A/N-I'm back! Actually, I should be studying for an AP Bio test right now(blech), but who would study when they could be updating? It's really not a hard decision. I haven't got much to say so I'll get right to…

CHAPTER EIGHT: A MEETING OF MINDS

An hour or so later, Aurora fond herself on the couch in the living room, with Donovan sitting at her side and Sugar and Fist in the chairs across from her. She had to admit, it felt great to be home at last. Aurora took a drag off the cigarette she held between her fingers before continuing her story.

"And I stahted cryin!" she shook her head with a small smile, the others in hysterics at her recap of her time spent with Spot. "Spot gets all worried, and I staht babblin about how I was hoit and confused and this whole time da idiot is buyin it!" Donovan let out a hearty laugh before taking the cigarette from Aurora.

"Well, he'll be cryin next" Fist interjected, smiling. "I can't believe that Brooklyn is almost in my hands. I can almost feel it. Spot'll nevah know what hit him."

"I'm shoah he already knows of ouah plan" Sugar said, twirling a strand of hair around her finger. "Da thing is though, what is he doin about it? Spot's not da kinda guy ta sit back and let dis stuff happen ta him. He's gonna go foah help."

"I already told ya Sugah" Donovan replied with an eye roll. "I've completed my end of the bahgain. Da Crypts, Plug Uglies, and Dead Rabbits are all willin ta help us. Brady's in a meetin wit da leadah of da Monk Eastman Gang now. It doesn't mattah who Spot get's ta help, he'll get newsies. What ah a bunch of newsies voise experienced street gangs? Nothin, dat's what."

"How about da Five Points Gang…?"

"Dat all depends…"

"On what?" Fist asked fiercely. "I thought ya said that you'se completed yoah end of da deal. Have ya even talked wit dem?"

"Of coise I have" Donovan shot back in defense. "It depends on wheah they believe theah strongest ties ah. Wit theah blood, or wit da ones they woik wit."

"Ah we talkin about newsies or a gang heah?"

"Ya get one, ya get da othah. You'se know dats how da Five Points woiks."

"Why won't dey split?" Aurora asked, cutting into the conversation. After being out of the loop for sometime, she felt a little hesitant to add her input to their planning. But why shouldn't she? She was, after all, one of the key parts to this plan. Without her they wouldn't have half the information they already had.

"Cause they'ah practically one in da same. Many of da newsies dat do have parents, these parents are membahs of da gang. What parent would fight against theah kid?"

"I could think of plenty" she said snidely.

"Well da Irish ah different then da Italians" Donovan shot back, receiving a glare from Aurora.

"Moving on…" Fist cut in, sensing tension between the two. Aurora turned away from Donovan, trying to clear her head. Was it right, what she was doing? She practically had Brooklyn in her hands, and she gave it up to risk everything just to have it again. And what about that relationship she had with Spot? Sure, most of the stuff she had told him was lies, but when she told him it was great to be cared for the way he cared for her, she was telling the truth. Even though Donovan "cared", it wasn't the same. Their relationship was getting more and more complicated, and more and more shaky as the days went by depending on her mood, and depending on his. Calm down, Aurora thought, her gaze directed outside the window. From the sixth story apartment, she could see a fair amount of Brooklyn, the sun setting just outside the window and the last of the suns rays reflecting off the wet pavement. Your loyalties lie here, with Fist, with Sugar, with Donovan. You only stayed with Spot for what? A week and a half? Not even that long. Why get all confused about who you care about? This is your family here, THESE people care about you. Who cares if you hurt Spot? He breaks hearts all the time. It's about time he experienced the feeling. And it's about time that he gives up Brooklyn. A sigh escaped her mouth as she turned her head back towards Donovan.

"Yoah right" she said, almost reluctantly, trying to convince herself that this was the right thing to do. Why are you letting this consume you? You're Aurora "Bandit" Capone. Since when have immoral decisions bothered you? "Yoah right" she repeated, this time firmly convincing herself. "So all we'se gots ta do is convince da Five Points Gang dat dey want ta join us?"

"Not really" Donovan replied, looking Aurora in the eyes. She had changed since she spent time with Spot. Something about her was different. And it didn't take knowing her, dating her for three years to see it. "It doesn't depend completely on dem. Shoah, if dey helped us theah'd be no challenge. But we've got enough people helpin us dat even if dey don't join, theah's no question of who Brooklyn'll go ta."

"What if dey joins Spot? Have ya thought of dat?" Fist shot at him.

"Of coise I've thought about dat. Whadda ya think I am, stupid?" Donovan glared over at Fist, insulted at his lack of confidence in him. "If dey join Spot den we'll jus have ta try a lil hardah. But I don think dat's gonna happen. Ain't da Five Points and Brooklyn always gettin inta fights?"

"Shoah dey ah" Sugar replied nonchalantly. "But dat don't change da fact that we'ah about ta take ovah an entire borough. Not ta mention da fact dat it's Brooklyn. Though newsies'll fight newsies, dey knows wheah theah loyalties lie. When it comes ta a fight dat doesn't put borough against borough, dey form alliances. I wouldn't put it past da Five Points newsies ta want ta join wit Spot."

"We'll jus have ta see what happens" Donovan waved her aside, not liking to take advice or information from a girl. "So Bandit…when do ya say da best time ta strike is?" It took a few seconds for Aurora to register that she was being addressed. Shutting her eyes tightly, trying to push away the thoughts that were crowding her head that didn't have to do with the upcoming fight. They didn't even have to do with Donovan. No, she had been lost in the memories of Spot, him standing up for her, when he dropped down on one knee, how he always tried to impress her…

"You completely heah Bandit?" Fist added, confusion written upon his face. Never in the five years that he'd known her had he seen her this…well this consumed.

"I'm tiahed" she lied, pushing a piece of hair out of her face. "What'd ya say?"

"When should we strike?" Donovan asked again, this time firmly. What was going on with her?

"I say dat we don't strike all at once. Take 'em down, newsie by newsie, borough by borough until it's just da Brooklyn dock newsies. They'ah tough, but we can take 'em."

"I don wanna do dis whole stealth strategy thing. I wanna hit him soon, and I wanna hit him hahd" Donovan replied roughly.

"Fine. Den don't pay any attention ta what I say!" Aurora shot back, the level of her voice rising.

"Fine. I WON'T!" Donovan shouted back at her. Aurora's stormy eyes grew cold with this remark and she sat there for a few seconds biting the inside of her lip, contemplating whether or not to strike back. Decision made, wordlessly Aurora stood up and stormed out of the sitting room, much to the surprise of the occupants. Her loud footsteps were heard down the hall, followed by the slam of a door.

"Good job" Fist spat angrily.

"Ah we heah ta talk business or ah ya gonna get all up on me foah dat?" Donovan replied stoically. He hadn't meant to yell, but she was acting so strange, so different. The Aurora HE knew would have been all for a full throttle strike. The Aurora he knew wanted Brooklyn even more than he did. This wasn't the Aurora he knew. Movement caught Donovan's eye and looked up to see Sugar rising from her spot.

"I'm going ta go talk ta her" she said softly, leaving the room.

"So Fist" Donovan asked, watching Fist's eyes follow Sugar as she left the room. "Ah we gonna get down ta business or ah ya gonna let yoah emotions get in da way?" Fist let out an exasperated sigh and turned back, facing Donovan.

"Alright. We gotta strike soon…" he prompted. A smirk crossed over Donovan's lips, which was soon copied by Fist. After all, they were about to become the kings of Brooklyn. Why should they let a couple of angry girls stand in their way?