A/N-I bet I know what you're thinking. Another chapter already? Yup, another chapter. Go me! One more chapter closer to finishing my first fic. And pmochizuki is right, many authors don't finish their fics *looks down at all her unfinished, half started fics and blushes in shame* Yes, I am guilty of that horrible crime too. But it is time to redeem myself. Plus, I'm only concentrating on a few fics at a time so I have a bigger chance of getting them finished! Y'know what, to be completely honest, I'm not even completely sure what the secret bet is. I have an idea, but it's just that, an idea. I'm sure I'll make something of it. I know, I know, you can't wait to see what's gonna happen. So, I'm done rambling and I'll give you what you came for(which sadly isn't reading all this pointless mumbo jumbo) and that's. . .

CHAPTER TEN: A LITTLE BIT MORE

It was 9:30 when Spot left the warehouse because he had some business to attend to before he met up with Spring. He headed in the opposite direction of his meeting place, arriving at a run down tenement. He pushed the door open and climbed up two flights of stairs, then headed down the hall to 2E. About thirty seconds after he knocked, the door opened a crack and two big brown eyes were visible.

"Whadda ya want?" a fierce female voice demanded.

"Now now Stitch" Spot said calmly. "It's only me, da infamous Spot Conlon."

"Spot!" she exclaimed. The door closed and Spot could hear a latch being undone before the door opened all the way, revealing a tall, very skinny girl with those big brown eyes and flat, shoulder length brown hair. "Gawd it's good ta see ya. Come on in" she gestured into the shabby apartment and Stitch closed the door and locked it behind him after he had stepped inside.

"Heya Stitch" he said with a grin as he followed her to an ratty looking wood table where they each took seats in unstable wooden chairs.

"Ya haven't dropped by in a long time" she commented, looking across the table at him. "What do ya need?"

"I need a favor."

"What kinda favah?" she asked skeptically.

"I made a deal wit a goil" he began and Stitch rolled her eyes. "I promised her a new outfit and new shoes ta match."

"Dat's a hahd promise ta keep."

"Dat's wheah you'se come in" he explained.

"Dis ain't a favah Spot" she replied strongly. "Dis is a job."

"Fine" he relented. "I'll pay ya."

"How much?"

"How evah much it is" he continued. "I'll send her by yoah place so you'se can take her measurements and stuff. Give her what she wants, but she only gets a top, a bottom, and shoes. Make shoah she undahstands dat."

"Must be come deal if yoah doin all dis."

"Oh trust me" he smirked as he got up. "It is" Stitch also got up and followed Spot to the door. "Her name's Spring and she'll probably be around tomorrow" Stitch nodded. "Oh. . .and Stitch" Spot said as he unlocked the door.

"Yeah?" she asked.

"Thanks" he stepped out into the hall.

"Anytime" she smiled and Spot headed out of the building and back into the street. He then headed towards the alley, arriving a little after ten.

"Yoah late" he heard Spring say, before she stepped out of the shadows, crossing her arms.

"Yeah, well I had othah things ta do foist" he replied coldly.

"Of coise" she nodded her head. "Let's get down ta business. Wheah ah my clothes?"

"Theah's a sowing shop six blocks away called 'Anne's Clothes.' Ask foah Stitch, tell her I sent you'se. She'll know what ta do."

"Alright" Spring said with a smile. "And you'se had one moah thing. . ."

"Yeah" he grinned. "How do you'se get Aurora ta smile.

"Woah theah" Spring exclaimed in shock, holding up her hands. "Now I didn't know you'd be askin dat."

"Yeah. . . so?" Spot asked in a cocky manner.

"Ya see" Spring began. "Bandit doesn't smile much foah a reason. Her life has been such a hell ta her dat she hahdly finds reason ta smile. She says why smile when theah's nothin woith smiling foah."

"So theah's no way ta get her ta smile" Spot stated in a dejected tone, starting to worry that maybe he wasn't so close to winning after all.

"I nevah said dat" Spring smiled at him in a mischievous manner. "It's jus dat me telling you'se how ta get her ta smile is woith a whole lot moah den new clothes and shoes."

"What?!" Spot exclaimed in fury. "What moah could you'se possibly ask foah?"

"Dis" Spring grabbed Spot by his shirt and pulled him close to her, pressing her lips against his. At first Spot started to pull back in shock but a new thought ran through his head.

"Hell" he thought to himself. "If this is all it's gonna take to get her to tell me, why not?" To the surprise of Spring, he began to kiss her back, slipping his arm around her waist and pulling her closer to him. After about a minute, he decided that was enough and pulled away, pushing Spring back a little.

"Is dat good enough?" he asked, his voice dripping with ice.

"Yeah" Spring grinned. "I couldn't ask foah moah. Well I could but. . ."

"My answer" Spot growled, getting impatient.

"Right" Spring nodded. "How ta get Bandit ta smile. Now dat's a tough one foah shoah."

"Stop stallin."

"Fine" Spring sighed and then began. "Theah ah only two times dat Bandit will smile. One is right befoah she's about ta steal somethin she really likes. I wouldn't be surprised if she didn't smile right befoah she stole from you'se."

"And da othah?"

"Dis one's a bit tougher" Spring went on. "And a little hahd ta explain. Ya see, she only told dis ta me once, so Ill tell you'se what I remember. I believe she said dat da only othah way ta get her ta smile is ta care" Spot lifted an eyebrow in confusion. "Well, ya see, no one's evah really cared foah her. Not her dad, or her uncle. Nobody. Dat's why she'd usually so cold towards guys. But da way ta get her ta smile is ta show dat you'se really care about her, dat you'se do need her and she's not jus hangin around dis world foah no reason. Spot, if yoah gonna make her smile, yoah gonna have ta show her dat you'se care about her."

"Shit" Spot said after an awkward silence. "Dis won't be easy."

"Da best help I can offah you'se is ta jus be a true gentleman" Spring said with a shrug. "Besides dat, yoah on yoah own."

"Yeah" Spot nodded to himself. "Thanks Spring."

"No" she smiled deviously. "Thank you" then after flashing Spot a smile, she climbed up the fire escape and once again disappeared through a window while down below Spot grinned to himself. He was going to win.