rae..."

"Save yourself some time and just go home."

Spot sighed. "Yes... I guess so..." He still wasn't satisfied. Something wasn't right.

"You'll just have to trust me."

"I... I do." And that was odd in itself. But he still couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.

"I have work to do," she said, opening the door.

"Right. Thank you." And he hauled Sippi out with him. Once out on the street he turned to Sippi. "Was it just me, or did something just not feel right?"

"Well, you just said you trusted Duch."

"I know it sounds strange, but I do. Something just doesn't feel right."

Sippi pursed his lips. "I... hmm, I don't know."

Spot ran his fingers through his hair. "I'll pack up the girls and take them home. Will you send Rae a wire and let her know?"

He nodded. "Will do."

Sighing deeply, Spot walked back toward Sippi's house.

WHY couldn't he shake the feeling something wasn't right?

~*~

Andy stumbled into the kitchen. "Momma?"

"Hmm?" Rae looked up from her housework.

"Did you sleep at all?"

"I... no, I don't suppose I did."

Sighing, Andy turned and left the room. Rae sighed as well. Sam was awake when Andy got back upstairs. Andy helped his change clothes and then took him back downstairs where James was screaming.

"Let me get that," Rae said, rushing past him when she saw he was going to get James as well.

"Come on, Sammy, let's go get breakfast."

"Breakfast!" Sammy said.

Andy took his brother's hand and drug him down the hall.

"I want eggs," he said quite simply to Andy.

"I can't fix eggs. You can have toast!"

He sighed and plopped into his chair. "Kay."

Andy felt the stove. It was cold. Rae had let the fire go out during the night. Andy grabbed an apple. "Eat," he said, handing it to Sam.

"It's not toast..."

"Momma let to stove get cold. Eat the apple."

"I want toast!"

"You wanted eggs earlier. Just eat the apple!"

"TOAST!"

"Eat the apple or don't eat anything!"

"I WANT TOAST!" Sam yelled throwing the apple at Andy.

Andy dodged the apple. "Fine, don't eat anything then!"

Sam threw himself on the ground and began crying loudly. He simply frowned, grabbing an apple for himself. Rae poked her head into the kitchen. "Andy, stop picking on your brother and get him what he wants," she said, before disappearing again.

Andy huffed. He went in search of the matches to restart the fire. "Stop your crying, you're getting your dumb toast," he said grouchily.

Sam quieted down as Andy found the matches. Daddy had told them all lots of times never to touch the matches. He looked at them carefully. Now how did you do this? How did Rae expect him to do this? He was always told not to touch the matches....

He sighed. She had just told him to get Sam what he wanted. He carefully put a few pieces of wood in the stove, like Daddy always did. Then he paused, thinking some more. He looked at the matches. How did he light it? Just rub it on the edge of the box? He thought that was how it was done. He gently rubbed it against the edge of the box. Nothing happened. Pursing his lips, he rubbed it a little harder. Well.. it was starting to stink now, that was for certain. But still.... there was no flame.

He tried one more time as hard as he could. There was a spark and suddenly a flame appeared. He yelped in surprise and nearly dropped the match. Quickly he threw it on the wood and it was then that he realized it burned his fingertips a little.

He scowled at Sam. "See what you did!"

"No," he said, shaking his head.

Growling Andy turned around and tossed a slice of bread on the stove. Sam sat there, watching him work. A few minutes later, Andy went to pull the bread off the stove and burnt his hand.

"Momma!" he yelled.

"What?" she yelled back.

"I burnt my hand!" He shoved the toast at Sam.

Rae stormed into the room. "Andy, I'm busy...what do you need?" she asked.

He huffed, annoyed. "I burnt my hand, not that you care..."

She gripped his arm tightly. "Don't ever talk to me that way!"

"Well you don't!"

"Go to your room!"

"But I burnt my hand!" he yelled back, shoving his blistered hand in her face.

She took his hand and looked it over carefully. "How did you do this?"

"Getting Sam his toast."

"Why were you making him toast?"

He sighed. "'Cause you told me to."

"You aren't supposed to touch the stove, Andy!"

"You told me to give him what he wanted and he wanted toast!"

"You should have told me that's what he wanted!" she said, pulling out some bandages.

"You wouldn't listen anyway. You were too busy doing other things."

"Sit down," she said, roughly.

He plopped down with a scowl on his face.

"I'm going to clean this up, and then you are still going to your room."

He just huffed and looked down, scuffing his feet lightly on the floor. She cleaned the wound and applied some ointment, before bandaging his hand. He watched her, silent for a long time.

"Go to your room," she said as she stood and walked toward the stove. "And expect to stay there most of the day."

With another huff, he stalked off. He threw himself on the bed, wondering what she would do if he decided to follow Molly to Brooklyn. "Probably wouldn't care at all," he muttered, picking at the cloth over his hand. Being a newsie like Momma and Daddy had been couldn't be that hard, could it?

If Daddy and Momma had been two of the best newsies in Brooklyn, he could be at least pretty good.

Andy rolled off his bed. She had told him to stay in his room all day...and with the way she had been acting, she probably would forget about him at lunch time...if she even remembered lunch.

And he was sure he could figure out how to catch a train. It wasn't so hard, he'd been with Spot and Rae several times. He pulled the case of his pillow and began shoving some of his clothes into it. Yes. His mind was made up. He was going to the city!

It would be easy to sneak out of the house, thanks to Nick, who had shown him the tunnel between the house and the barn. Quickly, he scribbled down a note so at least she wouldn't think he was kidnapped either. Then, quietly, he opened the door a crack and peeked out. Coast clear!

He scooted down the hall and up the stairs to the third floor. He quickly found the entrance to the tunnel and was in the barn in a matter of minutes. Well.. that was easy. He slipped out of the barn and ran off towards the road that passed their house.