Three subway transfers later, Angel and Kitten arrive at Kitten's sublet apartment on Cleveland Street in Brooklyn. Angel can hardly believe that people live this far from the Bronx. It's certainly the furthest she has been from her neighborhood. Her stomach flutters. She is honestly nervous about what's to come. What has she done, going off with a total stranger? Her mother would . . . What did it matter what her mother would do if she knew? She has no mother any more. The thought causes her eyes to burn with tears of self-pity again. No, Angel. No more crying. Grow up. It's time. She straightens up, looks Kitten in the eye, and follows her up to their loft.

"Helloooo my darlings, I'm home!"
"Auntie Kitten!" Before Kitten even takes her keys from the lock, a small girl of around six years old comes barreling down the hallway and attaches herself to Kitten's legs. "Hello, Munchkin." Kitten pries the child's arms from her legs and picks her up hugging and kissing her. After she's snuggled the little girl for a few moments, Kitten turns toward Angel. "Sophie," she addresses the child. "This is my new friend Angel. She's going to stay with us for a while."

Sophie gazes at Angel for a second then extends one tiny mocha-colored hand to her and smiles. "It's a pleasure to meet you Angel."

Angel forgets some of her nervousness as she shakes the child's hand and smiles in return, amused at the primness of her London accent and the formality of her greeting. "Nice to meet you too, Miss Sophie."

Kitten puts Sophie down. The child looks up at Angel "Would you like to see my room?"

It is Kitten who responds. "Later perhaps. We need to introduce Angel to Irwin and your mommy and daddy. Where are they?"

"Irwin's having a nap and mommy and daddy are out on a walk. They said they needed some time alone. Irwin was angry that they left him alone with me."

Kitten turns to Angel with a wry smile. "Irwin's fourteen and my, is he good at it. I'll just go wake him. Excuse me." She moves off down the hallway, knocking on the door at the end. "Irwin dear, wake up." Kitten opens the door and disappears into the boy's room.

Sophie has wandered off to the other side of the living room and found a pair of dolls. One is definitely a brown Raggedy Anne rag doll, but the other looks like Raggedy Andy wearing a sequined gown and feather boa. Angel is just taking this in as the door opens again and a small but lovely woman enters. She has wild dark ringlets, almost an Afro, mocha skin, and beautiful brown eyes, just like Sophie's. At the sight of her, Sophie drops her dolls and runs to leap into her mother's arms, but the woman's eyes are glued on Angel. Holding the child, she advances in a not-unfriendly way towards the newcomer. "Hello. Who are you?"

"This is Miss Angel, mommy. Auntie Kitten brought her here."

"Ah." She smiles. "I expected as much. I'm Charlie."

"Angel. Umm . . . Dumott-Schunard. Kitten said you could use some help with the kids."

"We could. Do you know anything about children?"

"Yes ma'am. I'm the oldest of six."

"My goodness that must be a busy household. We've got our hands full here with just these two." Charlie snuggles Sophie and tickles her, sending her into a fit of the giggles.

Just then, Kitten returns. "Charlie, darling! You're back." Kitten kisses her friend's cheek. "Will you get Irwin dear? He won't come out for me. I want to introduce him to my new friend Angel here and it's almost time for dinner."

"Sure." Charlie disappears down the hallway again, carrying Sophie and Kitten smiles at Angel.

"That boy," Kitten sighs. "He's as bitter as bat shit on a lemon-rind, as my ma used to say."

Angel laughs openly; the rest of her nerves forgotten.

Irwin finally emerges following his mother and little sister. He is dressed in a young teen's version of Piccadilly Circus fashion; black clothes, dark eyeliner, hair pressed flat and standing up in all directions. At the sight of Angel, he rolls his eyes and makes the most perfunctory greeting. "Hi. Can I go back to my room now?"

"No, Irwin." Charlie sounds a little exasperated "It's just about time for dinner and you need to be social for a while."

Irwin flops down on the couch with a sigh, right on to Sophie's Raggedy Andy doll. Sophie howls. "You just killed Audrey. Give her back to me!" Irwin pulls the doll from under him and tosses it at his little sister.

"It's a him," he mumbles as the doll hits Sophie, its feather boa flying off. "Actually, it's an it."

"Irwin, if Sophie says Audrey's a she, she's a she." Charlie warns her son. "Come wash up and help with dinner."

Irwin hauls himself ungraciously from the couch and follows his mother into the kitchen, dragging his feet as he goes.

"Now there's only Paul for you to meet. He's Charlie's husband. Come let me show you around." Kitten takes Angel's hand and shows her each room, telling her stories about the family. When they end up back at the kitchen, Kitten sticks her head in and asks Charlie about Paul's whereabouts.

"He stopped at the hardware store on the corner. He's struck up a friendship with the owner. I expect someone will have to go down there to get him before dinner."

"We'll go," Kitten volunteers. "Come on, Angel, darling."