A/N This chapter picks up exactly where the first one left off. I know the chapters are short at the moment but thats all I have time for. I know that your all waiting anxiously for the newsies to enter so be patient please, you have to see what poor Isabella/Raven goes through first.

My first days in New York City were by far the best days of my childhood, considering what was to follow within the next few months. The city of dreams lay before me like a large jigsaw puzzle and I couldn't help but stare in fascinated awe.A young girl stood in the middle of the busy market still fascinated by the immense activity of New York City. Her auburn hair kept neatly from her face by her kerchief and her brown eyes searching for someone who had undoubtedly lost her.

"Fratello!" Her eyes darted about frantically, her childish voice drowned out by the hustle and bustle of the city. "Fratello!" Suddenly and hand grabbed her own and yanked her from her current position. Her eyes widened in horror and then she saw her brother's green eyes. By now all she could hear was her brother's angered Italian ranting.

"What is wrong with you!? How dare you just walk away and disappear on me! We gotta stick together! You could have just gotten killed or something! Don't ever let go of my hand again! EVER! Do you understand! Isabella! Do you understand me! If you ever do that again I will beat the tar out of you!" Isabella just stood there nodding at him as he yelled at her, the only sentence she understood was the last one..."If you ever do that again I will beat the tar out of you!"

"Come on!" He yanked her harshly and she went stumbling after him down the busy street, of course he didn't care whether she could keep up, as long as she didn't let go of his hand.

Vincent dragged me everywhere that day, from the West Village to Little Italy, into Queens and past Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and then somehow we ended up in the Bronx...

Vincent gripped his sister's shoulders tightly and stared into her brown eyes.

"When you knock on the door look all cute and helpless so they let you in. This is the last shot we got ok?" Isabella just nodded and then looked back at the haunting building that was the Bronx Newsboys Lodging House.

"Hey. Don't be scared of them." Vincent griped her chin lightly and turned her face back to his. "There isn't anything to be scared of, ok?" Vincent pulled her into a tight hug, letting his grip on her betray his own fear.

"Vinny, don't be scared remember?" Isabella allowed herself a small smile and kissed his cheek.

"Don't get smart with me, who's older?"

"You are, but only by a year." She pointed at him.

"At least I'm in the double digits!"

"I'll be ten next year, Vin! Stop teasing me!" Isabella pouted and crossed her arms over her chest.

"That's the look! Now go!" Vincent gave her a little shove and Isabella stumbled out onto the street. She smoothed out her tattered skirt and swiped her hand under her nose. She let out a deep breath and then ran across the cobblestone road to the doorstep of the looming lodging house. She looked up at it with her mouth agape and her eyes wide in terror before she ascended the three stairs to the door. She knocked three times and stepped back so as not to be hit by the door. Inside, cursing and rowdiness filtered to the street in waves and the scent of smoke lingered about the building. Suddenly the door went flying open to reveal a tall, muscular boy stepping out of it, a cigarette in his hand, currently in the action of moving towards his lips. Isabella jumped back and screamed before slamming her hands over her own mouth. She couldn't help but take in his rascally appearance, the chestnut hair on his head was messy and stuck up in random places and he had a scar that went from the tip of his eyebrow to the base of his eye.

"Burn! Who's at da door!?" A harsh shout came through.

"Nobody! Just some kid!" Burn looked at Isabella and she could see that his brown eyes were soft and not cruel and hard like his appearance. Burn took a drag of his cigarette as he stared at her and then carelessly flung it to the ground. He turned as began to go back inside. Isabella ran up to him and gripped the door.

"Wait! We have no place to go." She pleaded with him and then touched his defined arm. Burn sighed.

"We don't take girls..." He was already warming up to this little girl, not many would have dared to stop him as he entered his own home.

"Would it make a difference if I had a boy with me?" Burn nodded to her and then ruffled her hair a bit.

"Where is he?"

"In the alley down across the street."

"So he sent you ta do a boy's job huh?"

"No, he thought I would soften you up." She smiled sweetly at him and Burn laughed.

"Yea well it worked. Tell him to get ovah heah." Isabella hugged him and Burn went rigid for a second, she quickly let go and ran to get Vincent. Burn watched her and couldn't help but laugh.

"What'd he say?" Vincent looked at his sister expectantly.

"Yes! We have a place to stay!" Vincent beamed at her. She trotted around behind him and hopped on his back for a piggy ride across the street.

"Ompf! Your getting to heavy for this." Vincent protested playfully.

"Are not! I'm perfectly petite and pretty in every way." Isabella hugged him tighter as they walked across to the waiting Burn. Vincent froze then pointed at Burn.

"That's the guy who said yes!" Isabella nodded excitedly.

"Relax, he's actually really nice."

"I wonder where he got that scar from..."

"Ask him then."

"Uh, no thanks I think I'll pass on that one."

"Chicken!" Vincent rolled his eyes and continued across the street to Burn, bouncing Isabella a bit higher on his back.

"So dis's yer bruddah huh?" Burn said lazily. Isabella peeped her head around Vincent's shoulder and nodded enthusiastically.

Burn nodded and held open the door to them.

"Welcome home kids..."

Welcome Indeed....

Sagey: pouts I have to have some fun with my creativeness and pairingness. Ray can't always be with Spot, besides I need some variety! hehe

Frog: I re-read it and yes some of the descriptions were suey gags BUT I promise the story won't be!

Sapphy: Get out the tissue box...maybe two. hehe Yea I enjoy torturing Jack, its like my lifes ambition!

Reb: Longer review like whoa! Jk, Glad you like it!

Tuesday: Oh no, battle of the couple coming up. I shall be writing this forever you know? Especially if you don't push me to get out a chapter and let me get bored with this.

GA: I will never be suey again I swear! I also took your suggestion with the title, thanks for that by the way :)

Shooter: look who updated....