Author note: Thanks for the reviews everyone, I'm glad you like it so far. Now remember, every couple isn't perfect, so expect some bumps on the way.

After lunch, I decided to go look for Spot. I walked around Brooklyn, and finally found him at the docks, at his usual post.

He grinned as I walked up, being greeted by some of the boys.

"Hey," I said, looking up.

"Hey," Spot replied. He reached his hand out to me, and I took it. He pulled me up.

"Nice," I said, looking out at the river. "It's very pretty."

"Yeah, it is." I smiled and looked out at the newsies. I saw two of my girls, talking to some of the boys.

"So, how do ya like bein queen of Brooklyn?" Spot asked, smirking.

"I'm still in training," I said. Spot laughed.

We stayed there until the heat finally got to us. Spot jumped down, and helped me down next. He nodded towards Spark, who nodded back and climbed up Spot's usual post. I guess Spark watched the newsies when Spot wasn't around.

We walked back to the Lodging House, talking about…well; I wasn't sure what we were talking about. Spot opened the door for me and I thanked him.

In the living room were some of Spot's newsies, and most of my girls. They all greeted us, except Racer and Gloom. Racer glared at me. She had told me earlier that I was just making it all up about being Spot's girl, and told me to get out of my little fantasy world and come back to reality. Well, last time I checked this was reality, and according to my dream I was going to marry Spot, so take that bitch!

I grinned as I sat beside Spot and watched a small poker game start. After about a few more minutes, Spot and the others decided that they'd try and teach me how to play.

No matter how hard someone tried to teach me how to play poker, it still seemed so confusing to me.

"Don't worry, Matthews," Spot said, "youse'll loin one day." I stuck my tongue out at Spot, who merely laughed. Racer was glaring at me, trying to bore a hole in my head. I grinned and leaned over Spot's shoulder, looking at his cards.

"Yer cheating!" Spot said.

"I'm not playing!" I defended myself. Spot laughed and pushed me slightly with his shoulder, so I did the same. Spot pulled the hat off his head and ran a hand through his hair. He sighed deeply and leaned back in his chair, observing his cards.

Dice looked around mischievously and laid down his cards.

"Royal Flush!" he said. Spot smirked and laid down his cards.

"Full House…"

"Wait, is that good?" I asked. Spot shook his head and laughed,

"Yeah it's good. It means I won."

"Good, more money for me!" I said, grinning. Spot squinted.

"What makes ya think I'll share with ya?" he asked jokingly.

"I just know." Spot chuckled and leaned into me, pressing his lips lightly to mine. I put my hand on the back of his neck and kissed him back.

We pulled away from the passionate kiss, and I glanced over at Racer. Her eyes were as big as apples, and her face was completely red. Her mouth hung open, and I saw hatred flaring in her eyes.

Haha, she's jealous! My attention was soon brought to the front door being opened and watched as Scout walked into the room.

"Scout!" I shrieked, jumping to my feet and hugging her. Scout grinned and hugged me back.

"Hey Brandon!" she yelled, literally jumping on her brother. Spot groaned and pushed her away.

"Go botha someone else," he said. Scout frowned,

"Sage, Spot is bein mean ta me!"

"That isn't right! Spot Conlon, apologize right now!" I demanded, wagging my finger at Spot. Spot blinked a few times before the other boys burst out laughing.

"Why should I?" Spot whined.

"Because I said so!" Scout grinned and waited for Spot's apology.

"Well?" she said.

"Go jump off a bridge," was Spot's respond. Scout pouted and crossed her arms over her chest.

"Yer a mean big brotha!" she said. I smiled and grabbed her arm.

"I need to talk to you!" I said, dragging her off to my room. Scout waved bye to everyone before we entered my room. I closed my door and grinned at her.

"So, watchya need ta talk 'bout?" she asked.

"Well, first of all, you're looking at the leader of the Brooklyn newsgirls!" Scout grinned.

"So dat means dat youse is Queen of Brooklyn." I shrugged.

"And second of all, one of my girls made a move on Spot. She actually kissed him!"

"Which one?" Scout wanted to know.

"The brown haired girl who looks like a baboon."

"Does she have a red butt?" I rolled my eyes,

"God you're so stupid," I said. Scout's grin widened. "Anyways, I was just warning you. You know, if she makes a move on Jack." Scout narrowed her eyes,

"We'll jus' hafta fix dat." Scout and I walked back into the living room, and I listened as the door opened again, and saw Jack. I grinned and gave him a hug.

"Hey Jack!" I said.

"Heya Sage," he responded. I glanced over at Racer, who already had her eyes on Jack. Scout noticed this too, and quickly walked up to her.

"Hi, I'm Scout…uh, Conlon, and dat guy ova there," she pointed to Jack, "is my man, so stay away from him!" Racer flinched and gave Scout an "I don't care," look. Scout gave her the finger and walked back over to Jack and I. I laughed as Racer whispered something to Gloom, who looked up at Jack.

"So, how's Manhattan treating you?" I asked the couple. Jack and Scout glanced at each other.

"We're gettin married!" Jack said, wrapping his arm around Scout.

"What?" came a voice from behind me. Spot was now standing beside, eyes blazing.

"Yeah, and I'm pregnant!" Scout said. Spot's eyes grew wider as he lunged at Jack, but I grabbed his arm just in time.

"Stop it Spot!" I said, pulling him back.

"Yeah Spot, don't have a kitten," Scout said. "We were only kiddin." I laughed as Spot became less tense.

