Author note: I am so so so so so sorry this didn't get posted yesterday! I tried and tried and tired but it wouldn't let me!

I walked to Manhattan with my head down. I felt like I had lost my best friend. What if Spot and I did get together, and then broke up? It would be awkward.

I listened to the sound of yelling newsies, carrying the banner. I didn't have the heart to sell papes today, not with Scout being in the hospital and all.

I slowly made it to the hospital, and when I entered I was deafened by Scout's yelling.

"I don't care!" she yelled at Jack. "Youse jus' don't understand what I'm goin through right now!" Jack ran a hand through his hair and sighed.

"Would youse please calm down," he said in a soft voice. I hesitantly walked up and placed a hand on Scout's shoulder. She twirled around, but put her guard down when she noticed it was me.

"Sage!" she said, hugging me. I returned the hug.

"What's going on?" I asked as we pulled away.

"We's is arguin 'bout Brandon. My brother!" She sent Jack a glare.

"Oh," I said. "Is the doctor releasing you?" Scout shrugged,

"I dunno, but I wanna see Spot, and I wanna see him right now!" I shook my head,

"Spot isn't doing so good," I told her, hiding my wrist. Jack narrowed his eyes, understanding what I was saying. He opened his mouth to comment, but I shook my head.

"What's goin on? What aren't youse tellin me?" Scout demanded to know. Jack and I sent each other glances as Scout sent us glares.

"Nothin," Jack lied. He sat on her bed and patted the spot beside him. "Sit down, Scout, youse need ta calm down."

"Don't tell me ta calm down! Youse calm down! If I wanna yell, den I'll yell!" People gave Scout odd looks, but she only returned them.

"Uh, Scout, maybe you'd like to go out for awhile. You know, catch some fresh air," I suggested. Scout thought this over for a moment before nodding.

"Sounds good," she said. She turned in the direction of the doctor. "Hey doc, I'm headin out for da rest of da day, keep my bed warm!" The doctor hurried over.

"I am sorry, Miss Conlon, but you're not allowed to leave yet." Scout growled,

"I'm leavin, and I'm leavin right now damn it!" The doctor jumped and nodded as Scout held up her fists.

"Okay, okay," he said, holding up his hands. "You're free to go…there is no need for you to return, so maybe you'd like to gather your stuff." Scout grinned in triumph and ordered Jack to get her stuff.

"Wow, Scout, maybe you'd like to go easy on him. He was worried about you." Scout sighed,

"I jus' can't believe what happened ta Crutchy. Its jus' ain't fair."

"Life ain't fair," I said, mimicking her voice. Scout smiled slightly as Jack returned with her things.

"I'll carry these ta Medda's place," he said. Scout nodded and thanked him. She quickly changed and we headed out, leaving the hospital behind.

"So…what happened in Brooklyn?" she asked me.

"They haven't told you yet?"

"Nope," she replied. I shrugged and explained the fire and me rescuing Spot's life.

"Wow, I bet he feels odd now," she laughed. Her face then darkened, "I can't believe he kept everythin from me. How did he do it?" I shrugged,

"He'll have to explain that to you." I rubbed my bruised wrist, which was stupid of me. Scout grabbed my arm and looked down at the bruise in the shape of a hand.

"What happened?" she asked, narrowing her eyes.

"Nothing," I lied, pulling my arm away.

"Spot did it, didn't he?" I looked away, not wanting to lie.

"How do you know?" I asked. Scout sighed.

"Spot ain't one ta control his anger. He can't help it." Her voice then turned dark, "I'm gonna kill 'em!"

"It was my fault," I quickly defended the Brooklyn leader. "I was getting on his bad side, and I knew I was getting to him."

"I don't care. It ain't fair ta youse!" Scout kicked a rock on the ground and watched it skip away.

"He didn't mean to," I said.

"I know he didn't, but still…I think tha world is comin to an end. Jus' wait till I get hold of dem Harlem freaks…I'm gonna soak 'em!"

"Yeah…so am I."

Scout and I ate at Tibby's, and I explained to her of what happened last night. I felt like I needed to tell someone, and I needed to get her mind off of Crutchy. She was quite angry that Spot got drunk and pushed me down the stairs, but she soon got over it.

For the rest of the day I was with Scout. We hung out at Medda's where the others were staying, and I even learned that Kloppman was having the Lodging House rebuilt. I chatted with Scout and Race about Jack's amnesia, and Scout couldn't breath she was laughing so much.

We started to call Jack Katie, getting on his last nerve.

"I told youse, it's Jack!" Jack growled.

"Nah, I like Katie better," Scout teased. "I think it's pretty!"

"Shut up!" Jack demanded, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Aw, its okay, Katie," Race laughed. Jack smacked Race in the back of the head and grunted.

"It ain't Katie," he muttered.

"Aw, its okay 'Jack,'" Scout said, kissing his cheek. I was glad to see Scout being the way she use to. She wasn't brining herself down about Crutchy's death, which was good. Jack and Race kept her mind off of him most of the time.

