i cant resist, must write next chapter, which will be so uberly amazing and excellent and blow your mind and what not

Cakes-actually, the Brooklyn gals will probably serve not more purpose,i dunno depends how much longer i want this to be

elleestJenn-speedy update, upon your request

onward!

It had been about a day since Mustard and Suep had arrived with Mustang. She now lay in her room on the first floor of the Manhattan lodging house. Dutchy hadn't left her side. Jack and Kid Blink had stopped in occasionaly to offer to relieve him, but he would just shake his head. He hadn't spoken since the day before. He thanked Mustard for her kind words, and then he fell silent. He wouldn't talk to any of the others, but when the door was shut, he whispered to the unconsious Mustang.

"I'm so sorry. I never wanted to hurt you. You're everything to me, I just wanted you to be safe." He stroked her hair and made sure her hat was right there on her bed side table. "I never meant it like this. I never wanted you to be this mad at me. I never wanted to be the one to make you cry." He ran a hand over her cheek. It gave him hope that it was still warm. If nothing else, he knew she was still alive. Finally, as the sun was beginning to drop again and the room was too light for a lamp, but too dark to see properly in, Mustang's eyes fluttered open.

"You're awake! Mustang, I was so afraid, but you, you're awake," Dutchy all but sobbed. He still wouldn't let himself cry. He hugged her, but she didn't react at all. She didn't move. She just studied him with steady eyes. After a good two minutes or so, she reached over, grabbed her hat and put it firmly on her head. She sat up and looked him square in the eyes.

"You lied to me."

"Mustang, I-"

"No. There were two things I trusted in this world. Cowgirl and you. Most people would think I'm crazy, but I never saw any difference. I could trust you both with anything, and never be afraid of being hurt. You were both the same to me. You know what you made me realize? There is a difference between my trust in you and her. You know what it is?" He lowered his head against the accusation in her voice, but she grabbed him by the shoulders and made him look at her."DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE DIFFERENCE IS? I'll tell you! The difference is she deserved it! The difference is she never, never betrayed that trust. But you. I don't even know what I can say! Just get out! Get away from me!" She pushed him back and sat unmoving, glaring at him with icy eyes. Dutchy looked up at her with eyes like a scolded child's. "Get out!" He stood and left the room. As he pulled the door shut, looking at the ground, he ran into Kid Blink.

"What happened?"

"She's awake," was all he could force himself to say. Even if he could control his voice, a tear finally escaped him, but he hastily brushed it away. Even as Blink went to speak again, Dutchy headed upstairs. Cautiously, he opened the door and stepped inside. Mustang sat, her knees drawn up to her chest with her head resting on them, and her hat in her hand. She was crying her eyes out. Blink walked over and sat next to her on the bed an placed an arm over her shoulders.

"H-h-h-e lied to me, b-b-but he was here, and I j-just couldn't. I yelled at h-him. Blink, I d-didn't want to. N-never, never would I want t-to do that to him. H-he looked at me like I w-was the worst person in the world, and it k-killed me. It killed me. I n-never wanted this." She threw her arms around him and cried. She just cried until there were no more tears. Even then she held on to him.

"I know, I know. Shhhhhhhh, it'll be alright. I promise, things will be ok." She finally sat up and looked at him. She ran a gentle hand over the bruised side of his face. Her mind buzzed, trying to find a change of subject.

"They messed you up bad." She pushed some hair out of his face. "So how'd you fare against all them on the bridge?"

"I got out ok. Mostly thanks to Cowgirl. Only got one more hit that day." He paused. She was already mad at Dutchy, he really didn't want to make her upset again, but she was already looking at him like she knew something was up. "Dutchy saw somebody fall. He didn't want to admit it was you."

"He hit you? When you were already messed up? I'll soak him!"

"No! Listen. He got mad. He thought it was my fault, actually, I don't think he was entirely sane at the time. He cares about you a lot. He would've gone crazy on anybody who hurt ya anyway, be it a nun or a Delancey. He really cares about ya."

"Then why did he lie to me?"

"You'll have to ask him that. But before you say anything, know this. Since the girls from down the riva brought you back, he hasn't left this room. He hasn't left your side." She smiled at him, beaming.

"Thank you. For everything." She slowly leaned closer to him and kissed him. He gently kissed her back and after a second she leaned back. "Thank you."

another very fun chapter to write i love it. so romantic and nice and yet psycho at the same time. perfect chapter. you know what to do! just clink that little button in the lower left hand corner of the screen and tell me what ya think! much love to all!