Hey all! Sorry it took me so long to get another chappy out! I have been so busy you would never believe that I haven't touched my computer in almost a whole week! Any ways...I'm sad to report that this story only has about four or five chapters left. But, this is the longest story I've ever written before so I'm pretty proud. Ok, now onto my thanks... Thanks to Tuck, hobbit1400, Tears in a Bottle, Gryffindor's Newsie, dodger, mistymixwolf aka Perch, madmbutterfly713, elleestJenn. You guys rock! A scantilly clothed newsie of your choice wrapped in a box and mailed to you by my special mail service. hehe Good reward huh:D

Twitch my darling, you are in this chappy! I just couldn't let you go that easily. This is your only appearance in this story, but I have plans to put you in my other one: If Wishes Were Horses, so don't feel too sad. Besides... WAIT! I can't say! That would give it all away!

Ok, I have to let you go read this before I give it away! Have fun! A whole box of chocolate covered newsies to the first reviewer and some other goodies for the rest of you so read and review muy pronto! Enjoy!

Chapter Nineteen

Tripper groaned and stiffly sat up from where she fell asleep on the floor. Her back and neck were in pain. Her tired mind made a sarcastic mental note to never sleep on the plain floor again. She groggily stood and stretched her cramped muscles. The throbbing pain from her wrist and eye helped to remind her all that had happened the day before. Her head jerked up, and she raced for the window. Her eyes frantically searched the windows of the boys' bunkroom for any sign of movement. Her searching was rewarded by the shadowy figures of the boys as they hurried around getting ready to sell. To her sorrowful delight, Skittery walked up to one of the windows and stood searching the street and then moved his eyes up to search the buildings.

Her heart jumped into her throat as she pressed her face against the cold glass, praying that he would see her. Anxiously, she watched as his gaze lifted higher and higher, closer and closer to here. Just a little more! Almost to her window!

"What are ye doing!" A rough hand jerked her away from the window and started shaking her. The smell of stale beer and body odor stung her nose and eyes as her uncle shook here in a drunken rage.

"Ye tryin' to get ye're lover boy's attention, were ye? Tryin' to get rescued?" His voice rose with each word and his shakes grew harder and rougher. Tripper felt like he was going to shake her teeth right out of her head. Then, his hand flew through the air, and the sharp sound of flesh against flesh echoed through the small room.

"Ye've cost me so much trouble! Why do ye have to be as head strong as ye're whore mother? I'll break ye of it, just like I broke her!" His palm slapped her again.

Tripper bit her lip to keep in the cry of pain and anger that rose in her throat. Hot tears filled her eyes, but she wouldn't give him the satisfaction of making her cry. He didn't deserve to know that he was actually hurting her. Her anger and hatred rose up inside her as the shaking and beating grew more intense. She hated him! Hated him for the way he treated her like a horse up for auction. Hated him for how he had abused her mother to an early grave leaving her young daughter on her own in his possession. Hated him for following her and turning her life back into the hell it had been back in Ireland. She hated him with every inch of her being!

"Stop! Stop it now! Stop hitting her, Mogen!" Never had Tripper been so glad to hear the voice that broke through the pain.

Jake ran across the room and pulled Tripper away from the furious man. He cradled her shaking body protectively in his arms and glared darkly at the staggering man.

"What do you think you're doing! How dare you beat her! Keep your bloody hands off her! Get out!" Jake pointed towards the door and glared at the drunk till he left the room.

The minute her uncle left the room, Tripper jerked out of Jake's arms. "Don't touch me!" Her icy tone made the boy's eyes also grow cold.

"Listen! I could have just let him beat you!" His face turned into a sneer and his voice changed. "Get used to being with me, cause you'll be doing it for a long time."

Before she could move away, Jake grabbed her arm and dragged her from the room. The more she struggled against his grip, the more his grip tightened on her arm.

"Where are we going?"

"You're going to get cleaned up, and then, we are leaving. Leaving New York forever!" His voice started to brighten at the thought of going back to his home country.

At this, she began to really fight him. She didn't want to go back! She knew that at the moment she stepped foot on the ship, her fate would be sealed! She would be taken back and forced into a marriage she didn't want.

"I'm not going back! I won't!" Her feet kicked against his shins as her free hand scratched and pried at his fist, trying to loosen his grip.

"You are! You are and as soon as we get on the ship, you and I will be joined in holy matrimony. And then, we will enjoy our wedding night!" A cold grin grew on his face as he shoved her into the small bathroom.

"Get cleaned up and put that dress on. Our ship leaves in four hours. So, be ready." He gave her a look that made shivers run down her spine before he shut the door, leaving her alone once again in her misery.

If last night had been bad, the morning was even worse. Skittery woke from yet another nightmare about Tripper. The images from the dream haunted his thoughts as he fought against a splitting headache and the urge to bash everything in sight to pieces.

Everyone moved around the room as if in a daze. There was no smiling, no laughter. No one even talked unless it was in hushed tones. The girls, who had stayed the night, wouldn't look at each other for fear of bursting into sobs. Everyone kept away from Skittery who dressed then stood brooding by the window. They all knew he was in pain, both physically and mentally. Those who had watched him with Tripper knew that he felt more then most of them did for her. Several of the boys who were among his confidence knew that he had been going to ask her to be his girl that day. Snitch, his best friend, could only watch his friend in agony as he searched the streets for any sign of the girl.

Skitter let out a loud sigh, turned from the window, and moved to get his hat and coat. He may be in the very pit of despair, but that didn't mean that he would be able to live off of it. He followed the group sullenly, keeping his gaze on the snowy street all the way to the DO. He silently bought his usual amount of papers and waited for his selling partners.

"Skittery!" The sound of his name being yelled in desperation brought his head up in a sudden jerk.

"Skittery! Skittery!" By then, the other newsies were looking around trying to find the owner of the voice.

Into the square burst a small girl. Her cheeks were flushed and her hair wild from running. Her eyes were worried and scared as she glanced over her shoulder as if trying to see some one following her.

"Twitch!" Jack ran towards the girl and caught her just as her tired legs caught on a loose cobblestone causing her to stumble and nearly fell face first into the pavement.

Twitch stood in Jack's embrace as she caught her breath. She smiled around the circle of concerned newsies till her gaze rested on Skittery.

"Oh! Skitts! I found her! I found her!"