"Don't scare me like dat!" Spot said. I grinned and wrapped my arm around his waist as he rested his on my shoulders. He bent down and kissed my temple, and I could already feel Racer glaring at my back.

The four of us walked over to a table and sat down. Scout and I engaged in a friendly conversation as Jack and Spot discussed some Harlem issues. They haven't said anything about Harlem since after the fire.

Jack rose from the table and walked into the kitchen, probably to get something to drink. I watched closely as Racer got up too and followed him.

Spot and I watched as Scout stood as well, and slowly, I mean very slowly, made her way to the kitchen. Spot gave me a glance as we followed her.

Racer had Jack pinned in a corner, not letting him by. Jack had a look of horror on his face as Racer ran her hand through his hair. Spot laughed, and I hit him in the back of his head.

Scout growled and stormed over, jerking Racer roughly away from Jack. Apparently the warning she gave Racer earlier was the only warning she was going to get, because the first thing Scout did was punch the living hell out of her.

I watched as Scout continuously beat her up, a look of pure hatred on her face. Spot tapped my shoulder,

"Uh, yer goil needs ya."

"No, she's fine, she can deal with it," I said in amusement. Spot rolled his eyes and pushed me forward, ushering me to stop the fight. I sighed and placed a hand on Scout's shoulder.

"That's enough," I said as Jack and I pulled her away from Racer.

"Youse stupid little slut! What did I tell youse! Youse jus' made my death list!" Racer was a bloody mess on the kitchen floor, crying her eyes out. For some reason I wanted to laugh instead of help her.

"Get yourself up," I told her. "And go cleanup that little splotch of blood." Scout laughed at this. Spot taught me to never help my newsies after they got themselves into trouble. It was their fault, so it's their problem.

Racer scrambled to her feet and lunged at Scout. Scout blocked the punch and resumed beating the living hell out of the whore.

"Well I tried," I shrugged. Scout stopped willingly and stood back, looking down at the girl.

"And dat's how we do it in New York!" she said. I grinned as Scout looped her arms in with Jack's and walked back into the living room. Spot shrugged and took my hand in his, pulling me back into the living room.

"I adore you!" I said, hugging Scout. Scout didn't take any shit from people, and she just made that clear. Scout grinned,

"Dat felt good."

"Well Kelly, youse better hope she never catches ya cheatin on 'er," Spot said, wrapping his arm around my shoulder as we sat at the table.

"Yeah Jack, youse better hope dat. 'Cause it'll be a worse beatin for youse!" Scout said. Jack grinned. He leaned down and kissed Scout, causing her to blush slightly.

I leaned myself on Spot for the support I didn't need, but wanted. My lips craved his, but I held in my needs.

I watched as some of my girls began to play a game of poker with the boys. I wish I was the one who beat up Racer. She's a bitch.

My mind switched back to my dream.

"Makenna," I whispered.

"What was dat?" Spot asked.

"Nothing," I said. Spot shrugged. For the rest of the night we talked about things, and other things, and things I didn't understand. It was fun.

Scout and Jack soon left, hugging me goodbye. I walked into the girl's room and saw Racer lying on her bed, cleaned up from her previous beating. She had tears running down her face, but I didn't feel sorry for her.

I shut the door and began to walk to my room, but a hand on my shoulder stopped me. I turned around cautiously, but only smiled when I saw Spot.

"What can I do for you Mr. Conlon?" I asked.

"Stay with me," he said, seriousness in his eyes.

"Huh?" I asked stupidly.

"Stay with me…in my room. Please?" His eyes were pleading me as they looked straight into mine.

"I don't know," I said.

"I won't do anythin, I swear," he said, holding up his hands to show that none of his fingers were crossed. I smiled.

"I'll be up in a minute." Spot grinned and lightly pecked my lips before running upstairs. I smiled to myself as I washed up slowly, not wanting to be in the room when Spot was washing up.

I quickly finished and walked slowly upstairs. I was fine with being Spot's girl, and I accepted the fact that we may get married in the near future, but sleeping in the same bed as him never crossed my mind. I wasn't ready for what he wanted to give, and I knew he sensed that. I knew that was the reason he swore not to do anything.

I knew how lonely it could be at night, not having someone there with you to protect you. Sometimes you just wanted someone to lay right next to you and keep you safe. You didn't always have to go further than that, just the company of one person meant the world to you. To me.

Since ever I turned fourteen, I wanted to turn over in my bed and see someone lying beside me, promising to protect me from the darkness. I never wanted to go any further, just the company. And now Spot was offering that company, just the pleasure of having someone there.

I smiled to myself as I opened Spot's door and peaked in. Spot lay in his bed, turned on his side. I closed the door gently, which got his attention. He sat up slightly and stared at me, smiling.

"Hey there," he said, his voice soft.

"Hey," I said. Spot patted the empty space beside him and I willingly walked over. Spot pulled the covers down, and when I laid down, he pulled them over us. He reached over to his nightstand and turned off the oil lamp.

He turned back towards me and wrapped his arms protectively around me. I leaned into his chest, and listened closely to his heartbeat.

Spot breathed lightly. Finally, someone there to actually keep me safe throughout the night.

I closed my eyes and the last thing I heard was: "I can't help fallin in love with you…"

Next Chapter: I hear wedding bells…but who is getting married? Jack announces the engagement of Medda and Chris. Who is Chris?

Author note: Whoohoo, Scout can kick ass! LONG LIVE SPOT AND SAGE!