I glanced at the grandfather clock, and was thinking about staying the night, but instantly remembered that Spot needed to see me.

"Hey, I need to go," I told Scout. Scout pouted,

"Aw, youse can always stay here," she said. I laughed,

"I can't, Spot needs to see me."

"Forget Spot, he's jus' gonna be mean to ya." I shrugged,

"Bye," I said to everyone. They all waved goodbye as I set out for Brooklyn.

It was hard to see where I was walking in the dark, and very frightening. Well, let's see, what's scarier…walking through the dark, or having Spot push you down the stairs.

I laughed as I came upon Wades' house. He insisted on us calling it the 'new Lodging House,' and we didn't even have to pay.

I crept inside, and peeked in the living room. The boys were playing a slow game of poker. I didn't see Spot, so I figured he was upstairs waiting for my return.

I said a quick hello and goodbye to the boys and departed for Spot's room. It didn't hurt too bad walking up the stairs this time, but I did feel a tinge of pain every few steps.

I crept to the end of the hall and stared at Spot's door. I could sense his presence on this inside, but I wasn't sure if he was in a good mood or not. I decided that he was and turned the knob, pushing the door open.

Spot sat on his bed, reading a novel. Interesting…Spot reading…hmmm…

He looked up, his bangs falling in his eyes. He was still dressed the same from the morning: shirt unbuttoned, bringing his undershirt into full view, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and his suspenders hanging freely at his sides.

He closed the book shut and motioned for me to close the door. I did as I was told and walked deeper into the room. Spot pushed his bangs out of his eyes as he rose from the bed, and placed the book on his nightstand.

"I thought you'd never come back," he said, his eyes following me as I walked over to the window and stared out. I turned around and leaned against the windowsill.

"It's hard walking in the dark," I said, staring directly at him. He stood beside his bed, playing with the suspenders at his sides.

"Youse shouldn't have come back alone," he told me. I shrugged,

"I'm a big girl, I'm not afraid to walk alone," I said, trying my best not to make him angry. Spot smirked as he glanced around the room. I didn't know if he was avoiding eye contact or teasing me.

"I know," he said, "I jus' don't want ya to get hoit."

"Thanks," I said. It soon got silent, neither of us saying a word. Spot let his hair fall in his face as he stared intently at the floor.

"So," I started, bringing him back to reality, "what did you want?" Spot stared at the wall for a second.

"To talk," he said. I raised my eyebrows as Spot walked closer to me.

"About what?" I asked as he leaned against the wall beside me. A small smile spread across Spot's face as he shoved his hands in his pockets.

"Is Scout mad at me?" he changed the subject. I sighed in frustration.

"I'm wasting my time," I said, walking for the door. Spot gently grabbed my arm to stop me.

"Sage, please-"

"We aren't up here to talk about your sister," I said. Spot looked down at the ground and smiled.

"Well, at least youse ain't afraid ta argue with me again," he said. I shrugged,

"What is it you want to talk about?" I leaned back against the windowsill as I watched him pace around the room for a minute, muttering to himself.

"Listen, I know youse is probably aggravated with me right now, and I would be too, but I jus' don't know." I laughed to myself.

"You're strange," I said out of the blue. Spot stopped and gave me an odd look.

"What?" he asked.

"I said you're strange."

"Okay, we ain't here ta talk about me being strange, Miss Matthews-"

"I know, but you won't tell me what I'm up here for so why can't I tell you what I think?" Spot shook his head,

"You really are somethin." I shrugged,

"Well, I'm getting tired, so I guess I'll head off to bed."

"Wait," Spot said. I tilted my head, waiting for him to continue. "I wanna be with youse, but I don't know if you-"

"I want to be with you, too," I said, cutting him off. Spot sighed and placed his hands on my shoulders.

"I saw da way you were with Art, not wantin ta hoit his feelins when he asked ya to be his goil…I jus' don't know if youse is gonna be like dat to me."

"Well, why don't you ask me and find out?" I said, in a 'duh' kind of voice. Spot licked at the dryness of his lips. I've never seen him so nervous in his life.

"I ain't good with rejection, Matthews," he said. I rolled my eyes.

"Well then go ahead and ask me!"

"Fine! Will ya be my goil?" Spot flinched, surprised at how sudden he said that. A smile crept on my face as Spot blinked a few times.

"Come get me in three weeks and I'll tell you," I said, grinning. Spot groaned,

"Matthews!"

"I'm kidding, I'm only kidding!" I pulled Spot into a hug, and whispered in his ear: "I'd love to."

Next Chapter: Spot and Sage are finally an "item," how will the world take to this? And how will Spot's fan club take to this?

Spot explains to Scout, Sage, and Jack about his and Scout's past.

Author note: Yay! They're finally together, give them a hand folks! And how long did it take? Oh, about a million years! Anyways: LONG LIVE SPOT…AND SAGE!